How to Throw a Fun Frugal Christmas Party on a Budget
Christmas time is one the best times of the year, but as we all know, it can also be one of the most stressful times of the year, especially when you are on a tight budget. My family has always been on a tight budget so I have worked hard to perfect some frugal ideas for throwing a great Christmas get-together.
There might be certain areas you prefer not to skimp on when it comes to the holidays, but you can throw a really great Christmas party with all the bells and whistles without it looking cheap and without blowing the Christmas budget.
Here are some simple tips to having a frugal Christmas party.
There are many aspects of planning a good party, food, decorations, theme, etc. Today we are going to go over some ideas and tips for delicious party food on a budget, some alternative ideas to do instead of having a big Christmas party, and ideas for frugal gifts and decorations.
1. Host a cookie exchange.
This is a great, fun, and inexpensive way to get together at the holidays. Everyone brings one or two batches of their favourite holiday cookies or bars, a container and even a recipe card of their favourite Christmas cookie. By the end of the party, everyone leaves with a whole platter different kinds of yummy cookies. You don’t have to do too much either. Provide some light hors d’oeuvres and some beverages and you have a great night. Best part is everyone leaves with something and you don’t have to provide for every part of it.
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2. Have a tree-trimming party.
Since you have to decorate the tree anyways, why not have a bunch of friends over and have at it. A little wine and light snacks and you’ll have a simple, inexpensive party. Or, if you go out into the woods and get your own tree, invite some friends, bring some hot chocolate and some goodies, build a bonfire and make a day of it.
3. Potluck is a great way to have a frugal Christmas party.
Not only does doing a meal potluck style save you money, but you also get to try many different kinds of food and share some of your homemade goodness from the homestead with friends and family. Plus, there is less work having to prepare a big meal for everyone. Just get the plates, napkins, and beverages. It doesn’t get much cheaper than that.
Related:The Best Ways to Transport Food to Reunions, Potlucks and Social Gatherings
4. Have a little cheese with that wine.
If you’re looking for something slightly more elegant, perhaps for business clients, then a wine and cheese party is the way to go. To make it even more budget friendly, ask each guest to bring their favorite bottle of wine. Then all you have to buy is the cheese. Who knows, you might find a new wine you like. Here are some tips and tricks for styling the Ultimate Holiday Bar Cart.
Related:
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5. Host an open house.
Have people come as they please during certain hours and serve them light hors d’oeuvres and drinks. You can even make a lot of the hors d’oeuvres months in advance and freeze them. That way you can spread out the cost of groceries and the time it takes to make them.
6. Have a pizza party.
Okay, stay with us here. We know it sounds so not Christmassy, but let everyone make their own. Dough is relatively inexpensive to make or buy and having everyone make their own pizza brings everyone together. Perhaps an impromptu flour fight breaks out. It could be a lot of fun. Besides, who doesn’t love pizza?
7. Skip brunch in favor of lupper.
A little mid-day treat. It doesn’t have to cost you a whole lot of money because you don’t need to do a five-course dinner. Keep it small and cheerful.
8. Have a white elephant party for frugal gift giving.
Part of the problem with holiday parties is buying gifts for everyone. Well, instead have everyone bring one wrapped gift per person. You could put a spending limit on it if you’d like, but let them buy whatever they want to buy. Or you could specify that things can be bought or homemade.
Taking turns the first person opens a gift. The second person then has the choice of taking the gift from the first person or opening her own. If she steals the first person’s gift, then the first person picks a new gift and opens it. It then moves on to the third person, and so on until everyone is left with a gift. It might not be the one you chose, but hopefully you love it none the less. It’s really very fun. And you don’t have to worry about buying a gift for everyone because everyone gets one gift in the end. We have done this many years in a row and there is often one or two joke gifts that make an appearance year after year.
Related Posts:
- How to Plan Homemade Edible Gifts from the Homestead
- Simple Outdoor Family Fun Around The Homestead this Christmas
- Christmas Fun Pinterest Board
- 10 Frugal Kitchen Tips for the Holiday Season
- Crafty Old-Fashioned Christmas Decorations
- Planning a Halloween Party
- 8 Ways to have a Zero Waste Easter Party
- 12 Quick and Easy Ideas to Create a Festive Mood on the Homestead
- 9 Tips for Eating Healthy Through the Holidays
Keeping it small and asking your guests to contribute is what’s going to help make your holiday party one that doesn’t break the bank. What’s your favourite Christmas party theme?
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