The holiday season is here and it’s your turn to host the annual celebration. Hosting can be stressful, but it’s important to remember you don’t have to blow your budget to put on a great holiday get-together with family and friends.
Here are six tips to help you enjoy the holiday cheer without breaking the bank.
1. Set Your Budget and Menu in Advance
The best way to save money is to stay organized and create a budget you can stick to. Before you begin any shopping, make a list of the items you need and the estimated cost of each to make sure you won’t exceed the budget you set for yourself. Try to build your menu around sales the local supermarket is running for the holidays. You can also shop at warehouse stores such as BJ’s, Costco or Sam’s Club for items you can buy in bulk.
2. Go Easy on the Decorations
Your guests will remember the company and conversations, not your décor. Check your decoration inventory to see what you already have before buying more. You can always count on Pinterest for great DIY ways to make your home festive and the homemade decorations save money and personalize the celebration.
3. Shop for Supplies Early
The holiday season is chaotic, especially when you wait too long to do your shopping and the stores are overloaded with last minute shoppers. The earlier you start buying supplies, the more likely you are to save some money. Take advantage of sales and seasonal pricing trends such as Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
4. Make it a Potluck
Just because you’re the host doesn’t mean you have to be the only cook! Make this year’s celebration a potluck so each guest is responsible for bringing something to contribute to the dinner. This way, you don’t have to worry about cooking all day and you can focus on preparing a few dishes and prepping your home for the big event.
5. Limit the Drink Offerings
Create one signature drink for the celebration to save spending a ton of money on a variety of wine, beer and liquor. Better yet, let everyone know this year’s dinner is BYOB; that way guests can have their preferred beverage.
6. Arrange a Secret Santa Exchange
If your gift list is longer than your budget can handle, suggest having a Secret Santa Exchange with your guests. This way you save money by only having to buy one person a gift and you don’t have to worry about someone feeling left out.
The big holiday event doesn’t have to be expensive! There are plenty of ways to host a great party that guests will remember while sticking to your budget. Don’t forget, it’s the happiest time of the year and the most important thing is spending time with family and friends you love.
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