How to Host a Budget-Friendly Holiday Party Without Feeling Like a Scrooge

Happy Holidays Mommies! I am so excited to introduce Natalie from the blog homeownerbliss. She and her husband Jason recently purchased their first home, and her goal is to share the lessons they picked up along the way for other first time buyers. She has some great ideas and her website can be found at http://homeownerbliss.info. Hope you enjoy her post as much as I did…Also, the links in the post are so helpful! Thanks Natalie!

xx MommieMix

The holidays are a time for family, Elf on the Shelf, and endless fun. If part of your holiday plans include throwing a party, you may be looking for some ways to save money without spoiling all the festive fun. Luckily, throwing an amazing, affordable holiday party doesn’t have to leave you feeling frazzled and financially strapped if you follow these simple tips.

Add Some Sparkle to Your Home

When you have guests in your home, you don’t want clutter to be the first thing they notice. Before you break out your Christmas trees and decorations, take a few hours to declutter and tidy up your home. If little ones will be in your home, you’ll need to take extra care to put away candles, glass items, batteries, and any objects that can pose a safety risk. Once your home is clean, you can style it up to “wow” your guests. Look for budget-friendly ways to shop for decorations, from finding pre-made decor at specialty shops to taking advantage of holiday savings at major retailers — you can use Walmart promo codes for extra cash back or scour Target’s weekly deals, for example — to help keep your spending to a minimum.

Plan Some DIY Food Stations

When you don’t have the budget to cater or the time to cook, your best option for feeding your guests is to have them make their own snacks and beverages. Setting up food stations is a great way to minimize your time in the kitchen, and party guests love having the opportunity to get creative with their refreshments. For the holidays, go with a DIY popcorn table or a fun champagne cocktail setup for adults. When it comes to appetizers, look for snacks you can prepare overnight and serve cold or reheated the next day. A chicken crescent wreath is sure to warm up your guests’ tummies, or you can set out trays of cheeses, veggies, and fruits. Take some pinch out of that grocery bill by clipping coupons or researching your grocery’s weekly ad.

Be Ready with Some Festive Games

If food is your top priority, then fun should be a close second. Add some pizazz to the party by coming up with some fun holiday games to play. Thankfully, it doesn’t take a lot of money (if any) to provide fun for your guests. For adults, it can be as simple as setting up ornament guesses or Christmas movie trivia. If children are attending your celebrations, you’ll need to have entertainment suited to their abilities and age group. Kids of all ages will love pinning the heart on a Grinch or hunting for candy canes around your home. You can also set up a movie room with some kid-friendly holiday films.

Have a Party Plan for Your Pets

If you have furry family members in your home, you’ll want to figure out what to do with them during the festivities. Opting for affordable boarding services with a kennel will likely be the safest option. That way, you won’t have to worry about your pet getting out or feeling overwhelmed by all your guests. If you do choose to let your pets in on the holiday fun, make sure your guests know to keep potentially toxic holiday foods out of reach of your furry family members, so you can avoid costly emergency vet visits.

Don’t let a tight holiday budget spoil all of your holiday fun! With a few festive tricks, you can host a holiday party your guests will be talking about for years to come — and you don’t even have to spend a lot of money to do it. So, trim that tree, break out those cookies, and get ready to throw a holiday party even Buddy the Elf would be proud of! May your holidays — and your parties — be filled with cheer and fun!

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