Holidays are never complete without a party or two. Kicking off towards the end of October, the string of parties never seem to end until the clock strikes twelve on New Year’s Eve. Apart from attending office parties, weekend entertaining is also a great idea to socialize with friends and colleagues. There is no need to drain your wallet, when it comes to hosting a party; there are a few recession proof ideas that do not spoil the holiday spirit.

In planning your cocktail party, think of a theme that you can work with. You can go for a tropical luau party, serve ham and pineapple skewers and a feisty Hawaiian punch. You can also have a healthy cocktail party, it’s time to take the wheatgrass juicer out of the box and whip out a healthy concoction. If you do not have a juicer, you can borrow from a friend or buy a manual wheatgrass juicer that does not cost much and you can even use for a long time.

Keep it simple when it comes to invitations, there’s no need to invite the whole block or send our monogrammed invites. Be creative, attach a small card on a swizzle stick and encourage your guests to bring their favorite party food or bottle of wine. Keep the food simple, easy to prepare, yet elegant. You can serve mini pizzas with mozzarella and fresh basil or crackers with sour cream and smoked salmon.

Keep the mood light and lively with a little music, pull out some bossa nova or some all time favorites like The Supremes or Jackson Five. Have a couple of party games up your sleeve. Smile, mingle and enjoy, it is after all your party. Do not let your friends go home empty handed, simple party favors, such as candy canes with a holiday wish, can go a long way.

What makes the party a success is a happy and hospitable host, most people forget the food and only remember how much fun they had.