Holiday Entertaining Without Spending a Dime!
Tips on how to throw a great party - without breaking the bank!
The holidays are usually the time when we want to go all out, decorating the house with glittering decorations and throwing lavish get-togethers. But money is tight for a lot of people right now. Is there a way to decorate and entertain more affordably? Yes, Virgina, there is a way. Here are some ideas to liven up your holidays without buying a thing.
• Have a holiday decorations swap party. Get together with friends and have everyone bring accessories they don’t want anymore – candleholders, vases, figurines, ornaments, inflatable lawn sculptures, whatever. Then swap with each other, so you’ll all have new decorations. Whatever is left over can be donated to a thrift store so someone else can enjoy them.
• Dig in your cabinets, closets and garage for unexpected décor. Just because something doesn’t scream “Ho Ho Ho” doesn’t mean it is not appropriate for the holidays. Do you have old hardbound books? Leftover feathers from that craft project? Grandma’s old teacups that you thought were kind of old-fashioned? I haven’t personally been through your closets, so I don’t know what you have. But I do know that you own a lot of things that have been sitting there for years that can be repurposed as holiday décor. And I’ve learned that a few coats of spray paint can turn any ugly accessory into a shiny new decoration. Not that you would own anything ugly, but just saying.
• Borrow dinnerware from friends and family. If you’re having a big gathering, don’t go out and buy a new set of dishes and glasses. Borrow them from other people and do a whole mismatched theme. It really is more festive. Besides, who has room for extra dinnerware in their cupboards anyway?
• Partner with other friends to hold a party. That way, you are not spending all the money yourself. For example, you can be in charge of all the decorations (which you will get for free using bullet points 1-3 above), while others can be in charge of the food and drinks.
• Think electronically. Quick, while the internet is still free. Create a website (or a Facebook page) that is your holiday entertaining hub. You can post photos, invitations, directions, etc. And instead of holiday cards, e-mail them, perhaps with your favorite holiday song attached as an mp3, so friends can listen to it as they’re reading your super-interesting holiday newsletter.
• Be creative in your holiday entertaining activities, so the emphasis is not on the food, but the get-together. Instead of hosting a meal, think of activities that are fun and free. Have a movie night and invite friends over to watch a favorite holiday film. Host a holiday karaoke party. Do a mobile party where you drive around looking at all the homes with lights.
So this season, think outside the (gift-wrapped) box, and your holiday entertaining be even more special and memorable than ever.
Jonathan Fong is the author of Parties that Wow: Setting the Stage for Creative Entertaining. For more ideas, visit www.jonathanfongstyle.com.
