 Throw a great holiday celebration without breaking the bank. Follow these tips for getting more bang out of your holiday-party buck. Send Homemade Invitations You don’t need costly invitations to spread the word about your holiday gathering. Visit the scrapbooking aisle and make your own budget-friendly invites.
- Buy blank cards and decorate with stickers and stamps.
- Pick up construction paper and paint pens in the arts-and-crafts aisle.
- Print photos and have the kids help glue them to the invitations for a playful scrapbook look.
- Tuck a blank recipe card inside each invitation. Then, ask guests to fill it in and bring the dish to the gathering.
Decorate Creatively Even on a budget, you can still put together a wonderful holiday party — all it takes is a little creativity.
- Illuminate the family room with Christmas lights. They’re inexpensive and create a sparkling atmosphere. Colored lights are more festive, while white lights are more elegant.
- Fresh winter fruits and vegetables — such as squash, green apples and pomegranates — make festive centerpieces. Use them in your family’s meals later in the week, and nothing will go to waste.
- Set the table with mismatched plates and platters. It’ll give your table a shabby-chic look.
- Float candles, cranberries or fresh herbs in bowls. It’ll add fragrance and elegance to your decor.
Theme Your Menu Put some serious thought into your menu. Browse the Food & Recipes Center for budget-friendly recipes, and buy groceries in bulk when possible.
- Host a potluck. Take the recipes collected from guests, compile a list and distribute to everyone.
- Throw a cocktail party and serve finger foods. Cheese, meat and shrimp platters from the Deli minimize prep time.
- Don’t forget dessert. Give your guests options like peppermint-ice cream sundaes, fruitcake and pumpkin pie. Include a few salty snacks for those without a sweet tooth.
Set the Mood A great party doesn’t need expensive entertainment. Organize party games and create a festive atmosphere.
- Play holiday music during the party.
- Break the ice with fun holiday-themed party games. Try “Name That Holiday Movie” for adults or “Pin the Carrot on the Snowman” for kids.
- Karaoke is always a hit. Play a karaoke game on your favorite gaming system for an alternative to buying a karaoke system.
- Gift-exchange games are as fun as they are budget-friendly, because guests only have to buy one gift. Play White Elephant or Secret Santa and everyone will leave with a special party favor. Be sure to let guests know ahead of time on your invitation, and set a price limit for gifts so no one spends too much.
Think Green When you reduce, reuse and recycle, you help the environment and your wallet.
- Instead of using plastic cups and tablecloths, use real dishes and table linens. Reusable products cut down on waste and will save you money in the long run.
- Shop for all-purpose neutral colors like white or beige. Each time you host a party, accent those base colors with vibrant ribbon, linens and silk flowers.
- Purchase a set of durable casserole dishes. Your initial investment will pay off for years to come, and you’ll be doing the environment a favor when you avoid disposable bakeware.
- Encourage guests to toss their bottles and cans into recycling bins. Make the bins festive — have the kids create homemade signs for them.
|
 |
|
|
|
