Yahoo Finance How to Throw a Fabulous and Frugal Dinner Party
Warm summer nights should be spent outdoors with friends, lingering over last bites of peach pie and glasses of white wine.
However, with family vacations on the horizon, summer camp checks due and air conditioning bills skyrocketing, hosting a posh dinner party might seem like an extravagance. But fancy feasts don't have to be expensive.
To celebrate with good food and friends without overstepping your budget, try out these tips for throwing a fabulous, frugal dinner party.
[See: 12 Ways to Be a More Mindful Spender.]
1. Add Inexpensive Ambiance
When you look back on the last dinner party you went to, you probably remember the conversations, laughs and the delicious lemon fish. The china plates or rustic centerpiece were probably less of a highlight.
Still, dazzling décor can do a lot to create ambiance. You can impress with inexpensive, elegant touches like fresh flowers, candles and mason jars. Set the table with handmade menu cards, salad forks and dessert spoons, and sparkling wine glasses. To add to the tranquil atmosphere, set up speakers outside and play a soft music station on Pandora.
2. Scour Your Home
Preparing your table and backyard for your party doesn't require a trip to a home furnishing boutique. You may be surprised with all the useful goodies you can find in your very own home. Your indoor furniture can fashion a cheery backyard sitting area. Tables can be arranged around the yard to serve as separate drink and dessert sections. Ceramic mugs make attractive soup bowls, while martini and shot glasses can serve as classy dessert cups. Colorful curtains can be cut into sophisticated cloth napkins, while large bowls can hold floating flowers. An eclectic mix of plates can create a laidback feel, and brown craft paper can give your table a finished look and simplify post-dinner cleanup.
3. Choose One Inspired Entree
When it comes to dinner parties, go for quality over quantity. Focus your efforts on one delicious entree rather than stretching your energy over multiple dishes. Go for inexpensive but imaginative entrees, such as pineapple tilapia tacos, bacon quiche and pizza with different toppings. Check out frugal food blogs and recipe sites to find inspired and original ideas.
[See: 10 Meals to Make When You Are Trying to Save.]
4. Swap Out Expensive Cuts of Meat
Cook with expensive cuts of meat and you could easily spend over $100 on a party of six. Swap out the expensive cuts in your favorite dishes for less expensive meats, such as chicken ($3 a pound), ground beef ($4.50 a pound) and ground turkey ($4 a pound). Frozen seafood can also be a light, sophisticated and inexpensive protein.
5. Go Vegetarian
Keeping your main entree meat-free will please vegetarians and omnivores alike in addition to saving you a hefty sum. There's plenty of veggie dishes that will delight taste buds and satisfy tummies. Try linguine with breadcrumbs and garlic, black bean and avocado arepas or chickpea curry.
6. Go Easy on the Apps
Why spoil your guest's appetites before getting to the main course? Stick to light and simple appetizers like self-made veggie trays, white bean dip and tomato and salsa crostini.
7. Keep Desserts Simple and Sweet
After filling your guests with a scrumptious dinner, you don't need to serve an extravagant dessert. Keep it sweet and simple with strawberries and ice cream or roasted peaches with cookie crumbles.
[See: 10 Fun, Frugal Ways to Spend Your Free Time.]
8. Skip the Fancy Wines
With all the cheap and quality wines out there, you don't need to shell out for a fancy bottle. Look for varieties from lesser-known countries -- like Turkey or Romania -- which are often better deal than popular wines. Or, head to Trader Joes or a big-box store to hunt down cheap and tasty selections.
For something a little different, try serving one simple, signature drink at the party, such as apple sangria, cape codders and gin rickeys.
9. Don't Fly Solo
After sending out invitations, your friends are certain to ask what to bring. Go ahead and request a contribution of an appetizer, dessert or bread. It's also not a bad idea to make the party BYOB and invite guests to bring their own wine, beer or other preferred libation.
10. Plan Free, Fun Entertainment
As everyone digests your delicious dinner, party games can entertain and stimulate conversation. Reawaken your inner children with games like Apples to Apples and Monopoly, or with friendship bracelet and keychain crafts. Start up a round of a classic dinner party game like charades or 20 questions. Encourage discussion by going around and answering playful questions, such as "What superpower would you choose?" and "What would you bring to a deserted island?"
Maria Lalonde honed her deal-hunting skills while traveling through South America and Southeast Asia, combing colorful local markets for unique finds. Her love of blogging and thirst for deals brought her to Offers.com, where she blogs about savings tips.
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