Fab and Frugal Holiday Parties

Still contemplating throwing a holiday bash, but budgets and time a concern. Be resourceful. Throw a fabulous party by using some of these great tips:

Online PartyPlanning. Get organized. Get tips and tools to party planning with ease. Invite by e-cards and save yourself the cost of postage. Check out My Punchbowl and Evite.

Keep track of your RSVPs. Keep track of your headcount to help manage the quantity of food. Rule of thumb - 10% of those individuals who confirm attendance don't show up. Factor this % into your meal planning efforts

Off to Costco You Go. Buy the wine by the case, flowers, and beer. Pull some appetizers from the freezer and you're on to a well planned menu.

Potluck. It's not the dirty word it once was. If someone offers to bring something, be ready with assignments.

Music: Go to your local library, borrow a few holiday CDs and burn them on to your MP3 player.

GingerBread Houses. Buy a few gingerbread house kits. Set up a table with candies and tubes of frosting. Have teams of people decorate. Give a prize for the best one. Raffle off the others.

Hit the sales for platters and pitchers. Great deals for platters, pitchers (for water, instead of the more expensive option, bottled water) are currently being advertised by Macys, Kohls, TJ Maxx, ect.

Sparkle your home with homemade decorations. Do candles in votives in mason jars; group ornaments in a large glass vase; make a snowflake paper chain; snip some firs from a tree in your backyard. For other clever low-cost holiday ideas, check out suggestions from popular magazines like Real Simple; Martha Stewart Living; Good Housekeeping or Country Living. And when you head out to the craft store for your supplies, don't forget your coupons!

Inexpensive china. Fancier than buying paper products, but you can re-use them. Target offers a number of holiday dinner lines. In-store discounts are better than the online store.

Linens. Head to JoAnn's (with a 40% off coupon) and buy some inexpensive holiday fabric to drape over tables for tableclothes or to use as decorative banners around your home.

Party starter. Kick start your party with a ice breaker game or two. Christmas Trivia, Christmas Right Left Game, Name that Carol, are a few good options.

Have yourself a Merry Merry.