How to Cut Holiday Party Costs Without Cutting Out the Fun
Today’s guest blog was written by Natalie Jones of Homeowner Bliss, a homeowner looking to share her and her husband’s experience with those looking to find their first home!
‘Tis the season for ugly Christmas sweaters and holiday party fun! If you plan on hosting your own holiday party this year, you’ll want some creative ways to impress your guests and make it a memorable time without blowing all of your holiday funds. But in order to be at the top of the holiday host list, you’ll need these super fun, budget-friendly party tips.
Have Some Fun Food and Drinks for Guests
The holidays are all about gathering together with friends and family, but they also tend to be about the food! You can have so much fun coming up with festive foods that all of your party guests are sure to enjoy. Load up your table with tasty bite-size options like bacon crack bites, sausage balls, or even some classic pigs in a blanket. If you don’t want to do all the food prep on your own, consider setting up stations where guests can put together their own tasty creations. This is an easy option for holiday beverages like hot chocolate where you can offer peppermints, candies, marshmallows and whipped cream as toppings. After you’ve made the food and drink list, do your wallet a favor and scout out some online cost-cutting options for snacks to help keep these tasty holiday treats budget-friendly.
Put Together a Festive Holiday Playlist
Once you have your party food plan all squared away, you can focus on making your event fun. No holiday party is complete without the perfect playlist, but you don’t have to pay high prices for a DJ. Instead, spend some time before your event planning some music that fits your festivities. You can use Spotify to put together a list of modern twists on your favorite holiday pop songs or pick out a holiday station on Pandora to keep the music jamming all night long. Want to add some festive fun to your party on the cheap? Try using a karaoke app to get your guests to sing along to current hits or their favorite holiday songs. You can pick from a list of preloaded tunes or scan songs on your devices to give you a variety of options to choose from.
Don’t Forget to Pick Up Party Favors
When you’ve planned the ultimate holiday party, the last thing you want is for your guests to leave empty-handed. Having some fun, festive party favors to hand out is a warm gesture during the season of giving, and it helps your guests hold onto those memories as well. Fortunately, it’s easy (and budget-friendly) to put together some DIY party favors to score some fun points with your friends and family. For example, you could bake some take-home treats or make personalized ornaments for each person. If you don’t have the time for DIY, consider picking up some bulk party favors from your favorite party supply retailer. From snowflake fans to pre-made goody bags, you are sure to find a budget-friendly option your guests will love.
Don’t Forget to Have a Plan for Your Pets
Holiday parties and foods are always fun for you and your guests, but they may not be as much fun for any pets in your home. Aside from worrying about your cat or dog escaping with guests coming in and out of the front door, you also have to worry about holiday foods that are toxic to your furry family members. Your party guests may not know to keep seemingly innocent treats, like candy and bones, out of reach of your animals, but that could end in tragedy for your pets. So make the night stress-free for everyone and have a plan to keep your animals out of the way. You can keep them in a designated space away from guests, but the best bet is to arrange for them to stay with a pet boarder or sitter while you host your holiday party.
The holidays are a time for giving, so give your guests a gift they will always remember! From comfort food to creative parting gifts, you can make sure your party is a hit, and kick off the holidays in style without breaking your entire budget. Happy hosting, and happy holidays!
Photo Credit: Pexels
