Ladies, post your tips here.

The season is upon us and with grocery prices on the rise we can all use some help saving some dough on our holiday get togethers.

We make everything we can from scratch instead of buying them pre-made. Things like pies, appetizers, and side items can be bought ready to go from the store, but they are sometimes not budget friendly...I don't think they taste as good either.

Use frozen or canned vegetables in casseroles if you can. It's a time saver as well as a money saver.

Sometimes it can be as simple as not making too much food ( I really have to work on this ). We are southern and it is customary to cook like you are feeding a large, hungry football team...even if there are only 5 attending dinner.

Shop the sales and buy ahead of time. Keep an ingredient list in your bag and when you see something on it on sale, snap it up.

Well...I'm not really trying to save money when I host dinners of any kind. But that's me. I'm pretty picky about what I serve and how I want things to be. I know that when we do a collaborative dinner with Dh's family, and everyone brings something, that obviously my MIL saves money. Only problem is...other people's cooking. LOL! Or people bring store bought items.

We have LARGE (50+ people) family gatherings a couple of times a year and we do the same as your MIL, everyone brings a dish. My 80 year old grandmother hosts them and she is on a very limited budget so that really helps a lot.

We also have the same problems with the questionable cooks in our family as well. There are a few people who just bring anything they found at the store on the way over. There are also a handful that have questionable hygiene and food handling practices and I NEVER eat the food they bring. At our 4th of July get together one brought cantaulope slices that had gone rancid...yuck! I don't know if she left them in the heat of the car or what, but it was nasty.

We usually host Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner. The way we cut costs is to make most things from scratch and we usually have everyone bring something. My mom usually buys the turkey - she insists and it's easier for her. Since we have a large crowd, everyone else brings the appetizers, some side dishes (except mashed potatoes because DH makes great mashed potatoes), dessert, and beverages. Same with Christmas. And we do not make too much food. My mom did that and it used to appall me at the amount of food she would throw out. Ugh!

Oh, wow the stories we all have. Luckily, everyone always brings something yummy(and safe). The only thing to complain about it some health bread(you bite into it thinking it is a sweet quick bread) that no child would eat and mil makes stove top, I want homemade stuffing on holidays!
The way to save is make cheap but yummy dishes. And start shopping before the holiday. A lot of stores practially give the turkey for free with your purchase, and there are so many sales that you can also use your coupons on. Mashed potatoes, gravy, pies, are so cheap to make. Holidays are the one time that you can expect everyone to bring a dish.

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"It is no use walking anywhere to preach unless our walking is our preaching."

-- St. Francis of Assisi

We do potluck style dinners, too. I just usually make sure and suggest a specific dish to each member coming. I use the excuse that it would go really well with the main course (which I make), when really I'm trying to keep them from bringing something disgusting - or duplicates! One year (before I started doing this) we had 3 green bean casseroles and two sweet potato dishes, and almost nothing else - so no one thinks anything of it when I make a suggestion!

Last year was the first year that we hosted Thanksgiving. It went off great. We had about 25 people here and everyone had fun and left with full tummies. We had tons of food; one turkey and one roast, than all the fixings and probably about 5 different pies plus I made two cheesecakes. Everyone pitched in a brought food and everyone helped cook too. It was great. Out of everyone in the family, I have the biggest kitchen, so it was easy for five of us to be in the kitchen at the same time working. Plus, it also meant there were a lot of people there to help clean up too.
The only thing that really bugged me is dh's dad and stepmom.
All they brought was one bag of chips!!!! Way tacky. Everyone else probably bought $30 worth of food, napkins, plastic cups, etc. And all they could come up with was one lousy bag of chips. I think next time, I will specify that everyone or just some people bring a certain item whether it be food or something else.
Can I mention that they do that at any dinner/party function I have done. One bag of chips, everytime. Yet they eat like they have been fasting for a month.

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Nothing is as important as passion. No matter what you want to do with your life, be passionate.
Jon Bon Jovi

over the years i have over bought but instead everyone brings something and i don't buy a ton of desserts or appitizers. I buy pop in a liter instead of cans, make lemonade, I try to look in my cabinets for desserts and app. instead of running out and buying already made stuff!!!!

I'm very controlling when it comes to my events--and I don't want to make my guests feel put out--so I rarely ask people to bring food items. If someone wants to contribute, I ask them to bring wine or soda, depending on the type of party. A few inexpensive ideas: Candied Apple Cider [1/2 bag of Red Hots ($.50) per 64 oz cider ($1); 1/4 bottle Captain Morgan's Spiced Rum ($2.50), optional]; let it hang out in the crockpot on low as long as you like. Spicy Artichoke Dip [1 can artichoke hearts ($2.50), 2 diced fresh jalapenos ($.10), 8oz cream cheese ($1), 8oz sour cream ($.50), salt/pepper; mix and heat until bubbly; serve w/ baguette ($1), sliced into rounds, brushed w/olive oil and baked until crispy or tortilla chips ($2)] Always offer fresh fruit and/or veggies in addition to all the sweet and savory comfort food--but buy it whole and wash and cut it yourself--you'll cut the cost by at least 2/3!

When we go to my inlaws, MIL asks everyone to bring a side dish and a dessert. I usually end up making a HUGE veggie tray with dip (not store bought), and an apple pie. My SIL's bring green bean casserole, those yummy cheesy potatoes, and a cheese platter & a fruit tray w/ dip, and then one brings dirt cake, one brings pineapple upside down cake, and the other brings brownies. MIL makes the turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes & gravy, pumpkin pie, butterscoth pie, cookies, cranberry relish, and sometimes she'll make a lemon meringue pie.

The times when I host for my side of the family, I make the turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes & gravy, veggie tray w/ dip, and pumpkin pie. I have my sister, who can't cook, bring drinks (coke, diet pepsi, a gallon of milk, and juice boxes for the kids), and she also makes a chocolate cream pie. My usually brings green beans & rolls.

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~*~ Angie~*~
Wife to Brian
SAHM to Sarah & Andy 2/11/2000