How to be a great host on a budget this festive season

The festive season is here, and so is the time for hosting friends and family, braais, and parties. This may sound like chaos for the person responsible for hosting, planning, money, menus, and the mental load, threatening to bring dread to what is meant to be a festive time.

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Here is a list of budget-friendly ways to help you show up as the perfect host this season while also saving you money.

1. Plan ahead of time

A golden tip is to know whether you can realistically host the event before you actively plan.

Sit down first and decide how many people you can feed, what meals you can afford to budget for, whether you want to decorate, and where you can cut corners. Create a realistic budget for food, extra servings, and emergency buffers, in case a product expires or a bottle of alcohol breaks.

2. Be strict about the guest list

When working on a budget, you need to be strict because unexpected plus-ones or a casual hang-out can allow expenses to get out of hand.

Figure out how many people you can comfortably host, as costs are incurred for each head, from the meal to the decoration.

A tip is to pick a number, not a list of people; for example, six, then see if you can buy ingredients for meals that serve six, if you can afford alcoholic drinks for six people, and if you can afford table decorative pieces for six people.

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 3. Use affordable ingredients

You don’t need to serve people sirloin steaks and lobster to be a great host. You can make great meals with affordable ingredients like veggies, rice, and protein.

Depending on the kind of event you are hosting, the meal can be the least important factor. However, try to be creative since that is the main attraction.

4. Use what you have

Decoration can help elevate the vibe of the event, especially during the festive season; however, this can take up a good chunk of the budget.

It’s best to use what you have. You already have plates, glasses, and cutlery; you probably have vases and linens. Buy what you don’t have, but be creative with what you’ve got.

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