14 Ways To Save Money When Hosting A Family Holiday

Hosting your entire family for one of the winter holidays is a significant undertaking. There is a lot to coordinate and plan, and the costs can quickly add up. Food, decorations, and equipment rental fees can amount to many hundreds of dollars, which is why it can be helpful to find ways to save money when hosting a holiday gathering.

To save money while hosting family this holiday season, plan your menu and budget in advance, and shop for products on sale. Keep your menu simple and flexible, and cook as much as you can from scratch and in advance. Find ways to create additional seating and dining areas without needing to rent chairs and tables. Shop at thrift stores for serving platters, and make free DIY decorations.

The winter holidays are an excellent time to create memories with family, but the season can also be very stressful and expensive. This is particularly true if you are the one doing all the work. If you need to find ways to budget wherever you can, keep reading to discover all the best ways to save money when hosting a gathering this holiday season.

14 Great Ways To Save Money While Hosting A Family Holiday

1. Plan And Budget Your Menu In Advance

Anytime you host a large gathering that’s centered on food, it’s smart to plan your menu. When you create a detailed menu, it’s possible to create a realistic budget and understand your costs.

Planning allows you to adjust your approach if you find you're over budget. It also allows you to shop in advance and ask for help when people offer. Furthermore, planning and budgeting in advance takes a lot of stress out of holiday party planning, allowing you to focus on other aspects of the party.

2. Keep The Menu And Decor Simple

One of the best ways to host a successful and budget-friendly holiday is to keep things tasteful yet simple. Simplicity allows you to do a few things well, rather than spreading your money, time, and resources in various directions.

Simplicity helps alleviate some of the stress associated with the holidays. Instead of trying to wow guests with 20 side dishes, opt for a few side dishes made with high-quality ingredients. Don’t try to overdo it on decor either. Sometimes less is more when it comes to decorations.

3. Cook From Scratch Whenever Possible

If you know your way around the kitchen, then hosting your family for a holiday feast is your time to showcase your culinary skills. Cooking food from scratch not only tastes wholesome and delicious, but it can also save you a significant amount of money. 

Preparing bread and other baked goods from scratch is sure to wow your guests and will cost a fraction of the price of most store-bought baked goods. Avoid buying pre-made side dishes and entrees whenever possible, as prepared foods almost always cost more. 

4. Take Advantage Of Pre-Holiday Food Sales

Grocery stores offer numerous sales leading up to the holidays. Whether it's a spiral ham, turkey, or other high-priced items, it is always smart to check weekly sales at your local food store. Shopping on sale can save you upwards of half the cost on all your big-ticket items, like meats and dairy. 

Remember, you can purchase many foods more than a month in advance and freeze them until the big day approaches.

5. Search Thrift Stores For Platters And Vases

If you don’t host large gatherings often, you are probably missing many of the tools and utensils needed to host a holiday. Serving platters, tongs, ladles, and large spoons are all standard for these parties. Instead of spending hundreds of dollars at a home goods store, consider stopping by your local thrift store first.

Most thrift stores have a plethora of serving platters, decorative bowls, and themed vases that are perfect for the holiday season. You can often find everything you need to serve food, as well as many decorations, for a fraction of the cost in retail stores.

6. Keep The Menu Flexible

While it’s a good idea to plan your menu, it’s also wise to keep the exact menu flexible. If your menu is set in stone, you're forcing yourself to pay potentially high prices. 

For example, if you have Brussels sprouts on your menu but they are expensive and out of season, consider a green vegetable that is cheaper and in season. Small pivots like this can save you a lot of money when hosting a large holiday gathering.

7. Use Items From Your Garden

If you have a fall vegetable garden or an all-season herb garden, consider utilizing it this holiday season. Incorporating herbs from your garden will save you money, and these ingredients are usually fresher than what you would find in a grocery store.

Find ways to fold in fall vegetables from your garden into the menu. Not only are these vegetables free, but using food from your garden is sure to impress all your guests.

8. Make DIY Decorations

Food might be the most significant expense at a family holiday function, but it isn’t the only thing you spend money on as a host. Decorations make your home festive, and are an unspoken requirement when hosting a winter holiday gathering.

Instead of spending hundreds of dollars on decorations, consider making your own decorations. You can use items from your yard and garden to make wreaths and decorative arrangements, and other free and cheap decorations using household items. 

9. Think Of Fun (And Free) Games And Activities

Most holiday gatherings have an entertaining element. Instead of renting an expensive karaoke machine, hiring a DJ, or a magician, consider thinking of fun and free ways to entertain your guests.

There are various holiday-themed games you can create that are free and usually require little more than playing cards or dice. Alternatively, you can make a board game nook in the home, where people can entertain themselves while you prepare the feast.

10. Prepare As Much Food In Advance As Possible

Cooking in advance saves you time, and it can also save you money. This is particularly true when you are cooking food from scratch. One way people try to save time when hosting a holiday is to spend more on pre-made food. By cooking food in advance, you can save time and money.

11. Buy In Bulk When Possible

Buying in bulk is usually cheaper than paying retail prices. Still, it’s easy to forget this when you host a holiday party, especially if you aren’t used to cooking for more than one or two people.

When you do your big grocery shopping trip before hosting a holiday party, consider visiting a wholesale club first. Buy whatever ingredients you need in bulk, and then buy the smaller items at your regular grocery store. This can save you a significant amount of money, especially if you have a large family.

12. Consider A Pot Luck

When you host a family gathering, it’s easy to feel like you need to do everything yourself. While this is an option, it’s also perfectly fine to accept help when it's offered. If family members all want to bring a side dish or dessert, then you should let them.

Having a potluck holiday, where you prepare the main course and staples, and other guests bring the rest, is a great way to save money. It also allows everyone to help and feel like they have made a meaningful contribution.

13. Find Creative Ways To Increase Seating

Renting tables and chairs can be expensive and stressful. It is also often unnecessary. Instead of renting seating for a large family holiday table, try to find creative ways to add seating in your home. Whether it’s having guests sit on pillows or warming up your outdoor patio, there are all sorts of ways you can increase the seating capacity in your home without renting tables and chairs.

14. Minimize Food Waste

Lastly, try not to prepare too much food. While it’s nice to have leftovers, try to minimize food waste whenever possible. Cooking more food than you need or will consume is a waste of money. 

Remember to pack holiday leftovers promptly, so they don’t spoil. Try to prepare enough food so everyone has enough, but don’t prepare so much that you’re eating leftovers for weeks, or worse, throwing them out.

Final Notes On How To Save Money When Hosting A Holiday

If you are hosting an upcoming holiday gathering, try to spend less time stressing about the big day and instead, find ways to save time and money. Plan your menu, but allow yourself flexibility on the exact menu items. 

Try to have simple yet elegant food and decor. Keep a close eye on weekly sales at grocery stores and try to shop in bulk whenever possible. If you love to cook, consider preparing items from scratch and cooking food in advance whenever possible. Head to the thrift store for serving platters and create free DIY decorations. 

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