Join our #CreditChat every Wednesday at 3p.m. ET on Twitter and Blab.im. We are heading into the holiday season, and many of us will be hosting gatherings for our friends and family. This chat featured great tips to help you host an amazing party that won’t break the bank. The panel included: Kasasa – a national brand of free rewards checking accounts offered exclusively at community financial institutions, Sandy Smith- Personal Finance Blogger and Founder of YesIAmCheap.com, Rod Griffin - Director of Public Education at Experian, and Mike Delgado - Social Media Community Manager at Experian. This deck features tips from: @kevincswanson, @SFCUNews, @payoff, @Kasasa, @WeAreMortgages, @wisebread, @SavingFreak, @care4yourfuture, @Rod_Griffin, @SavingThousands, @CordiaGrad, @KOFETIME, @Krissylynn, @MiriamSCross, @alady3lads, @SeleneFinance, @yesiamcheap, and @DebbiKing.

1. Hosting Holiday Gatherings on a Budget
#CreditChat
Wednesdays | 3 p.m. ET

2. Join our #CreditChat every Wednesday at 3 p.m. ET.
This week, the community shared some great tips on hosting
your own holiday gathering on a budget.
ex.pn/holidayparty

3. #CreditChat
Wednesdays | 3 p.m. ET
What should you plan
to pay for when hosting
a holiday party?

4. Plan to pay for the food and wine
with dinner. If a guest brings an
appetizer or drinks, then it’s a bonus,
but not necessary.
#CreditChat
Wednesdays | 3 p.m. ET
Kevin C. Swanson
@kevincswanson

5. When hosting a party, you should
plan on paying for decorations,
drinks, and at least some light
snacks.
#CreditChat
Wednesdays | 3 p.m. ET
Southeast Financial
@SFCUNews

6. Sharing is caring. Create a list and
have a potluck! Having people sign
up to bring things takes the
pressure out of asking.
#CreditChat
Wednesdays | 3 p.m. ET
Payoff
@payoff

7. If you’re tackling the whole party
by yourself, ask yourself what you can
do without? You don’t HAVE to have
three appetizers.
#CreditChat
Wednesdays | 3 p.m. ET
Kasasa
@Kasasa

8. #CreditChat
Wednesdays | 3 p.m. ET
What are ways to reduce
cost on food?

9. Start buying items now while
they are cheaper.
#CreditChat
Wednesdays | 3 p.m. ET
Kasasa
@Kasasa

10. Make dishes that share
ingredients so you don’t have to
throw away half a can of condensed
milk, for example.
#CreditChat
Wednesdays | 3 p.m. ET
Mortgages.com
@WeAreMortgages

11. Have everyone bring a dish!
#CreditChat
Wednesdays | 3 p.m. ET
Ashley Jacobs
@Wisebread

12. You can save on party food
by buying in bulk, doing a
potluck, or not serving a full
meal.
#CreditChat
Wednesdays | 3 p.m. ET
Paul Moyer
@SavingFreak

13. Instead of hosting a full dinner,
you can host an appetizer, cookie,
or wine and cheese party!
#CreditChat
Wednesdays | 3 p.m. ET
CARE
@care4yourfuture

14. Plan ahead. We buy well ahead,
on sale, and freeze what we can.
#CreditChat
Wednesdays | 3 p.m. ET
Rod Griffin
@Rod_Griffin

15. #CreditChat
Wednesdays | 3 p.m. ET
How can you save on drinks?

16. Make something non-traditional! It
allows you to explore cheaper and
different options!
#CreditChat
Wednesdays | 3 p.m. ET
Payoff
@payoff

17. Bringing your own beer is common.
Chip in on a keg. It can be cheaper and
more bang for your buck.
#CreditChat
Wednesdays | 3 p.m. ET
Saving Thousands
@SavingThousands

18. Make a big batch of one festive
cocktail and have your guests bring
the wine and beer.
#CreditChat
Wednesdays | 3 p.m. ET
CordiaGrad
@CordiaGrad

19. Buy drinks in bulk; go to stores like
Sam’s Club, BJ’s, or Costco so you can
have drinks for multiple holidays.
#CreditChat
Wednesdays | 3 p.m. ET
CARE
@care4yourfuture

20. Turn your drinks into 1 oz. wine
tastings of varietals to spread out
drinks among guests and pair with
hors d’oeuvres.
#CreditChat
Wednesdays | 3 p.m. ET
KOFE
@KOFETIME

21. #CreditChat
Wednesdays | 3 p.m. ET
When and where do you
buy seasonal decorations?

22. Stores like Big Lots and Dollar Tree
have cheap decorations that you can
dress up, but the good ones go fast.
#CreditChat
Wednesdays | 3 p.m. ET
Southeast Financial
@SFCUNews

23. I try to buy after each holiday and
save for the next year. You can get nice
table linens and decorations half price!
#CreditChat
Wednesdays | 3 p.m. ET
Kristine Snyder
@Krissylynn

24. #CreditChat
Wednesdays | 3 p.m. ET
Collecting pine cones and evergreen
branches doesn’t cost you a cent. Get
creative with what is in your yard.
KOFE
@KOFETIME

25. Buy seasonal decorations one week
after a season is over. Target cuts
prices the fastest, but you can do very
well with Kmart.
#CreditChat
Wednesdays | 3 p.m. ET
Paul Moyer
@SavingFreak

26. #CreditChat
Wednesdays | 3 p.m. ET
Get on Pinterest! Check out the DIY
decorations you can make with family
using things you already own.
Miriam Cross
@MiriamSCross

27. #CreditChat
Wednesdays | 3 p.m. ET
What are some fun and
free activities a host can do
to entertain guests?

