Budget-Wise Indoor Entertaining

Budget-wise people are Fun people – especially when it comes to indoor entertaining. Here in the Toronto area, where outside entertaining is not usually an option for several months of the year, knowing how to entertain indoors - is a must.

From an inexperienced cook to a gourmet chef and everything in between – it is possible to entertain well on a reasonable budget.

Of course, the type of budget-wise entertaining you do will depend on you, your friends and the type of gatherings you like to host.

Here are some general entertaining guidelines and tips to keep in mind:

• Set up a budget for your party – and stick to it


• Plan your guest list – keep it to reasonable numbers


• Plan your party – often a theme party will save money and effort


• Create and shop with a list of groceries based on your party plan


• If you are not a very experienced chef – avoid recipes that contain spices you do not currently have in your home – and KEEP IT SIMPLE.


• Do as much of the preparation ahead of time as possible

Here are some frugal entertaining tips and ideas to consider as you plan your party:

• Have a dessert party – where all the guests bring a dessert and you take care of the tea, coffee, etc.


• Have an appetizer party – where all the guests bring an appetizer and you take care of the tea, coffee, etc.


• Have a potluck dinner – where guests each brings a dish – and you take care of the main course, coffee, tea, etc.


• Always a favourite of frugal party givers - pasta as a main course has lots of variations and most of them are very easy on the pocket book.


• If your guests offer to help – let them. It will help to keep cost down and make entertaining easier.


• Have a Game night party – where you play inexpensive and fun mixer party games such as charades, who-am-I (where the name of a different famous person is taped to the back of everyone and they must discover who they are by questioning the other people in the room), etc.


• Have the other kind of Game night – where you invite the group in to watch the game on TV. While the temptation is to serve pre-packaged chips and such – make it budget-wise with big bowls of popcorn, no-brand soda, veggie dips, low-cost desserts, etc.


• A nice variation on the other-kind-of-Game night – is to show a movie instead.


• Host a cooking class – where you and your friends get to eat the lesson.

As you can see, there are lots of ways to celebrate and keep your budget in line. Just remember to plan, stick to your budget – and have fun!