Money Saving Tips for Christmas Dinner

With Christmas fast approaching and the economy suffering, you might be searching for ways to conserve a little cash during the holiday season.  You want to stick to a budget but at the same time, you don’t want to look like Scrooge skimping on the essentials.  Christmas is a time for caring and sharing, and it just wouldn’t be the same without a Christmas dinner though.  If you want your dinner to be fun and friendly, but still stick to your cost savings, here are some quick and easy tips on how to save money on your Christmas Dinner. 

FOOD & DRINKS

Here are some great ways to save on your food and drink budget, as well as make what you purchase go further. 

Have each guest bring a food dish.

Have guests bring their own alcohol.

Save leftovers.

Pass on alcohol altogether.

Serve punch rather than individually portioned and more expensive drinks.

Buy generic.

Buy in bulk.

Prepared in advance and buy your supplies and food items when they are on sale.

Skip the soda.

Make your own snacks and pre-dinner treats.

PARTY SUPPLIES

Dinner is more than just food and drinks.  There are all the supplies that go into decorating and making your dinner more than just a quick bite to eat.  Here are some ways to make efficient use of your party supplies as well as some ideas of what to buy to keep your costs to a minimum. 

Use your glassware rather than costly paper/plastic products.

Send invites over email to avoid buying paper invitations or make your own.

Create your own party decorations.

Use party decorations from last year’s party.

Borrow party supplies you don’t have from friends.

Buy Christmas decorations at post-Christmas sales for next year’s party.

MISCELLANEOUS

Here are a few extra tidbits and tips that can make your party efficient while you save a buck in the process. 

Keep the thermostat low since large parties tend to generate body heat.

Turn lights off in unused rooms during the party.

Close doors to unused rooms during the party to save on heating costs.

If it’s snowing, shovel your own walks and driveway rather than paying someone to do it.

Disclaimer:

This article is for informational purposes only.  Any action taken by the reader due to the information provided in this article is at the reader’s discretion.