A penny saved…

As the seasons change and the days get longer, I get that urge to socialize. Long summer nights are perfect for conversations with friends, old and new. Family BBQs, pool parties, baseball or soccer games - the options are endless. Always in the back of my head is how I can entertain within the confines of my budget.

Creativity is necessary to make things frugal, beautiful and fun. My inner Martha Stewart desires events to look pretty but not constipated. I know that this is a common refrain, but planning is essential to having things be fun AND frugal.

I have a family BBQ coming up with 5 kids and 6 adults attending. In order to make sure I have great food and enough of it, I’ve already started to plan.

• Food Planning: My menu is already in place and I have an idea of quantities. The kids who we’ll be entertaining are pretty picky so burgers are a must. Grilled chicken breasts, strawberry spinach salad, roasted potatoes, baked beans, fresh bread, caprese salad and hazelnut meringue cake with raspberries complete the list. I wanted something that would be easy to prepare ahead of time so day-of I can have a good time.

  With the menu in place, I have 4 weeks to scan flyers for sales on needed items and get the best possible prices. First score - a box of good quality frozen hamburgers on sale for 40% off. Settling on a menu in advance gives you the opportunity of having the food you want on sale.

• Busy Hands: Again, because some of my guests will want to sit and chat and others will want to run and play, I want to be prepared. I have a couple of inexpensive balls the kids can kick around, along with an old croquet set I got through Freecycle. I’ve learned through experience that no matter how much technology kids are exposed to, the low-tech stuff can be a big hit.

  For the adults, I want to make sure I have enough space and chairs so everyone can stand or sit comfortable. If you need some extra chairs, consider borrowing or Freecycle before buying.

• Temperance Sister: I don’t buy or serve a lot of booze. For a lot of parties, I have none at all. That being said, I always have a good variety of beverages from homemade lemonade, iced tea, juice, soda, pop, punch and milk. Because it’s a BBQ, there will be beer.

  At the same time, alcohol costs a lot and I can’t afford to host an open bar. I do plan on giving my guests the best I can afford and making sure that they enjoy whatever beverage is in front of them

• Thrifty decorating: I love thrift stores for many things and home decorating tops the list. I’ve found some great flamingo glasses that scream BBQ -among other things- for $1. For those kitchy or vintage serving pieces that I love, thrift makes everything possible.
• Whatcha Gonna Do: Not really a frugal thing but I’ve learned to not sweat what happens on the day itself. Things may screw up but everyone usually manages to have a good time. Relax and enjoy!

Don’t let your budget stop you from entertaining. Work with what you have and it’s easier to make being frugal part of your life long-term.