How to Save Money on Party Food. Practical tips on saving money on food when hosting a party that anyone can do!
Over the years, I have hosted many parties and get-togethers. Serving food is often one of the biggest expenses, and I thought I would share some of my favorite tips for saving money on party food.
Many of these tips will focus on money versus time savings. You will have to invest a little more time in prep work, but in the end, you will save money. You can plan a great party for a large crowd with these creative ways to save money.
How to Budget for a Party
Before purchasing any food (or anything for the party, really), create a realistic budget for the party.
Having a party is not the time to go into debt. Plan for exactly how much you have to spend on the party and then stick to it!
Possible Party Expenses:
- Decorations
- Favors
- Food
- Drinks
- Plates, Cups, Utensils, Tablecloths
- Party Games
Check out this party planning schedule for step-by-step instructions on how to plan a party, along with a timeline for completing all the tasks.
Then, print out this party planner to plan out all the nitty-gritty details. This will help you come up with a theme, decorations, games, and party favors, and even has a place to create a menu and shopping list.
Once you have a general party plan in place, you can determine how much money to allocate for each category.
Next, print out this guest list tracker. You will be able to track exactly who has been invited and who has RSVP’d. Of course, everyone you ask may not be able to come, but don’t invite more people than you can afford to host.
If you need to cut back on the guest list and plan a smaller party, that’s okay!
Lastly, print out this expense record to keep track of all your purchases and stay on budget.
Ask People to RSVP
The first step to saving money is to get an accurate head count before the party. This is not always possible, but knowing exactly how many guests will be attending makes it much easier to buy precisely what you need and avoid overspending.
Choose the Time of the Party Wisely
Choosing when to have the party can save you money on food. There are general expectations about what time the party is, as to whether you will be serving a main dish or simply snacks.
General Guidelines for Party Food Times
- 7:00 – 9:30 AM Breakfast
- 9:30 – 11:30 AM Snacks
- 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM Lunch
- 1:30 – 4:00 PM Snacks
- 4:00 – 6:30 PM Dinner
- 6:30 – 9:00 PM Snacks and/or Desserts
If I am serving only snacks or finger foods, I try to have the food out for the entire party so people can graze as they want to.
If I am serving a main dish, I try to serve the meal about one hour after guests arrive. This allows everyone time to get settled and mingle, while also accommodating any late arrivals.
If you’re hosting an all-day party, such as a pool party, plan to have a main dish served at some point during the event.
Prep the Food Yourself
If you need to save time, you know that purchasing pre-sliced and pre-packaged foods can significantly reduce the time spent preparing meals. However, if you have a tight budget, you can save a ton of money by preparing the food yourself.
For example, a vegetable tray at the store may cost up to $20, depending on the size of the party. This 40-ounce vegetable tray is $10.97. The price per ounce is $0.27.
You can get more food for less money by chopping, peeling, and arranging the vegetables yourself.
- English Cucumber – 11 ounces $0.84
- Bag of Carrots – 16 ounces $1.26
- Broccoli Crown – 14 ounces $1.83
- Grape Tomatoes – 10 ounces $2.23
- Celery – 16 ounces $1.88
- Snap Peas – 8 ounces $2.47
- TOTAL COST: $10.47 for 75 ounces (price per ounce $0.14)
As shown in the above example, you can purchase almost twice as much produce for the same price. And I find prepping the vegetables myself the day of or day before the party, they usually taste better as well.
You can also make dips and spreads. Mix sour cream with ranch seasoning to make your own ranch dip. This may not always be less expensive, so be sure to compare prices.
Ideas for inexpensive snacks you can make:
- Tortilla Chips with
- Salsa
- Nacho Cheese Dip
- Guacamole
- Chips and Ranch Dip
- Pretzels
- Vegetable Tray
- Fruit Tray
- Slow Cooker Meatballs
- Popcorn
- Pinwheels
- Pasta Salad
- Potato Salad
- Deviled Eggs (when egg prices are normal)
- Cheese and Crackers
- Hummus and Pita Chips
- Watermelon Slices (in the summer)
Make an Inexpensive Main Dish
If you’re hosting a party that includes a main dish, along with sides and dessert, rather than just snack foods, finding affordable main dish options is essential.
