Unless your family has some kind of policy about rotating the location of holiday gatherings each year, you could find yourself hosting annually, especially if you’re (A) a good cook, (B) you have the biggest house, or (C) you agree to it. And this not only requires a lot of work on your part to get your home in ship shape and produce an appealing meal for all of your loved ones, but it could also have a significant impact on your budget. This can cause no shortage of problems during the stressful holiday season when spending is high anyway. So even if you enjoy putting together the holiday meal and playing host annually, you may be looking for a few good ways to save some money and stick to your budget this year. Here are some tips that should help you to prepare your huge holiday feast without breaking the bank.
Delegate. The absolute easiest way to save money when hosting a huge family gathering is to turn it into a potluck. You should plan to make the main dish, but you might want to instruct your brother to bring the mashed potatoes, your sister to bring her green bean casserole, and your mom and dad to make pies. It helps if different people have signature dishes that they love to share, so you might want to ask if you don’t know. Keep in mind that most people are willing to pitch in if you don’t make it too hard for them, so give them some latitude to bring what they want instead of dictating the menu. Those that aren’t particularly keen on cooking can always bring drinks or pick up an appetizer platter at the market, just for example. Overall, you should end up saving a lot of money by this method.