- VonHaus have collated their top tips for throwing the ultimate budget friendly Christmas party this year.
- From switching to slow cooking the turkey to making your own Christmas party decorations from scratch.
- Energy Saving Expert, Ava Pope from Love Energy Savings also provides tips on how to cut down on Christmas cooking costs.
’Tis the season to Christmas party plan! Don’t let the soaring energy and food prices put you off from hosting get-togethers with loved ones this festive period with VonHaus’ handy guide to a budget friendly Christmas party.
Here are five easy-to-implement cash saving tips to ensure your Christmas party doesn’t stretch the budget:
1. Invest in a cocktail making kit
It wouldn’t be a festive party without a tipple (or two) so why not make the alcohol budget go further this year by investing in a high-quality cocktail making kit. This one-off purchase is a party essential, and will last for years to come, only requiring the repurchasing of cheap ingredients like fruit juice and ice.
Not only will you and your guests avoid paying the extortionate bar prices, but you can also all enjoy the at home mixology experience guaranteed to spark creativity and fun.
2. Ask each guest to bring a dish
Treating your guests to a delicious food spread doesn’t have to be costly if you kindly suggest they don’t come empty handed.
Whether it’s a small side salad, a dip or a baked good, if each guest brings a dish of their own then it can help spread the cost and put less pressure on the host.
3. Opt for energy saving appliances
To help minimise the energy bill increase this party season, switching to energy saving kitchen appliances can be extremely cost effective when it comes to preparing the festive feast. Energy Saving Expert, Ava Pope, from [Love%20Energy%20Savings]Love Energy Savings said:
“You can save money by using a slow cooker to cook your turkey, or whatever other meat you choose this Christmas (slow-cooked pork belly is sure to be a showstopper). A 3kWh electric oven costs £1.02 an hour to run when running at full power, while a slow cooker cost just 5p per hour. If practical, consider cooking the meat the day before during off peak hours for an even greater saving, when electricity can be up to half of the normal peak hour cost.
“Cooking meat from room temperature also reduces the cooking time and will save you energy compared to cooking from frozen, so ensure you leave frozen meat to thaw overnight.
“Cooking roast potatoes in your air fryer will be cheaper than turning on your oven, and air fryer fans swear by the crispy coating they’ll be given using this method. You could also use an air fryer to cook parsnips, pigs in blankets, and stuffing balls – all you need is a paper and pencil to jot down the cooking times.”
4. Get creative with decorations
One of the most common misconceptions of party hosting is thinking you must buy everything brand new.
Avoid blowing your precious party budget on decorations that you can easily recreate at home.
For example, if you’re a wine lover then why not preserve your empty bottles beforehand and repurpose them as a candle holder or unique table centrepiece.
You can also use the VonHaus paint sprayer tool to add an extra special festive touch to foraged pinecones, holly and mistletoe from the outdoors.
If you’re up for a DIY challenge, the VonHaus multitool is ideal for creating bespoke decorations that you won’t see anywhere else.
5. Make your leftovers go further
Every party host knows the struggle of dealing with copious amounts of food waste. So, make a little go a long way by melting leftover cheese and chocolates for an evening of alpine indulgence with the VonShef Swiss fondue set.
Whether you’re dipping strawberries into chocolate or bread into gruyere, recreate the après-ski fondue experience in your living room with this Swiss-style fondue set.