Keen to entertain your friends without breaking the bank? We’ve put together a list that will ensure your next get-together is a hit without adding to your budget stress.
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Plan ahead
Don’t leave the planning to the last minute. By giving yourself a decent time buffer, you give yourself more opportunity to find bargains on supplies or come up with some creative ideas that may just give your event the extra pop it needs.
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Pick the right time
If catering for a group, major meals can cost an arm and a leg. However, if you plan your event for the mid-afternoon or late evening, you can get away with offering simple snacks or an easy dessert while keeping people satisfied.
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Raid your pantry
Be resourceful. Your first resort should be checking your pantry to see what you can potentially use. Leftover crackers? Put them in a bowl with some cheese on the side for light nibbles. Alternatively, you could pair that cheese with those olives in your fridge that you forgot about and make some simple skewers. Go crazy with it.
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Serve a signature drink
Alcohol is usually one of the most significant costs when organising an event – and the costs quickly stack up when trying to cater for people’s drink preferences. Solution – serve a signature drink for the event and make a thing out of it, whether it’s alcoholic or not. A quick Google search turns up a number of simple, budget-friendly cocktails (or mocktails) that are sure to add a bit of spice to your night (or afternoon).
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Love your leftovers
Treat your leftovers well. If you play your cards right, they could be your evening nibbles for the next few days. No need to dig further into your snack budget. Don’t be shy about covering them with foil and sticking them in the fridge when people stop picking at them.
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Redecorate a bit
If you’re looking to liven up the place a bit, first check if there are any decorations lying around the house that you can repurpose. Candles in the bedroom? Chuck them on the dining table for some warm evening ambience. Neutral fairy lights in your Christmas decorations? Hang them around the entertaining space to add a bit of life. Get creative.
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Create a party playlist
For the cost of your monthly Spotify subscription, you can curate a playlist that’ll have heads bobbing and maybe even allow for some spontaneous fits of dancing, should the mood arise. This is where a Bluetooth speaker comes in handy. However, if you don’t have one you can always try blasting your music through the TV.
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Host a movie night instead
If you can’t be bothered putting on too much of a show, you can always host a movie night (TV and seating required, of course). There are a couple of benefits to going this route.
– Popcorn is super affordable; just pop it in a bowl (pun intended) and voila; your snacks are sorted.
– This can easily be planned for the late evening, helping you take advantage of the benefits listed in #2.
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Pitch it as a potluck
You can always pitch the occasion as a potluck. By having everyone chip in with some drinks or snacks, you can feel free to organise a lunch or dinner without needing to prepare a mountain of food or drinks. Just cook one main meal and leave the appetisers to the guests.
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Go for a games night
You know what’s great about a games night? You only need to provide some drinks and light nibbles. So, what are you waiting for? Pick up Pictionary from your parents’ house and get to planning.
These are our top 10 tips for entertaining at home on a budget. Give them a go and feel free to let us know how it went on our socials!
If you’d like a hand with budgeting or are just keen to get some more advice from the experts, you can contact one of our Finance coaches today.