How to save money on entertaining

With a little creativity, you can throw a great party without spending a fortune.

Think back to your favorite social occasions. Chances are they weren’t lavish affairs. They were more likely the evenings when old friends showed up with a bottle of wine and you served up whatever you had on hand. Entertaining doesn’t have to mean spending a lot of money. Here are some fun low-cost ideas to get your party rolling:

Shop the sales. Save money on food costs by shopping at wholesale distributors and bulk food stores, and taking full advantage of seasonal foods and specials.

Go potluck. Share the costs and the time spent over a hot stove by inviting family and friends to a potluck dinner where each guest prepares one dish. Or host a wine and cheese party where everyone contributes a bottle of wine and a wedge of their favorite cheese.

Host a “progressive dinner.” Organize a party that moves from one home in your neighborhood to another, with each household providing a separate course.

Do brunch. It’s usually less expensive to host a brunch or lunch where you have the option of serving quiche and salad rather than a full-course dinner.

Serve pasta. There are all kinds of new and creative pasta dishes that can go a lot further and cost a lot less than serving your guests filet mignon.

Make punch. You can stretch your drinks budget by adding ginger ale and cranberry juice to champagne or liquor to create a delicious punch. And always be sure to offer a non-alcoholic alternative.

Create your own invitations. Save money on invitations by designing your own and save on postage by sending them out by email.

Borrow glassware. Borrow, rather than rent, extra glassware, flatware, serving pieces, tables and chairs.

Use dollar store candles. They look warm and inviting snuggled into thrift store candleholders. Or, for outdoor entertaining, borrow from a popular Mexican tradition and create your own luminarias: decorate the outside of plain paper bags with paint or glitter, place about an inch of sand into each bag, roll down the tops and nestle a votive candle into the sand.

Save on decorations. Buy out-of-season decorations when they go on sale, or use the following ideas to make your own:

• Create a great centerpiece using fresh fruit or candles floating in water, or fill a bowl with small ornaments and pinecones.
• Use fresh evergreen branches -- possibly adorned with a hand-made string of cranberries or popcorn -- to bring in fresh outdoor aromas.
• String felt scraps, family snapshots and ornaments onto sturdy thread to make your own garlands.
• Arrange flowers purchased from wholesalers in painted (or glue- and glitter-covered) old vases to enliven a mantelpiece or coffee table.
• Tie leftover ribbon, or ribbon purchased in a large commercial-sized roll, into bows to decorate doorknobs and banisters.
• At Christmastime, hang a few ornaments on your houseplants rather than purchasing a big tree.

Plan inexpensive activities for the kids. Focus on the season’s spirit and invite children to enjoy:

• Ice skating
• Visiting a tree farm to cut your own Christmas tree
• Free community events
• Open outdoor concerts
• Community theatre productions
• A drive to see the holiday lights
• A tree-trimming party
• An afternoon of cookie-baking

Published on August 17, 2006

Related Topics:

• Financial Literacy Guide
• Managing your money
• Smarter spending