If you want to host a fabulous party but don’t want an equally fabulous bill at the end of it, try one of the following easy holiday party ideas. You can celebrate the season while still staying on budget.
Dessert Party
Everyone loves desserts, especially during the holidays, when we all want to indulge a little bit. Desserts can be much cheaper than providing a whole spread, especially if you make them yourself from scratch. To save even more money, ask each guest to bring one dessert. Provide the plates, the forks, the spoons and the coffee.
Open House
During the holidays, an open house party is especially fun to host. Provide a time frame of several hours, and allow guests to come and go whenever it is most convenient for them within your parameters. Serve easy and inexpensive hors d’oeuvres, and refresh them only when needed. Cooking and clean up are simple, as well as inexpensive.
Ask guests to bring one dish and host a pot luck. Provide the drinks and the dinnerware, as well as the use of your oven and microwave for re-heating. You’ll all enjoy a variety of dishes, and you won’t spend hundreds of dollars on food.
Fondue Party
You can often find inexpensive fondue parts at thrift stores or borrowed from friends. Have at least two on hand, one for sweet (chocolate) and one for savory (cheese). You can also use small crock pots instead of fondue pots. Cut up a variety of bread, fruit and meat for guests to dip and sample.
Soups On! Party
I recently went to a party where the main course was a variety of soup, and it was delicious. The host bought the soup from a local deli, but you could also make it from scratch or ask your guests to each bring a soup. Serve a variety of bread, crackers and salad, to accompany the soup. Include some common condiments, such as soup cream and shredded cheese, as well.