‘Tis the season (to be thrifty)

Silly season is upon us. Even in the sweltering South African summer, we all somehow hear the siren call of those cheesy Christmas themed sweaters, and want to cover our homes and desks with tinsel and snowflakes.

And when you’re filled with Christmas cheer, hosting friends and family for a festive bash seems like a great idea – but it also puts a lot pressure on your pocket. We have some easy tips for how to keep costs low, and the fun-factor high:

Don’t deck ALL the halls

It’s really not necessary to break the bank trying to make your home look like something out of a Hallmark Christmas movie. Focus your efforts in the areas that matter – the places where your guests will be spending most of their time.

So if that’s going to be around the table, focus on that. The right table cloths, runners and place settings can give you the perfect foundation to which you only have to add a few additional accents to create something really special.

Easy ideas

Use green foliagefrom the garden with red roses or red berries carefully arranged as centre pieces. Or simply fill glass vases with round Christmas baubles or pine cones. Remember that music and light are essential to setting the scene, so some pillar candles and tea lights are easy, affordable Christmas party essentials.

Rent rather than buy

There’s little point splashing out to buy enough servers, platters, crockery and cutlery when you only entertain at this scale once a year. Once you have your guest list and menu finalised, look up the event equipment hireyou need, and have it all delivered to your home (and collected again after your party).

Keep it manageable

Be realistic about your guest list and make sure you keep it to the people you really want to enjoy celebrating with. By keeping it smaller, you’ll also be able to limit total costs for catering and place settings. Remember you want to be able to relax and enjoy yourself, not fuss over too many guests.

Set up a DIY mini bar

You should be able to host – you shouldn’t be bar tending throughout the party. So set up a fun DIY drinks station where guests can get creative. But here’s the kicker: tell your guests to bring a bottle of their favourite drink (because spending your life savings on a fully stocked bar is something no one should have to be doing when Janu-worry is looming straight after Christmas). This way, you just need to provide the mixes, sliced fruit, spices and herbs to create interesting concoctions. Delish.

Planning a Christmas bash? MPR Hiring has a wide range of catering and event equipment available for hire so you can create an incredible experience for your guests – with minimal stress for you. Get in touchwith us for a custom quote.