Six tips to throwing a great holiday party on a budget. Here’s how to host a great holiday party without spending a fortune this holiday season.

Don’t let a tight household budget discourage you from having friends and family over to your home this holiday season. There are many ways to host a great party without spending a fortune.

Six Tips to Throwing a Great Holiday Party on a Budget

1. Streamline Your Décor 

You don’t need to buy new lights and extra decorations for your entire home. Instead, concentrate your decorating on key areas. Consider hanging a fresh wreath or bright bow on your door, setting a clear bowl filled with glittery ornaments in your entryway, and adding a holiday candle to your powder room. Focus the rest of your efforts in the one room people will congregate most, such as your dining room, family room, or main seating area.

2. Keep Food Simple

Instead of a full meal, offer hearty hors d’oeuvres. Use smaller dishes instead of dinner platters to make guests’ plates look full.

3. Put Less Expensive Food at the Front of the Buffet Line 

Steal this smart catering trick: Put filling, cheaper items, like rolls and veggies, at the head of the food table near the plates. Put pricier items, like chilled shrimp or the meat tray, toward the end of the line. Your guests will automatically fill their plates with less expensive items before piling up the specialty foods.

3. Plan Food Quantities Carefully 

You don’t want to run out of food, of course, but you also don’t want lots of expensive leftovers. Plan three ounces of meat per person for deli trays. (Turkey and beef are more popular than ham, so plan with that in mind.) Assume about one ounce of cheese per person, and budget for one to two rolls or three slices of cocktail-size bread per person.

4. Stay Seasonal

Avoid holiday party recipes that call for ingredients like red peppers or cherry tomatoes, even though they look festive. These choices are expensive because they’re out of season, and they won’t taste as fresh because they’re likely to be imported.

5. Simplify Beverages 

Instead of hosting an extensive (and expensive) bar, serve one white wine and one red wine. If you decant them into serving carafes, you can buy inexpensive brands (I’m partial to the Charles Shaw line at Trader Joe’s) and no one will know. Add a coffee carafe, a bowl of punch or cider, and a pitcher of water for guests who’d like non-alcoholic options.

6. Keep Gifts to a Minimum 

Ask guests to bring a “white elephant” or silly gift that costs less than $10. If you want to give party favors to your guests, try something inexpensive, such as a pretty packet of hot cocoa mix tagged with a message like “Warm wishes for the season!” You could also take fun photos of each guest and email them or post them on a photo-sharing site.

More on Topics Related to Throwing a Holiday Party on a Budget

Five Common Holiday Scams to Avoid in 2019

3 Holiday Spending Stress Relief Tips for Gift Giving in 2019

How to Build a Black Friday, Holiday Shopping Budget Plan

Tips for the Holiday Season: Decluttering and Donating

Holiday Spending Sends Financial Stress Soaring

A Guide to Charitable Donations for the Holidays

How to Save Money on Holiday Travel

Eight Ways to Save on Holiday Parties and Food

Credit Debt, Unemployment Affect Holiday Consumer Spending

Top 10 Holiday Home Survival Tips