Some of my favorites are:
- DIY Sub Sandwiches
- Crock Pot Pulled Pork
- Baked Potato Bar
- Taco Bar or Walking Tacos
- BBQ – Hot Dogs and/or Hamburgers
- Spaghetti or Pasta Bar
- Chili Bar
- Salsa Chicken Tacos
The crockpot is my best friend when hosting a party. I can prepare a large amount of food in it, and we can serve it right out of the crockpot when it’s time to eat. The food stays warm, and it frees up my time in the kitchen.
Buy Generic
When buying or making any food, check and compare prices! Often, the generic store brand is cheaper and is often equally as good as the name brand.
You can always remove the items from the packaging and place them in serving bowls or on platters, and no one will be any the wiser.
RELATED: More Party Planning Ideas
Plan for Drinks
Drinks can be a big part of the food budget. It can get expensive to buy cans of soda or alcohol. I love having a fun soda bar or making fancy mixed drinks, but sometimes the budget simply won’t allow it.
It is perfectly fine to serve only water at a party. However, an inexpensive option that serves a large number of people is my party punch recipe.
Helpful tip: To prevent people from losing and leaving their drinks scattered around the party, keep a Sharpie next to the plastic cups so everyone can write their names on their drinks.
If you are serving soda, purchase 2-liter bottles instead of cans to save money.
If you want to serve alcohol at a party but don’t have a large budget, consider asking your guests to bring their own beer (BYOB). I indicate this on the invitation when I send it out.
Don’t forget the ice! If you plan ahead and have ice trays or an ice maker, you can make your ice ahead of the party instead of having to buy bags of ice.
Make a Homemade Dessert
You can purchase a package of cake mix and a can of frosting for a little over $3.00 to bake cupcakes or cake at home. With one box, you can typically make about 24 cupcakes or an 8″ round double-layer cake.
Purchasing pre-made cupcakes or a cake at the store will cost you around $14.00 or more.
Homemade cookies or brownies are also an inexpensive dessert option that are easy to feed a crowd.
Use What You Have
Before shopping for any party, look to the pantry, refrigerator, and freezer to see what you already have.
I often have enough extra vegetables in the fridge that I don’t have to buy a lot extra for a party.
Maybe you purchased bulk meat at Costco and have extra ground beef, allowing you to make burgers, tacos, or spaghetti as a budget-friendly option.
This tip can also be helpful for all your party planning. Consider the decorations and games you may already have at home that you can use. With a little creativity, you can often come up with new ways to use what you already have.
Host a Potluck
If you are hosting a large group of people for a party, consider hosting a potluck. Everyone brings a dish to share with the group.
Often, when hosting a party, your guests will ask, “What can I bring?” This is the time to be specific about what you need help with. If they are offering, it is not rude to ask them to bring a dish.
This works well for BBQs, pool parties, holidays, the Super Bowl, special occasions, and more. If we are hosting a party to celebrate a specific person (or people), I will not be hosting a potluck. This includes birthday parties, anniversaries, and graduation parties.
We will often provide the main dish, and have our guests bring sides, drinks, and desserts. If you create the party and use an online option like Facebook Events, you can even have everyone say what they are bringing, so you don’t end up with four bags of chips and no vegetables.
Shop in Bulk
Use a place like Costco or Sam’s Club to purchase your food. Often, the prices are much cheaper when purchasing a large quantity, like you would for a party.
You will often get a much better price per unit when shopping in bulk.
However, I think it’s always a good idea to double-check to ensure you’re getting the best deal. Especially if you don’t think you will use all of what you purchase at the party. Buying in bulk and then throwing away what you don’t end up eating is not a savings.
Shop the Sales
Check the weekly sale papers before you plan your menu. There may be an item on sale that you were not planning on buying, but it would be a cost-effective choice for the party. This is a great way to cut costs.
Similarly, shopping in season can often save you money. Buying items during the time of year when they are in season can help reduce costs.
I hope you found all these tips helpful, and your next party is a huge success! Please share any tips you have for saving money on parties in the comments.
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