Top Five Money-Saving Tips for Entertaining

Got a few more hurrahs in store for 2010 before welcoming the New Year? These top tips from The Whole Deal value guide will have you entertaining the idea of using high-quality ingredients without high costs when you entertain.

  • Value Guru
  • December 29, 2010

Got a few more hurrahs in store for 2010 before welcoming the New Year? These top tips from The Whole Deal opens in a new tab value guide opens in a new tab will have you entertaining the idea of using high-quality ingredients without high costs when you entertain. Have a happy and affordable New Year celebration!1. PLAN AND CALCULATEPlan meals and make shopping lists (on paper, online opens in a new tab or on your iphone opens in a new tab), being mindful of how much to buy and serve for how many people. Use the servings calculator opens in a new tab on our Holidays 2010 site.2. CHOOSE CROWD-FRIENDLY RECIPESMake hearty, satisfying, affordable recipes. Big-pot meals with self-serve condiments are ideal: chili, curry, red beans and rice, stew, etc. Your helper is wholefoodsmarket.com/recipes opens in a new tab. 

3. LEARN TO COOK AT LEAST ONE THING Choose an entertaining dish to become your sought-after signature item to take along or serve at home. We’ve got some simple “Learn to Cook” recipes opens in a new tab to help you hone your skills. Remember, homemade saves!4. ENJOY THE MORE THE MERRIERShare the cooking, the responsibilities, the expenses—and the fun!—with potlucks.

  • Arrange one with coworkers, neighbors or club members. Exchange recipe cards (and the stories behind the dish or ingredients) instead of gifts.

  • Take a giant green salad…it’s impressive, inexpensive and fast! Toss in nuts and dried fruit or halved grapes.

  • If it’s your party, let people show off their culinary creations, but be ready with suggestions.

5. BUDGET BY THE BITENo need to obsess with a calculator; try our “small bites” recipes opens in a new tab that will cost you less than 50 cents each, and many of them much less than that!There are even more entertaining ideas in December’s opens in a new tabThe Whole Deal opens in a new tab, online and in stores until the end of December. (But when they’re gone, they’re gone!)

How do you celebrate big without overdoing it?

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