Christmas Parties Without Breaking the Bank

Choosing a theme like ‘What I love best about a summer Christmas', ‘Christmas decorations come to life (or take their revenge)', ‘The Greatest Christmas Anthems', ‘Our Coolest Christmas Traditions', ‘A Kiwiana Christmas', or ‘A United Nations Christmas'. Colours, TV programmes such as ‘A Coro St Christmas' where fans can dress up as their favourite character, food or sports themes can all help keep the costs down and add a bit of fun. Put your thinking cap on and get creative. Pink Bubbly is a recurring theme at some GrownUps parties – and why not? By the end of the year, most of us are knackered and a good laugh is called for! So whatever theme you choose, make it light-hearted and give people the opportunity to laugh and be silly.

Having a theme gives people something to dress to and makes it easier for people who don't know each other to break the ice and start talking. Tell them to bring a plate in keeping with the party theme (along with a bottle of their favourite tipple).

Laying on plenty of non-alcoholic alternatives including iced water with lemon and/or mint also goes down well and is easy on the wallet. Freezing some summer berries into ice cubes can add a touch of glam to non-alcoholic fruit cocktails and can be deliciously refreshing as well. Sliced French bread with lettuce and tomatoes, cheese, tuna or whatever toppings appeal is great party food and summer fruits and vegetables are cheap and abundant and easy to prepare as well.

One of the best hosts I know is a true believer in relaxing and having a great time at your own party rather than running around like a maniac fretting about whether everyone is having a great time and checking drinks. Her theory is that if the hosts are relaxed and happy, everyone who arrives will be too. She and her husband make a point of trying to greet each person as they arrive and showing them the way to the glasses or the fridge. Then they circulate.

Parties don't need to be all about food or drinks. They can be as relaxed as you want to make them. Just set the mood with some mellow music, and get creative with decorations. You don't necessarily have to rush out and spend a fortune on new decorations. Just use what you have well and make sure the house looks good. Clearing the clutter and getting some flowers from the garden can add a lot to the atmosphere.

Parties don't always have to be at night, or revolve around drinking and boozing. High tea has made a comeback in a very big way. Why not simply bake some cupcakes and get creative decorating them, then invite some friends and family around to enjoy them over a cup of tea?

Alternatively, host a backyard cricket tournament complete with sausies on the barbecue and some beers or set up a grand fishing tournament and organise your mates to go fishing together and then go home to fry it on the barbecue. Or organise a beach picnic complete with some beach games like softball or wacky races. Another lovely alternative is simply to have brunch, lunch or dinner al fresco in the garden.

Parties don't have to be flash and or expensive to be fun. The best ones are the ones when you catch up with friends who make you laugh or talk or be silly. So invite some friends over this silly season and plan some fun!