If you always go camping in early August or you always have an annual family barbecue in July – start planning now! I’m definitely guilty of waiting until the last minute to buy food and supplies for a barbecue and after a $100+ trip to Costco and a $50 trip to the grocery store – you’re little family get together has eaten a huge chunk of your budget! The key is to start planning now so you can buy it a little at a time, when it is at it’s best price.
Here are some tips for hosting a barbecue or summer party without blowing your budget:
1.) Pick up items when they are FREE or super cheap (before you need them!) – This is not rocket science and it’s our first commandment as coupon shoppers. Things like condiments and hot dogs are almost always on super sale the first month of summer. Pick them up while you can get them up when they are free or cheap with your coupons. Freeze or store the items until your party.
2.) Skip the prepared trays, make your own – You almost always pay for preparation. Sometimes it’s worth it, but if you have the time to cut the carrots and trim the tomatoes you’ll save big time on the veggie tray. Same goes for sandwich trays, pre-made salads, etc.
3.) Say “yes!” – Aunt Christine offers to bring a salad to your party. Take her up on the offer! So often I think I can do it myself, and I never want to trouble others, but if someone offers to help by bringing a dish, be grateful and let them.
4.) Get less expensive meats and dress them up – Meat is usually the biggest cost in planning a party. Get chicken instead of steak. Or ribs instead of fish. Then dress them up with good marinades (which you can make at home) or add more vegetables to your shish-ka-bobs. Or maybe you do burgers, which are generally an inexpensive choice, but dress them up with sauteed mushrooms and/or add some bacon or bleu cheese to the patties for an extra punch. Don’t be shy to buy meats when they are marked down for quick sale – just freeze them until your party.
5.) Don’t drink your budget – Soda, bottled water, beer – it ain’t cheap. Have your guests bring drinks (then everyone has what they want), make up pitchers of lemonade/punch (instead of bottled) or have pitchers of ice water out. For the cost of a case of water you could probably buy a nice water pitcher at the Dollar Store or invest in a nice one at Target for $6-8 and you’ll save yourself from a recycle bin full of bottles AND save money not buying bottled water. If you’re opting to have beer or wine, check your local liquor store for rebates (some have a place in the store for the forms) or look for hangtags on the products at the grocery store. A lot of times these rebates are for things like “save $5 when you buy meat” or “save $10 on beer when you buy seafood” and if you’re buying those items anyway, it can be a good way to save on adult beverages.
6.) Too much food = waste = BAD – Almost EVERY party I go to has one big problem – TOO MUCH FOOD! I suppose people are so afraid to run out of food that they totally overdo it. Get a realistic RSVP list so you know who will be there and plan accordingly. By asking people to RSVP you don’t buy food for 25 when only 10 show up.
7.) Shop with the season, watch the store sales – This tip is particularly relevant if you’ve waited until a week before the party. If you don’t have time to buy ahead, you need to build your menu off the items that are on sale in the ad. We are talking about the BEST deals in the ad. Maybe you prefer ribs, but if they are full price the week of your party, you’ll save a lot of money to shift your menu to chicken wings or whatever meat might be on sale that particular week. Look in the ad and find the best produce deals and build a salad from that, instead of starting with your cookbook.
Most importantly don’t blow your family’s entire grocery budget on one event. Your friends and family aren’t coming just for the food (hopefully) – they are coming to spend time with you. So don’t stress out about going with gourmet meats and top-tier drinks. Just serve it up (whatever you choose) with love and laughter and that’s what they’ll remember.
How do you save money on your summer parties and barbecues?
jolene says
I bought one of those glass beverage dispensers. For parties I fill it with ice tea or home maid lemon aid. For the rest of the summer I set it on the counter full of tap water and ice and lemon and orange slices so we always have cold water. It was a little pricey but it saves me money in the long run.
I also buy hamburger/hot dog bun right be for BBQ holidays (like 4th of July and memorial day) and freeze them for when I need them through out the summer. We have most of the components for a BBQ in either the freezer or pantry. It’s cool to be able to invite friends over for an in prompt to BBQ.
Patrice says
Here’s another tip: I just discovered a printable coupon $1/1 package of any Oscar Mayer Selects Hot Dogs. Look for an Oscar Mayer advertisement banner on the http://www.mycokerewards.com website.
I was able to print two of these.
Coupie says
Your so right. Great ideas and I am glad to be going to a family Barbie
Patrice says
This is a great article, Heather. I love the last line–so true! I’ve been buying packages of hamburger and hotdog buns at the Orowheat Thrift Store–their prices are better than the supermarkets.