28. I’m a big fan of trivia games or “name
that tune” with Christmas songs.
#CreditChat
Wednesdays | 3 p.m. ET
Southeast Financial
@SFCUNews

29. A game of touch football at your
local park can be a great afternoon
activity for your holiday gathering.
#CreditChat
Wednesdays | 3 p.m. ET
Kasasa
@Kasasa

30. #CreditChat
Wednesdays | 3 p.m. ET
We break up into teams and
have a Lego build-off. A theme is
given with a time limit.
Rebecca Lock
@alady3lads

31. Apples to Apples is one of the best
games to play with a large group of
people. So much fun!
#CreditChat
Wednesdays | 3 p.m. ET
CARE
@care4yourfuture

32. #CreditChat
Wednesdays | 3 p.m. ET
Selene Finance
@SeleneFinance
Decorate a Christmas tree together,
read ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas’
aloud, or have a cookie baking session
with friends.

33. #CreditChat
Wednesdays | 3 p.m. ET
What are some frugal ways
to keep the kids entertained?

34. #CreditChat
Wednesdays | 3 p.m. ET
Have the kids make decorative
place setting name tags. We did
turkeys traced from our hands a few
years ago.
Selene Finance
@SeleneFinance

35. Set up a craft or coloring area for
kids. Have more than one activity so
they don’t get bored.
#CreditChat
Wednesdays | 3 p.m. ET
Southeast Financial
@SFCUNews

36. #CreditChat
Wednesdays | 3 p.m. ET
Three words: giant leaf pile.
Costs zero dollars and can keep the
kids having fun all day.
Kasasa
@Kasasa

37. We’re big on board games to entertain
kids, or we’ll plan themed movies to play
along with popcorn to munch on.
#CreditChat
Wednesdays | 3 p.m. ET
Kevin C. Swanson
@kevincswanson

38. Have them help in the kitchen. Stir some
food, cut some cookies, and it’s a sneaky
way to start to teach them how to cook.
#CreditChat
Wednesdays | 3 p.m. ET
CARE
@care4yourfuture

39. #CreditChat
Wednesdays | 3 p.m. ET
What’s your strategy for
gift-giving at holiday parties?

40. #CreditChat
Wednesdays | 3 p.m. ET
Kasasa
@Kasasa
A white elephant gift swap can be a
cheap and fun way to keep things
interesting.

41. #CreditChat
Wednesdays | 3 p.m. ET
Secret Santa - draw names at the
party, great for mingling with new
people.
KOFE
@KOFETIME

42. #CreditChat
Wednesdays | 3 p.m. ET
Set a limit on gift-giving. No more
than $10 to $15 and everyone has to
bring a gift as admission.
Yes, I Am Cheap
@yesiamcheap

43. Gift exchanges are a perfect way to cut
down the cost of gift-giving at parties!
Themes optional: ornaments, sweaters, etc.
#CreditChat
Wednesdays | 3 p.m. ET
Payoff
@payoff

44. #CreditChat
Wednesdays | 3 p.m. ET
What are some financial
mistakes to avoid when
hosting a holiday party?

45. Don’t try to do too much. People are
the most important part of the party.
#CreditChat
Wednesdays | 3 p.m. ET
Southeast Financial
@SFCUNews

46. Don’t bite off more than you can chew.
Do only what you can afford in cash. If
you need debt to host, then don’t.
#CreditChat
Wednesdays | 3 p.m. ET
Debbi King
@DebbiKing

47. #CreditChat
Wednesdays | 3 p.m. ET
Buying too much of
anything. We tend to
buy too much of one
item. Ask for RSVP’s to
get an idea of numbers
and your budget.
CARE
@care4yourfuture

48. #CreditChat
Wednesdays | 3 p.m. ET
Mortgages.com
@WeAreMortgages
It’s always a mistake not to set a
realistic budget, even for the smallest
gathering.

49. #CreditChat
Wednesdays | 3 p.m. ET
Waiting last minute to buy big items,
and end up paying full price. Holidays
are the season of deals, find some!
KOFE
@KOFETIME

50. #CreditChat
Wednesdays | 3 p.m. ET
What are your final tips
for hosting a fun and stress-
free holiday gathering?

51. Do not think you have to buy
everything. If you’re on a budget, ask
friends for help. It’ll be more fun.
#CreditChat
Wednesdays | 3 p.m. ET
Kasasa
@Kasasa

52. Remember what it’s all about -
family and friends and fun, not
about how much you spend.
#CreditChat
Wednesdays | 3 p.m. ET
Debbi King
@DebbiKing

53. #CreditChat
Wednesdays | 3 p.m. ET
CARE
@care4yourfuture
Remember how valuable your time
is during the holidays. Spending time is
the best investment during this season.

54. Take lots of photos. Capture the
memories.
#CreditChat
Wednesdays | 3 p.m. ET
Kristine Snyder
@Krissylynn

55. #CreditChat
Wednesdays | 3 p.m. ET
Check out all the resources and tips shared:
ex.pn/holidayparty

56. #CreditChat
Wednesdays | 3 p.m. ET
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