We seniors do love to entertain! Having a group of people over for the holidays make the occasion more worthwhile and cherished however, entertaining has its own downside as well since most of the time it tends to break our piggybanks! In other words, seniors have to choose between penniless-but-with-company or with-some-money-but-alone. Well now, there are some ways to fix this dilemma and still be entertaining after holidays even you’re on a budget!
• Proper mindset. Set your mind on being simple yet better. In reality, it really doesn’t matter how much money you spend on a gathering, your closest friends won’t even notice, what’s important is the bond you’ve been sharing with these people and how much you wanted to catch up with each other’s lives.
• Go for potlucks. Actually, potlucks are made for this type of situation—and don’t be ashamed of it too as many parties are doing it now. You don’t have to shoulder everything just because you opted to host the holiday gathering this year, neither does your friend or the other friend. Everybody can bring a dish for everyone to share.
• Go for brunches or picnics. Your holiday gatherings need not always be dinners, you can also entertain in the morning or perhaps afternoon when it’s all sunshiny outside. Your well-tended garden can certainly make up for the inexpensive things you are about to serve however, if it’s all snowy outside, move the gathering to the nearest fireplace for some relaxation.
• Do an activity instead. For a change, host an activity which you normally see during holidays such as singing carols. This way everyone will still have fun without having to spend too much on a gathering.
• Enjoy a movie night. Put on a holiday-themed movie, serve some popcorns, sit back, relax and enjoy the show. Just make sure you have enough room for your company. Check online as there are websites offering rental services for new releases such as Netflix and Blockbuster.
• Do something good. Holidays are meant for giving but if you’re broke and you don’t have any money to buy gifts, then why not volunteer yourself to a good cause? A goodwill party will do you and your friends some good as it will be the perfect time to get together and at the same time feel good about the time spent doing the activity.
• Quite thirsty? Go for mixed drinks. Wines and other alcoholic drinks sure are a little steep for your budget but you can still enjoy the festivities with booze if you know how to mix. Also, if you’re entertaining quite a number of guests, you can have them bring a bottle to share.
