entertaining on a shoestring, any frugal ideas please?

[notashotasthepreviousyear]

We're having a family celebration party at our home and haven't got lots of dosh to waste, going to do things like boxes of wine instead of bottles and jugs of economical juice for kids, any more suggestions please ...

The only thing I can suggest is to do your own catering.

how many people are coming and whats your budget

Ask people to bring a bottle for starters! Could people also bring a dish too?

I have found that hot dishes, chicken or mince based, plus big mixed salad, bowls of small potatoes and crusty bread work out cheaper, when entertaining lots of people than more pick and mix style buffets. Just offer two mains and maybe a vegetarian quiche with sides as above. Ask others to bring desert?

"I have found that hot dishes, chicken or mince based, plus big mixed salad, bowls of small potatoes and crusty bread work out cheaper, "

I couldn't agree more, (I learnt this the hard way after dozens of expensive buffets with leftover food). It's also easier to provide.

A friend did brunch for her birthday today and asked people to bring food to contribute. There were about 40 of us and more than enough food. Can people bring stuff to help?

Yeah. Brunch with bucks fizz.

Is it going to be plates and fork food or sit down dinner?

Have people bring a plate of food each and purchase your drinks both hard and soft at Aldi or Lidl. Communicate re who will bring what dish.

I had 10 people over for an evening. Adults. I said bring a bottle but bought a box of red and white so I had something to offer. I also bought juice beers and soft drinks.
I made a veggie curry.... cost buttons and loads of flavour. Left it in slow cooker. Borrowed rice cooker and another slow cooker. I made a beef casserole in the other and put bread out. I also baked a regular bag of potatoes with garlic and rosemary and put them out. Loads of stodge to fill everyone up.
Crisps and nuts put out for nibbles and some nice biscuits to offer with coffee later. Easy. Didnt need me hovering around. Could prep first and cheap.
Think I spent no more than £80 all in x

If it's a buffet, plate up the mains yourself, as people will pile up their plates. Let them help themselves to breads and salads.

I buy the big bags of nuggets and cocktail sausages from Iceland for the children, which they enjoy.

Yy re hot buffet. Cold picky bit buffets are dearer.

A lot depends on the culture in your family. If people will expect or at least be ok with a request to bring something, obviously that potentially works out cheaper if you do have to or want to do a multi dish thing. I know people can have wily divergent views on this though!

And especially at this time of year when its cold, if your family are relatively unfussy and will be happy with something like chilli (mine would fall all over it) that's an inexpensive option.

Chilli , jacket pots and salads. Everyone brings wine or pudding. Done x

Slow cooker chilli...rice and tortilla chips.., packets of salami are cheap from Aldi... bags of salad... a tomato pasta salad... a few quiches etc...

Ask people to bring a bottle...

I do a chicken curry and veggie curry, big pan of rice. Pot of yoghurt, grated cucumber salt and coriander and mint with a spoon. Mini naan breads.
Alongside cook the Iceland Indian party snacks pack, think its 100 mini pieces less than a fiver, just to go with the mains and the raita. Always goes down well does not cost a lot at all. If guests say can I bring anything ask for a bottle or a sweet/ pudding and let them just put them on the table to help themselves.