Christmas Potluck Dinner Tips for the Host

If you're looking for an inexpensive alternative to hosting a Christmas dinner, hosting a Christmas potluck dinner is the way to go!

Christmas dinner is traditionally a time for family and friends to come together and enjoy the holidays, but for many of us the thought of a happy Christmas dinner is overshadowed by the reality of recession and unemployment. One way to reduce the cost of Christmas dinner is to share in the responsibilities. Most people will realize that it's unfair for one person to provide an elaborate meal for a large group, especially during the holiday season. Plus, having everyone contribute to Christmas dinner really brings out the true spirit of Christmas!

Tips for hosting a potluck Christmas dinner:

First step, the planning:

Know you budget and plan around it. Be honest about how much you can afford to spend. If you can only afford $20, say so. If you can't afford anything but the use of your house, say so.

Plan a menu. Just because you're not buying and making all the food doesn't mean that you have to forgo a great meal. Plan out all the items you'd like to have: turkey, stuffing, gravy, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, sweet potatoes, rolls, jello; then assign each guest a dish.

Don't forget about non-food items. Will you need paper plates, plastic silverware, cups, and napkins? As you know, especially when you're short on cash, all these things cost money.

Second step, the asking:

Ask nicely- flattery will get you everywhere! Chances are Aunt Linda will be tickled if you ask her to bring "her famous sweet potato casserole, the one that everyone loves". And Uncle Paul will be proud that he was the one asked to make the pumpkin pies. Cooks have egos- flattery will get you everywhere!

Don't forget to include the non-cooks. I'm sure Cousin Bob, who can't boil water, would be happy to chip in by bringing the soft drinks. Prepared foods, paper goods, beverages, and decorations are good way to include non-cooks in the dinner preparations.

Don't leave anything major to someone unreliable. As much as you may not want to admit it, you know there's a relative who never comes through. (Or maybe she did- once, in 1982.) Sure, sure, second and third chances are great, but assign her a dish that you can all go without in case she "forgets" or, better yet, goes on a bender the night before and doesn't show up at all.

Make logical choices. If Dave and Kate are always late, it doesn't make sense to ask them to bring an appetizer. Likewise, if Carrie and Bill always leave early, don't ask them to bring dessert.

Other tips:

Plan on having containers or bags for leftovers. Everyone loves to bring leftovers home, so start saving your empty Cool Whip and Country Crock tubs now- they're free and you don't need to get them back. If you don't think that you'll have enough containers for everyone, but a large box of gallon size zipper lock bags. Believe or not, you can even put gravy in those bags.

As the host, you're the one who sets the mood. If you're afraid that the Christmas potluck dinner idea won't be well-received, play it up! Let everyone know how much fun this will be!

And it will be fun! Think of how much less stressed you'll be when everyone helps by chipping in on a Christmas potluck dinner!