How to Entertain on a Budget

While the economy has forced financial hardships on many, it doesn't seem to be stopping anyone from enjoying themselves; yet we are all certainly looking for more affordable ways to do it. There are so many reasons to throw a party, be it a holiday, a graduation, a special event in your life, or just a gathering of friends. But, how do you do this and do it well, when you're on a budget? It's easy! Let me share with you some of my tips for entertaining on a budget.

There are so many ways to entertain on a budget, but it all comes down to all of the pieces of the puzzle put together as a whole. There are always going to be places where being thrifty will pay off more than others, and there will be times when getting what you pay for will be worth every penny. Today, I am going to tell you some of my tips and tricks of things you can do to entertain on a budget.

Let me first tell you about the power of the Dollar Store. The number of items you can get at the dollar store for your next party are endless! Let's say you plan on throwing a birthday party for a 10 year old boy named Johnny. Now, as much as this birthday party is being used as an example, it will show you the power of what you can accomplish at just a dollar store alone. For starters, you can purchase just about everything you will need when it comes to serving your guests. Paper plates, cups, napkins, table cloths, cutlery, serving platters and more can all be purchased at the dollar store. And better yet, you can often find matching sets of each piece you'll need. You can also purchase invitations, candles, decorations, loot bags, party favors, balloons, games, prizes, and the list goes on. It's all about how creative you want to be, the dollar store is one of your best friends when entertaining on a budget. Now don't get me wrong, just because you're shopping at the dollar store doesn't mean you'll walk out of there having only spent a dollar. But, you may find that because each of the items on your list were only a dollar, you were able to get a little more than you had planned, and perhaps spent even less than you would have if you had gotten it someplace else. Keep in mind though, the dollar store can be used for so much more than just birthday parties. Most dollar stores have a section specially devoted to the next holiday coming up, so you'll be sure to find great items you can use and perhaps re-use for many holidays throughout the year.

Next let's talk about food. Food is always important when throwing a party. If you're having a dinner party, this can be one of the most important parts of the event. But, lets stick with the theme today for the sake of consistency and talk about ways to feed everyone at little Johnny's birthday party. Assuming that Johnny has family and friends near by, you can always consider the option of having a potluck. Potlucks are one of the easiest and most affordable ways to throw a party, because there can be so much food you won't even know what to do with it all! And better yet, 90% of it came when your guests arrived, and the dishes will leave with them when they go, so less mess for you to clean up in the end! Irregardless of whether you decide to have a potluck, you should still provide a good basis of snacks and other main dishes when hosting a party at your home.

One of the best tips I know about entertaining on a budget when it comes to food preparation, is to actually prepare it yourself. There will be times when either the time it takes to make it, or the ingredients required outweigh the cost, so you'll want to weigh it out, but the simple things like snack platters and deserts can always save you money if you make them yourself. Have you ever priced out how much it would cost to make a veggie platter versus buying one already made? It's usually less than half the cost to make it yourself. And the same can go with fruit trays, meat and cheese trays, or even the more specialty type trays with more delectable items on them, always make the trays yourself. Many times you'll be paying for the packaging more so than the contents when you buy pre-made.

Taking it one step further, if you do decide for example to go ahead and buy a pound of deli-made potato salad, you can always scoop it out of the tupperware it came in, and put it in a nice bowl. Garnish it with a bit of parsley and some paprika, and you've got a homemade looking dish in no time! But the point of this tip here, is not to fool anyone on who made the potato salad, it's all about presentation! Remember the various commercials on TV hosted by Patricia Heaton (Ray Romano's wife on 'Everybody Loves Raymond') when she's used Albertsons as her savior to cater various parties, and has gotten so many compliments on them that she proudly replies to her guests 'I got it at Albertsons'. Don't assume that Albertsons or any other grocer for that matter, is going to do all of the work for you. But they can make it easier, and if you use your time wisely you can really play up your presentation by just swapping out those plastic containers for some coordinating party platters. Now, just before we head on to the next tip I'd like to remind you that not only do you need to feed your guests, you also need to provide beverages as well. I have found it not only cost effective, but handy and helpful to use the traditional 'BYOB' (bring your own beverage) on invitations, and through word of mouth to your guests. Most guests do not mind one bit bringing their own beverages. And for those that do mind, kindly provide a few simple items like juice or ice-water, and perhaps a small assortment of carbonated drinks. Because, it never fails. The day you buy Coke will be the day that everyone likes Pepsi, so I've actually found that even when guests bring nothing else, they usually don't mind at all bringing themselves something to drink.

Finally, it pays to shop around. There will be times when certain items are not the cheapest at the dollar store. And there will be times when shopping at wholesale grocers will be more or less expensive than retail grocers. If you live in an area where you have a lot of resources, it might be most cost affective to shop around and buy what you can where you find it for the best deal. But, if you live in a rural community and have to travel quite a bit to do your shopping, making one or two stops and getting it all out of the way in one trip may be easier. With that said, there is always the Internet. Depending on how much you have in your budget for your event, and if you plan far enough ahead, shopping on-line can be a great place to save some money and time, all from the convenience of your own home. Websites like eBay.com and OrientalTrading.com are great places to look for party supplies and other household items you may need for your next get together.

So, as much as I have provided here today, there are still so many other great ways to entertain on a budget. Just be sure to do your homework, plan ahead, and have realistic expectations. Don't be afraid to ask for help from family and friends. Kids love to decorate, and there are plenty of people out there that would just love to whip up their favorite recipe and try it out on a new set of friends. Maybe you know someone who can make an awesome cake? Just be resourceful, talk to friends and family, get ideas, and enjoy yourself. After all, as much work that goes into planning a party, the most important thing is that you take the time to stop and enjoy it because it can all be over in the blink of an eye...