It's the Christmas season, and Black Friday Deals are lighting up the holiday spirit. Is throwing a Christmas party on your list of things to do but you are worried about the cost? DON'T WORRY! There are plenty of ways to throw a rocking Christmas party without emptying your wallet.
Let's jump right in because time is your most valuable resource this holiday season.
Invitations
There are many ways to invite family and friends without spending much money.
1. Pick up the phone and call them- A more personalized way to send an invitation.
2. Send a text - Fast, easy, a little less personal, but it's your party.
3. E-mail- a great way to get the invitation to your guest without spending a dime.
If you're looking for some funny Christmas greetings to include with your invitation, check out my article. They can easily be adapted to work as part of an invite.
Below are some sites where you can create a free Christmas invitation.
Next up are the Christmas decorations!
DIY and Recyclable Decor
Mason Jar - Fill jars with tea lights, fake snow, candy or ornaments to create glowing, eye-catching centerpieces.
Paper Snowflakes and Garlands: For a whimsical touch, Use white or blue to cut snowflakes.
Upcycled Ornaments- Transform old items like light bulbs or bottle caps into creative ornaments with paint and glitter.
Natural Decorations
Pinecone and Branch Arrangements
Collect pinecones and branches, spray paint them gold or silver, and display them in vases.
Dried Orange Garland: Slice the oranges and put them in the oven. Once they have dried out, sting them to make a garland.
Affordable Store-Bought Options
Fairy Lights
Add a warm glow by stringing inexpensive fairy lights around windows or furniture.
Michaels Craft Shop & Dollar General Store
Look for affordable wreaths, ribbons, or mini trees to customize and display.
Creative Tree Alternatives
Book Tree Craft Project
Stack books in a tree shape and decorate them with fairy lights or small ornaments.
Repurposed Household Items
Candle Displays- Use jars, glasses, or bowls you already own to create candle arrangements with festive touches like ribbons or cranberries.
Gift Box Decorations- Wrap empty boxes with leftover gift wrap to create decorative "presents" for under the tree.
Christmas Food Menu
Appetizers
- Veggie Platter with Homemade Dip
- Use seasonal vegetables like carrots, celery, and broccoli paired with a simple sour cream and herb dip.
- Cheese and Crackers Board
- Opt for affordable cheese varieties like cheddar and arrange with budget-friendly crackers.
- Frozen Pizza Bagels Frozen pizza bagels are a quick, budget-friendly snack or meal option that's easy to prepare, customizable, and perfect for satisfying cravings in minutes.
Main Course
1. Meat Lasagna
2. Chili , which I have a great recipe for that, is a low-acid recipe!
3. Greek Meatballs with a side of flatbread with tzatziki sauce.
Sides
1. Pillsbury Dinner Rolls
2. Green Salad
3. Roasted Vegetables- Using affordable root veggies like sweet potatoes, carrots, zucchini, Brussels sprouts is an easy way to add something small to your meal.
Easy Recipe: Slice any one of the above vegetables into small cubes or slices, add some olive oil with oregano or Italian seasoning, and add a dash of garlic or onion powder. Arrange the veggies on a baking pan, set the oven to 400, and bake for 10-20 minutes. The time depends on how cooked you want the vegetables.
Desserts
1. Homemade Fudge , which I happen to have a recipe for.
2. Apple Pie , which I also happen to have a recipe for.
3. Store Bought Christmas Cookies- easy and fast.
4. Vanilla Ice Cream with chocolate sauce and Christmas sprinkles.
Cocktails
Here, you can ask your guests to bring their own booze, but if you want to serve something, you can check out your local wine shop for deals on red or white wine, beers, and other hard liquor like peppermint schnapps.
And if you are looking to create your own Christmas drinks, I have some funny names you can use with your cocktails.
Party Game
1. Christmas Charades with a Twist
All You'll Need Is:
- A bowl filled with Christmas-themed words/phrases.
- Your iPhone timer.
- A notepad for keeping score.
How to Play:
1. Prepare the Game Cards:
Write Christmas-themed prompts (building a snowman, opening up a gift, wrapping a gift, etc) on a slip of paper, fold it, and place it in a bowl or hat. Have your guest help come up with these. Have them do it in private, and do not peek with another guest.
2. Divide into Teams:
Now have the teams take turns, the goal is to guess as many prompts as possible before the time runs out.
3. Rounds with a Jolly Twist:
Round 1: Acting It Out
This is the traditional charade; no words or sounds are used, only gestures.
Round 2: Describe It in Two Words
Now, players must describe the prompt using only one word, such as "snow ball" for "snowball fight."
Round 3: One Sound or Action
Players must describe the phrase using either a single sound or one motion. For example, "Santa going down the chimney," you can make a "swoosh" sound.
Scoring:
Teams can earn one point for each correct guess. After each round, the scores will be tallied to determine the winner.
2. Name that Christmas Song!
All You'll Need Is:
- A list of Christmas songs
- A device to play the music
- A paper and pens for your guest to write down answers (optional)
- iPhone timer to make it challenging
How to Play:
Preparation:
- Create a playlist of song bites (10–15 seconds each) or prepare a list of lyrics or emojis that describe the Christmas song.
- Divide players into teams
How to Play the Rounds
Round 1: Lyric Snippets
Read or display a single line from a Christmas song (e.g., "Oh what fun it is to ride"). Players guess the title.
Round 2: Sound Bites
Play a 10-second clip of a Christmas song. Players must guess the title or artist. Bonus points: Give the Year!
Round 3: Emoji Clues
Show emojis representing a Christmas song (e.g., 🎅🎄🎁 for "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town").
Round 4: Humming Challenge
One player hums the melody while their team guesses the song.
How To Score:
Award points for each correct answer, and double the points for guessing the title, artist, and year.
If you need some Christmas music ideas, I have a few articles that can help you.
Christmas Activities: Gingerbread Decorating
If you want to spend a little money on a game, you could purchase these holiday fun party games.
2. Christmas Categories - The Original Holiday Party Game
🎄🎅🏻❄️🎄🎅🏻❄️🎄🎅🏻❄️🎄🎅🏻❄️🎄🎅🏻❄️🎄🎅🏻❄️🎄🎅🏻❄️🎄🎅🏻❄️🎄🎅🏻❄️🎄🎅🏻❄️🎄🎅🏻❄️
Hopefully, this budget-friendly Christmas party planning will help you make a difference this year. With a little creativity, find the right inspiration to make your holiday gathering memorable.
About the Creator
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I moved to South Korea in 2017. I was twenty-two years old and excited to start my career as an English Second Language Teacher. With a Bachelor's degree and six hundred dollars in my bank account, I set off for Busan.
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Comments (4)
Great budget ideas!
My goodness, you are the new Martha Stewart!! What a wonderful piece with so many details and helpful hints AND recipes. WOW!
Daphne you should write a book on Party planning. All of what your wrote are great ideas.
Daphne, you are quite the party planner! Will try some of the recipes as the ingredients sound like things that can be found here.