Entertaining
None of this is expert advice. It's what people worked out for themselves, usually the hard way — what actually helped, and what they'd tell someone standing where you are. Take what fits and leave the rest.
If you only read a few
Ask guests to bring their own alcohol (BYOB) to keep hosting costs low.
Alcohol can cost $2-5 per serving and adds up quickly when guests have more than one drink.
one person who lived it
Host a DIY sushi event by laying out ingredients for guests to make their own rolls.
It is surprisingly cheap and everyone loved it.
one person who lived it
Contact major food brands like Frito-Lay, Franz, Pepsi, or Coke to request donations of chips, buns, or drinks for charitable events.
They often donate to good causes.
one person who lived it
Make a large pot of chili and serve it with crackers, Fritos, sour cream, cheese, and optionally hot dogs and buns.
It is pretty cheap to make.
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Bring French bread with oil and vinegar for dipping.
It feels classy, thoughtful, and like a complete dish.
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Add roasted beets to dips or boards.
They provide gorgeous pink color and flavor.
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Make extra hummus and freeze it for later use.
Hummus freezes well.
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Bake focaccia to help stretch the fancy food your friends brought.
It is cheap and delicious.
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Make lasagna for a holiday meal to feed many people.
It is a great entree for large groups.
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Serve Mexican French Toast Rolls.
They are delicious.
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Serve pasta salad with chicken chunks and cheese to teens.
Teens devoured it at a recent gathering.
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Split Cornish game hens in half lengthwise so guests can eat the amount that is right for them.
Uneaten halves make delicious leftovers.
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Serve French onion dip with chips or spinach dip as a cheap crowd favorite.
French onion dip is underrated; spinach dip is a crowd favorite if you want more effort.
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Source food donations from local restaurants and vendors who can set up tents for publicity.
They get good publicity.
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Buy extra copies of favorite books and board games at thrift stores to give to guests who enjoy them.
It is gratifying to offer an extra copy when guests ask about items you own.
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Serve pork tenderloin as a cheap, versatile main course that typically comes in packs of two for four portions.
It is incredibly cheap, very nice if prepared properly, and quite versatile.
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Organize potluck-style gatherings where guests suggest and bring sides, apps, snacks, or drinks to reduce host workload.
This makes the event fairer for everyone and avoids issues with repayment.
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Serve Dr Pepper pulled pork with coleslaw and tortillas or buns.
Everyone loves them.
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Make bacon-wrapped dates as an appetizer.
They are easy.
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Serve rainbow fruit kabobs with strawberries, blueberries, cantaloupe, apples, and oranges to kids.
Kids love them.
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Decline monetary contributions from guests; instead, ask them to bring specific small items like onions, basil, or napkins.
Treating the meal as a gift maintains hospitality culture.
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Serve Hobo Pie as a fun, cheap, novel, and customizable dinner that serves as conversation filler.
It is fun, easy, cheap, novel, entertaining, a conversation filler, and customizable for each person.
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Serve deviled eggs as an appetizer.
They are super cheap, super impressive looking, and delicious.
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Experiment with spices like wasabi or Indian spice mixes (Rogan Josh) in deviled eggs for variety.
Wasabi was a big hit; Rogan Josh disappeared the fastest.
one person who lived it