Entertaining on a Budget
If you love to socialize but your bank account is setting the limit to how many people you can host at one time, we have got you covered! Entertaining on a budget lets you invite your friends and family over much more frequently, which makes sense since they’ll love spending time in your Greystar apartment.
When entertaining on a budget, the trick is to keep things simple and look for the best value. You would be surprised at how far you can stretch your entertainment budget by doing some simple DIY projects and employing some smart planning. Without further ado, here are some of our best entertainment planning tips on a budget.
1) Look for budget décor
The word “budget” has negative connotations. Budget décor does not need to mean cheap or tacky. Instead, think of budget décor as opportunities to make your event look great without breaking the bank. Traditionally, fancy décor includes expensive cocktail glasses and matching place settings—maybe even expensive china. However, modern hosting has become a lot more lax in terms of décor. Mixing and matching plates and cups creates a quirky, vintage look. Also, the dollar store is your friend when it comes to budget décor. Cheap pickups like simple candles can add little touches to your space. Finally, house plants are an inexpensive way to make an apartment bright and natural.
Read more about how house plants can make your home a greener, more beautiful place.
2) Save on catering
Food and drinks are undoubtedly the most expensive item in an entertainment budget. As the host, you want to supply your guests with refreshments, but don’t think that you have to provide them a five-star meal. You can fill stomachs without emptying your banks with appetizers that can be stretched out, like soups, salads, and kabobs. If you feel like you have to provide an entrée, consider hosting a potluck. Potlucks are a great way to enjoy a variety of foods as well as a great way to start conversations. For drinks, try creating punch. If you wish to provide alcoholic beverages, instead of opening up your entire bar, have an event-themed cocktail or simply ask your guests to bring their own bottles.
3) Open up the music list
Music creates an ambiance without costing much at all (if anything). Even better, there are plenty of apps these days that allow you and your guests to create playlists on the fly. Apps like Flo, Spotify, and more allow your guests to contribute music to a playlist. Devices like Google’s Chromecast also include party mode to make it easy to play any music they might have on their phones.
4) Party games are your friends
No one wants to kill the mood of a get together with a tense game of Monopoly, but there are plenty of games out there that provide low-cost entertainment for a ton of people. Even better, games get people interacting with one another and help break the ice. You don’t even have to buy anything to play games like charades or Pictionary. Simply clear some space and have some fun!
Thanks to these tips, you can host fabulous parties while saving some money. Please remember that we ask all of our residents to check with community staff regarding rules for guest parking, noise/quiet hours, and availability and use of common space amenities. And, as always, be courteous to neighbors.
