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Topics: Holiday Entertaining |
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| Hosting a New Year's Bash on a Budget |
Submitted by:
leigh67 12/29/2008 1:28 PM
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For the last eight years I have hosted a new year's partyand the cost escalates pretty quickly. So this year, I decided to do some more research before heading out for my shopping to see if there were any other ways to cut down on the cost. So here is a collection of some of the tips that I have used over the years to keep my party on budget, and some new ones I plan to try this year:
INVITES:
1)If your friends are online, send invites via evite.com or simply send out a group email. Evite makes it easy to keep track of how many guests you can expect, as guest are asked to RSVP. If friends are not online, consider a phone call.
2)Or if you are sending Christmas cards, slip your New Year's invitation into the card and save an envelope and a stamp.
DRINKS:
1)Serving 3 Signature drinks (sangria, peppermint martini and prosecco royale in place of expensive champagne - see recipe from rachel ray: rachaelraymag.com) Look to purchase liquor at discount warehouses.
2)Providing beer and wine, but also asked friends to bring beer and wine. Bought at case of wine at a discounted 10% off.
FOOD: 8:30 start time, makes it clear that dinner will not be served, so I can stick to appetizers and desserts.
1) Keeping it simple--finger foods and dips and desserts. Trader Joe's, Sams Club and Costco are the best for cheap and easy appetizers and desserts.
2) Asked 3 of my closest friends to make/bring 1 appetizer and 1 dessert item.
3)Cheese and crackers and olive trays, inexpensive and delicious.
4)Consider a fondue party--one chocolate, one cheese and all the dipping sides, fruit, nuts, crackers, marshmellows, etc. great fun.
for some great budget recipes click here:epicurious.com
SERVEWARE/NAPKINS ETC.:
1) Check out thrift stores for holiday serving platters--should be lots of inventory there right now!
2) Christmas Tree Shop has the best prices on cheap and festive napkins, plates, cups etc. Or better yet, plan far ahead and buy on sale last year....
DECORATIONS:
1) Candles, christmas lights and dimmed lights.
2) Bag of party crowns from the party store. small price for a little festivity
3) Pick a color, makes less go further. For example, a bouquet of cheap carnations doesn't look cheap. A few small vases of flowers scattered around is a nice touch.
4) look around the house to see what you've got instead of buying decorations. I got out the silver polish and polished up rarely used silver candleabras for a festive centerpiece.
5) Head outside for decorations: tree branches, pine boughs, pine cones, winter berries, all make great centerpieces and spruce up your mantle.
6) buy up wreaths as centerpieces--on sale post holidays, place an ice bucket in the middle for some drama.
7) glittery christmas bulbs in a glass bowl look festive too--work with what you've got!
MUSIC:
1)MP3 player, queued up ahead of time so all set to go--start out with jazz and end up with dance music.
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