It’s almost time to celebrate the spirit of the season with parties and get-togethers to

reconnect with our families and friends, especially those who live far away. If you're thinking about throwing the perfect holiday party without breaking the bank, here are several tips to help make the planning process fun, stress-free and budget friendly. 

1. Set a Budget
Make a list of potential expenses such as invitations, decorations, entertainment, food and drink. If you’re not sure how much each item will cost, look online for estimated pricing. If you’ve hosted the same or similar party before, review expenses from previous years. Also, programs such as Party Budget Estimator from Evite calculate your costs based on information you type in, the number of guests and the duration of the party. 

Photo by Ben White on Unsplash

Prioritize where you’d like to spend most of your money. Is the food the most important aspect to you, or is it mood-enhancing items like décor? Our preferred partner, Christine Fife from Christine Fife Interiors may be able to help you decorate your holiday party. Once you estimate how much everything will cost, you can decide how you would like to prioritize your spending if you’re on a tight budget.

Choose a venue. If you plan to host a party at a restaurant or other venue, reserve it as soon as you know the date you want. Many host the party in their homes to save money. If that is your plan, focus the event in the living room, dining room and other common areas, and close the rest of the house to guests.

2. Create a Guest List

Although your budge may indicate the size of your party, there are ways to cut costs so you can entertain more people. Are you planning a sit-down dinner party or something larger? Are you inviting families or only adults? If you’re inviting children, keep their interests and ages in mind as you plan activities. For example, be sure to have entertainment available to them, such as holiday movies in a playroom, holiday-themed games and toys, etc.

Photo by Mira on Unsplash

Send invitations. If you plan to send paper invitations, be sure to send them as soon as possible. Schedules fill up fast over the holiday season, so be sure to invite your guests several weeks in advance of the party.

Save money with email invitations, which are free to send and allow you to easily manage who has responded and who hasn’t. If you use Facebook, create an event page to invite guests and communicate with them before the event. This is especially useful if you’re planning a potluck or are asking guests to bring snacks or beverages; you can ask people to post what they plan to bring, ensuring there’s no overlap.

3. Plan Your Entertainment

Make sure your guests have fun at your party. Use a digital music service such as Pandora to choose holiday-themed playlists, or create a music list with a digital service like Spotify. •   I f your guests love singing, buy, rent or borrow a karaoke machine and queue it up with holiday hits. Offer a prize for the best singer to encourage healthy competition.

Encourage your guests to wear festive attire, including holiday sweaters and offer a prize for the best festive outfit.

Have a friend or family member dress as Santa Claus and hand out candy to guests or small toys to their children.

Create goody bags for young children at the party and include candy canes, crayons, holiday-themed coloring pages or books and stickers. This will keep them busy while their parents mingle.

If you want guests to exchange gifts, make it a Secret Santa or White Elephant exchange and give guests a budget to adhere to. For a Secret Santa exchange, pair people up ahead of time, once you know who’s coming to the party. If you plan to host a White Elephant exchange, let your guests know on their invitation so they remember to bring a gift.

4. Plan Your Menu

Whether you’re having your party catered, making everything yourself or having a potluck, it helps to plan your menu.If you’re having the party catered, hire a caterer as soon as possible since the holiday season is the busiest time of year for many. Look online and get recommendations from friends for great caterers in your area. Once you’ve hired one, work with them to create a menu your guests will love that also takes into account any dietary restrictions your guests may have.

If you’re cooking the meal yourself, scour the internet and your favorite cookbooks and magazines for recipes. To save time and avoid stress, make as much of the meal as you


can in advance and freeze it, then choose recipes that have a few of the same ingredients. Or, host a buffet instead of a sit-down meal. People tend to eat less at a buffet and you can make most of the food ahead of time. Another idea is to host a holiday brunch instead of a big dinner. Since breakfast items tend to be cheaper, you’ll cut down on food costs. Additionally, guests may feel more comfortable bringing their families to a brunch setting.

If you’re planning a potluck, supply the main dish and ask your guests to bring their favorite dish to share. Ask them ahead of time what they plan to bring to avoid doubling up on dishes. If they’re not sure, give them a recipe to make or, if they don’t cook, ask them to bring beverages or ice.

Save money on drinks by creating a signature drink to serve, such as eggnog or a seasonal cocktail. Buy non-alcoholic beverages in bulk, such as soft drinks, water or apple cider.

5. Decorate

Holiday decorations don’t have to break the bank. Reuse old decorations to save money or borrow décor from family and friends. If you have children, enlist their help to get creative. Decorate natural items such as pine cones and branches with glitter, help them cut and decorate paper snowflakes or put together popcorn and paper chains. If you prefer to purchase new decorations, discount stores offer a selection of low-cost, festive items. If you tend to host a holiday party every year, be sure to take advantage of post-holiday sales and other deals throughout the year. 

Don't forget to take pictures or have a professional photographer such as my favorite local photographers, Rob Miszti or Carrie Ayn Calligan, capture holiday memories for you. 



Have fun!