So you want to have a holiday party…and not go broke

As part of your holiday experience you may want to invite a few friends over and have a little get-together.  This can be a major expense or you can plan carefully and save money, but still have a classy party.  Here are some suggestions that might help you be terrific, smooth, and have a great time also.

• Set a budget for the party.  Setting a budget will keep you from overspending and help you make sure you have enough in your spending plan for the rest of the season.
• Schedule your party in the evening after dinner or in the afternoon after lunch, then you won’t be expected to serve dinner. You can serve appetizers or snacks to your guests.
• If you choose to have dinner invite your guests to bring a salad or side dish and you provide the main course. This won’t only cut down on the money you spend but also on the preparation time for your party.
   
• If you choose to decorate your home keep it simple yet homey.  Use simple decorations or even  homemade ornaments.
• For entertainment have a game night and ask everyone to bring their favorite game or create an opportunity for everyone to mingle. It may be more fun to be able to reconnect and create new friendships.

A site I recently learned about has a neat article of how to prepare for holiday entertaining.  Click this link and see some more great tips.