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Frugal
Entertaining |
by: Matthew
Bezahler |
Do you love to have
company in your home, but hate to spend big money to do so? Even
weekend visitors can put a crimp in your family budget. Learn ways to
entertain family and friends anytime without having to take out a loan.
The
worst part of entertaining is the preparation. Every host or hostess
wants their presentation to be perfect, but there aren’t enough hours
in the day, especially if guests show up unannounced.
The
instinct is to order food from a local restaurant, by delivery, or
order a pizza. Both are highly expensive.
An option
is to run out and purchase prepackaged foods. Food warehouse clubs like
Costco and Sam’s Club sell prepared food trays. Tray sizes vary so it
is easy to choose the one that fits the number of guests you are
serving. Create a buffet with cheese, meat, deli, fruit, chicken, and
cracker trays.
Offering a variety of sodas can be
messy – and expensive. Instead, fix a citrus punch bowl.
You
will need: two or three 2-liter bottles of lemon-lime soda,
two cans of pineapple juice, a bag of ice cubes, and a tub of lime
sherbet.
The taste is light enough for everyone.
If you don’t want to use regular ice cubes, fill your ice trays with
some of the punch. As the punch warms up, add punch-flavored ice cubes
to cool it down without watering it down.
A wise
hostess will keep on hand a list of things to do around town that are
free or cost very little. Guests with kids may like zoos or museums. A
picnic or cookout in the park gives everyone a chance to eat,
socialize, and take advantage of park activities all in one venue.
Other options are State Parks, local public attractions, and nature
reserves. All are very affordable, and guests love to visit the local
attractions.
If guests are spending the night, make
it as convenient as possible for them and you. Purchase trial size
bottles of deodorant, soap, shampoo, toothpaste, and travel
toothbrushes from the dollar store. Guests may bring these items, but,
having a basket of these miniatures in their room will help them if
they forgot anything.
Entertaining can be painless
and fun even for those who don’t particularly like to play host or
hostess. Even on short notice, you can whip up a meal, draw up an event
calendar, and prepare a room for those unexpected friends and family
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