|
7 Cost Cutting Tips for Entertaining - from Food Prep to the Internet
Anyone who has entertained a party or get together, understands
there are always costs involved. Whether hosting a backyard barbeque,
bridal shower, or formal event, there are many costs to cover
from the food to the decorations.
However, there are areas where you can lower expenses and help
compensate for the larger or pricier items which are naturally
occurred when entertaining. Here are 7 ideas which can help you
cut costs:
1. Outsource
Choose which items you want to be responsible for and outsource
the rest. Some people prefer to be in charge of specific items
such as meat, or decorations. Whatever your specialty - outsource
the items you don't care to be responsible for. However, if you
know of people who own equipment or tools which you would normally
have to rent or pay for, utilize these assets and see if your
friend can loan you the item. For example, many grilling enthusiasts
use their own meat
grinders which allows them to grind
their choice meat to perfection while adding in their own
concoction of spices during the process. Do not be surprised if
they also use
a food slicer to slice their own meats for deli sandwiches!
However, these same enthusiasts although crazy about meats, may
have no desire to deal with other food items such as drinks or
salads. Therefore, by asking a few close friends or family members
to contribute in these areas, you can save quite a bit of money.
2. Skip the Stamps
Use the internet - not the post office. This is useful for larger
parties where invitations are generally mailed out such as bridal
showers or baby showers. Instead, use an online e-vite service
to send a professional and nice looking invitation. The savings
on stamps may surprise you. Many times, these services will give
you a good idea of who has accepted your invitation and plans
on coming. For those who are undecided or you haven't heard from,
give them a friendly call and ask.
3. Finish the Last Minute Details Early
This tip will save you time, and that can be just as important
as saving money. Make sure all your duties which usually occur
at the last minute, such as setting up chairs, tables, and plastic
ware, are all done the night or day before. This will provide
more breathing room and help reduce stress the day of the party.
4. BYOB
Any type of alcohol can quickly add up on the bill, albeit wine,
wine coolers or beer. Make it known that alcohol will not be provided,
however anyone can bring their own. Alternatively, if you do not
want to make a public announcement - afraid it will look bad -
then delegate this purchase out to a few friends who knows their
drinks. They will be honored to be given the task.
5. Forget Fancy Dinners - Go Buffet Style
No one will deny that sit down meals are always nice, but sometimes
due to the number of guests, this just simply isn't possible.
However, buffet style does not have to mean hamburgers and chips.
Instead it can mean fruits, cheese and crackers, anti-pasto,
cakes, cookies and desserts. If you usually have these type of
events catered, try buying the items yourself and you may find
the overall price is a lot less expensive.
6. Look for Coupons in Advance
No matter what size party you have, coupons will always help
defray some of the costs. Coupon expiration dates are usually
at least 3 months out, therefore start looking for possible coupons
at least 3 months prior to the event. You may be surprised at
the number of coupons which exist for cheese and desserts alone!
7. Invest in Larger Appliances or Kitchenware
This does not mean to buy the latest and greatest meat
slicer for slicing your turkey and ham for sandwiches, however
there are some items which can help reduce costs in the long run.
This tip is more appropriate for those who find themselves in
a position of frequent entertaining. For those who rarely entertain,
it may be better to simply visit the local deli for your needs.
Using the meat
slicer as an example, you will be able to buy your meats in
bulk, freeze what you do not need for the party (save it for another
party) and use the rest
for slicing deli thin meats and cheeses for top notch Italian
sub sandwiches. Deli meat can be very expensive when purchasing
at retail prices for large parties. If you hold frequent parties,
appliances such as these can help. Otherwise, you may want to
talk with the local deli and find out if they offer bulk discounts.
They may not work out special pricing with you until you prove
you are a frequent buyer.
Looking for areas to trim down expenses is not always easy.
But with the help of friends, and some creative thinking, you
may be surprised at how much you can actually save without compromising
the quality or quantity of food which can be enjoyed by yourself
and your guests.
|
