Tips for Hosting a Chic and Affordable Holiday Party

Why not try something different this holiday party season, like a theme that can be implemented without breaking the bank for your guests and you? All it takes is a little creativity! If you're the designated party-thrower in your group, here are some tips for keeping the expenses down, while still creating a holiday party everyone will remember:

Putting a New Spin on Holiday Party Themes

For adults, you can help your guests save money by having a recycling and re-gifting party. Most people have at least one item in their closets that they've been given but don't want, so why not have them wrap them up and give them again? Make sure to let them know who is coming to the party, though, so people don't re-gift items they received from other party guests. If you don't want to risk hurt feelings, people can just bring impulse purchases they made but have never used. The gifts should be limited to a dollar amount that's appropriate for the group, so people at all income levels can participate. Another way you can implement this concept is to have all the guests print free holiday gift certificate blanks, bring them to the party and then use names in a hat to decide who will give the certificates to whom. Once everyone has chosen a name, each person fills in the blank line on their certificate with the free gift they're willing to give the recipient, such as walking a dog, mowing a lawn or cooking a gourmet meal. This idea obviously works best with an intimate crowd who know each other pretty well.

For a children's holiday party, the guests can bring low-cost items that would be appropriate for a homeless shelter that serves families or a local animal rescue organization. If you call the organization's manager, you can compile a list of low-cost items that can be included with the invitations you send to your guests. Instruct them to wrap the items as if they were regular holiday gifts and then everyone can go as a group to deliver them. This would not only be meaningful for everyone involved but it would also teach the children the true meaning of the holidays.

Make Your Own Holiday Party Decorations and Invitations

The Web has a large assortment of invitations for both adults and kids. So why waste your money on store-bought invitations when printing them at home is so easy and inexpensive? There are also plenty of free Christmas clip art images online, many of which would make great party decorations. If you can find large enough art, you can make banners or signs. If not, you have the option of decorating flower arrangements or plants with clip art cut-outs or making table place cards. If your guests like antique art, try printing and cutting out various vintage holiday cards and attach them to a string that you drape around the room or the buffet table. This is an easy way to get a vintage holiday feel and make the party more festive! To finish off the vintage theme, get mismatched plates, glasses and silverware at a thrift store to use in place of plastic and paper party ware.

The key to creating a memorable winter holiday event is to be creative. If you implement even the most low-cost ideas with style, no one will ever know it was a bargain! The economy is making it hard for a lot of people right now but that doesn't mean you can't celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year with style.