The cold winter days have already got people talking excitedly about summer. Summer holidays, summer festivals, summer barbecues – the lot! Everybody and everything just seems a lot brighter and happier in summer, so naturally we can’t wait for it to arrive. In this post, we’re going to concentrate on telling you exactly how you can throw a memorable summer barbecue for your friends and family without breaking the bank. After all, summer is a great time to spend quality time with your loved ones! Here’s how to do it:
Plan Ahead
The most important part of having a successful barbecue on a budget is planning ahead. Decide on how many guests you’d like to invite, what kind of food and drink you could serve, how you could keep little ones entertained, and more. Make a list of everything you think you’ll need to buy, including all of the plates, cups, ice, charcoal – literally every single thing you’ll need to go out and buy. If you havn’t already got a barbecue, take a look at Flaming Barbecues. Work out a budget for all of this stuff before you go shopping, and definitely don’t go over it. Try to stay under your budget, and drop unnecessary things from the list if you have to. Try to get the best deals and hit the cheapest shops!
Ask The Guests to Help Out
You could do your barbecue in a ‘pot luck’ kind of way by asking your guests to bring a dish of their choice for everybody to enjoy. They could bring a side, a pudding, a main – anything! As you’re hosting the barbecue, your guests shouldn’t mind bringing a few items. Not only will this make it easier on your budget, you’ll have less stress for the duration of the barbecue!
Buy Cheap Booze
Don’t go buying expensive wines or speciality beers – when you’re on a budget, that’s just silly. Any booze at all should keep your guests happy, so simply buy a few cases of lager and perhaps one cocktail to keep them going. Water is good too, as this will keep your guests hydrated. There’s always the option of asking them to bring their own booze too!
Keep Children Entertained
A few activities for the kids should ensure that they stay out of your hair for the duration of the barbecue. How about water guns and water balloons? If you set up a swimming pool or something similar for them, make sure they’re supervised at all times!
Don’t Go Crazy With Decorations
Barbecues should be about spending quality time with your friends and family, not marvelling at the beautiful tablecloths you picked up from Next Home. Use decorations you already have to create a nice effect; plain Christmas lights always work well!
Have Fun!
The most important part of your barbecue is to make sure the guests, you included, all have fun. Don’t stress out too much (the guests could pick up on this), simply enjoy the weather and conversation with your loved ones. Summer comes but once a year, so enjoy it!
