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(HealthNewsDigest.com) – HAMILTON TOWNSHIP, NEW JERSEY – There are quite a few holidays during the next several months, including Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve, to name a few. No matter what you choose to serve, a holiday gathering can be costly, especially during a time when so many are experiencing economic difficulty. But this doesn’t mean you have to give up the idea of holding a gathering! Instead, you simply need to meet the economic challenge head-on and find ways to host a celebration on a budget.
“Getting together with family and friends is what life is all about. You certainly don’t want to give that up and you shouldn’t,” says John Kuropatwa, executive chef of Spigola Ristorante, located in Hamilton Township, New Jersey. “There are a lot of things you can do to have a fun and festive gathering without breaking the bank. You just need to put a little more thought into it.”
When it comes to planning a budget-friendly gathering, the first step is to determine what you can actually afford. Avoid the temptation to spend more to try to impress people. A fun get-together is more about the company and what you are doing, rather than what you spent money on. So start by creating a realistic budget and make a commitment not to go over it.
Other ways to have a budget-friendly gathering include:
· Shopping smart, by watching for sales, coupons, and discounts. You could even consider collaborating with a friend to buy in bulk and split the goods. You should also shop with a list and any avoid impulse buying.
· Have everyone chip in and help. You can save a lot of money and have people get more involved by asking everyone to bring a dish, dessert or drinks.
· Buy fewer products when you go shopping. Most of the time, there is a lot left over from dinner parties. Fewer leftovers mean less money spent to begin with.
· Have a lunch gathering, rather than a dinner. Gatherings held for breakfast or mid-day are usually less expensive because you purchase less and serve food that is more cost-effective. You could also have an appetizer party and skip serving a meal altogether.
· If gifts are involved, save money by making them, purchasing them from a thrift store, or skipping them. Rather than giving gifts, try writing something nice about each person and giving it to them in a nicely decorated card, box, or envelope.
· While preparing, if you find that you need particular supplies or decorations, avoid the expense of buying by sending out a message to your friends to see who you can borrow things from.
· Either skipping the alcohol or asking people to bring their own can help keep a budget in check. Alcohol is often one of the biggest expenses at holiday gatherings.
· Forget having a formal celebration. Go casual and you will save a lot of money and avoid even more of the pressure of trying to impress.
“Having a gathering on a budget is a challenge. But if you see it that way and try to meet that challenge, you will find that it’s fun and rewarding,” adds Kuropatwa. “You will be surprised at how much you can actually do on so little.”
About Spigola Ristorante
Spigola is a modern Italian restaurant based in Hamilton Township, New Jersey. The restaurant features a full menu of traditional and modern Italian cuisine, as well as an extensive wine list and bar. The establishment also offers weekly live entertainment, events, specials, and daily happy hour, as well as catering services and private party facilities. To learn more about Spigola, visit the Web site at http://www.spigola.net.
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