Want to throw a summertime party, but you’re pinching pennies? Invite a few friends over for a backyard bbq, take advantage of simple summer fun, let mother nature do the decorating and enjoy! A backyard bbq is both simple and budget friendly if you follow these 5 money saving tips:
- Menu – Always check the grocery ads before planning your menu! Grocery ads come out each Wednesday in your newspaper and online, and prices are good through Tuesday. If ground beef is not on sale, but chicken thighs are…guess what you should be serving!
No sales, no worries – the all American hot dog can be the star if you dress them up with a fixins’ bar: cheese, onions, chili, relish, slaw, ketchup and mustard.
Don’t shy away from store brand condiments and chips because they’re easily disguised in serving bowls, and they’ll save you an average of 25%!
Grocery ads will also help you choose the best bargains for soft drinks, beer, chips and side dishes. Be nostalgic and serve a variety of ice cream bars for dessert!
- Guests – Let your guests know that you’re providing the meat and beverages, and you’d like them to bring a side dish or dessert. When they r.s.v.p., ask what they’ll be bringing to avoid having a party with all desserts and no side dishes! Actually, if you have all desserts, invite me!
- Utensils and Paper Products – The Budget Diet was recently featured in the June 27th issue of First for Women touting the dollar store as the go-to place for bargain utensils and paper products. A bag of 48 forks, spoons or knives is just $1 compared with the $8 box of 150 pieces (50 of each utensil) at superstores. You’ll find similar savings on paper products.
- Activities – Take advantage of simple summer fun like a water balloon toss, watermelon eating contest, horseshoes, croquet or whatever yard games you may have. Minute to Win It challenges are another budget friendly idea to keep your guests entertained!
- Decorations – One of my favorite budget friendly table decorations is a simple glass bottle or glass soda bottle with a flower from your garden. Cost: $0. If you entertain outdoors frequently, it would be worthwhile to invest in oilcloth for table covers. You can cut it to fit, no hemming is required and it’s easy to wipe clean and reuse. The Budget Diet girl suggests a simple red and white check oilcloth which would come in handy for bbq’s, picnics or Italian dinners. Oilcloth is sold at fabric stores for about $5 a yard, but be on the lookout for coupons or sales.
What are your favorite ways to host a backyard bbq on a budget?
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Image courtesy of: Dino De Luca / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
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I love these tips. I shared this on FB with my peeps!
Grilling does not have to be expensive, great tips!
Love this! Great post. We did a pot luck for 4th of July, and will be hosting a Luau in a few weeks, can’t wait to try these tips out!
I hope this helps you save a little money on your Luau! You might also want to check out my post on a Jimmy Buffett Theme Party…lots of inexpensive tropical ideas.
Thanks for “spreading the wealth” by sharing with your FB friends!
Great tips! I love serving the meat, and tea and lemonade, and anything else people want, they bring!
I’ve been wanting to throw a bbq party but a couple of things make it not possible. First, we don’t have a bbq grill. Second, our house is a minimum of an hour and a half away from our friends. Third, it’s raining. Weather can be pretty unpredictable here and we don’t have a weather channel. Lol.
You know, checking grocery ads is really clever! But one question though, the meat is still fresh when it’s discounted, right?
Always check the dates on meat, but discounted meat usually needs to be used within a day or two OR freeze it. I have a friend that lives 1 block from the grocery store, and she regularly buys discounted meat to serve for dinner that same night.
Hmmm…I’m thinking you need to have an indoor picnic!
That’s the key to stress free and budget friendly entertaining…keeping it simple.