If it’s your turn to host for friends and family, budget might be the first thing that comes into mind. However, the whole experience shouldn’t be based on how much you spend. In fact, your guests don’t care either! So, if you’re looking to entertain guests at home on a budget you’ve come to the right place.
DIY decor
You want your home to look great for your guests, but that doesn’t mean you need to rush to the shop and buy all new decorations. Instead, why not add a DIY element to your evening by creating the decor yourself? This is especially fun if your evening involves all of your children too. You could ask them to create garlands and wrap it around string lights, or you could get your children to create paper lanterns to set off later in the evening. Not only is this cheap, but it will add a fun element to your evening that will get your guests talking. And, it will keep your kids entertained while you’re getting everything else set up!
Have a potluck evening
If you’ve ever hosted a get-together, you’ll know all too well that one of the most expensive parts of it is making sure there is enough food for everyone, especially if you’re hosting a large crowd. Don’t go over budget! Instead, ask everyone to bring a dish of their own to the table so that you can all dig in and eat different dishes. You could coordinate it so you have a full meal with all of the dishes combined, or you could turn it into a picky dinner where you graze on the food all evening.
The same goes for any drinks served – ask everyone to bring a drink to your get-together. This can either be the drink they plan on having during the evening or a complete surprise. Either way, not knowing exactly what’s going to be on the table can add another layer of fun to your evening.
Stream your favourite shows
If you’re looking for a cheap way to entertain your guests for the evening then you should look no further than your TV. There are so many streaming services in this day and age that cost next to nothing, and can provide a whole night of fun for everyone. If there’s something in particular that you all share in common, for example motorsports, you could find out how to watch F1 in UK so that you can all enjoy what’s on the big screen. Alternatively, you could look for a film series that nobody has seen yet and create some games alongside it. Things like guessing the outcome of the film or playing “bingo” whenever a character delivers a well-known line can really help up the ante if you’re worried about things going stale.
Host a gaming night
Speaking of games, hosting a gaming night can really help get people talking, thinking and laughing all at the same time. Whether you choose to bring out your deck of Cards Against Humanity or you’re feeling a little more creative and want to create your own trivia game, you can pretty much guarantee that everyone will have lots of fun. Make sure to surround yourselves with plenty of refreshments, nibbles, and bathroom breaks so that nobody misses out on any of the fun. Dividing people into teams can also help add some friendly competition to your evening and create a tradition that you carry forward with future fun-filled evenings.
Tell stories around a campfire
There’s something so magical about being under the stars, no matter what time of the year it is. If you’re in the UK, you’ll know all too well how unpredictable the weather can be, so you might need to make alterations like having a gazebo with heat lamps rather than a campfire, but it will serve the same purpose. Sometimes getting away from technology distractions and getting into nature with friends is everything you need to relax and unwind. Plus, who knows what stories will come out?
Theme the evening
Finally, if you want to add another layer of fun to your evening, then consider adding a theme to it. This doesn’t have to be expensive either, as you can lay out themes like “dress up as your partner,” so you can almost guarantee everyone will have an outfit to come in. You can look online for different themes that won’t cost anything if you’re stuck for ideas. Whatever you choose, it can be a great conversation starter and a good laugh for everyone involved.
Collaborative post
