The recessionista’s guide to: Entertaining

Don’t let the recession ruin your social life! In fact, why not use it as a reason to get back to basics? Good food, great conversation and wonderful friends: that’s what entertaining’s all about. There’s no need to spend a bundle on the perfect night in. As any recessionista can tell you, it’s all about making chic yet budget-friendly choices in food, drink and ambience.

Read on for our top 10 recession-conscious entertaining tips. (They’re so painless, we think you’ll be breaking them out even after the economy improves!)

1 Have guests over for brunch instead of dinner: instant cost savings, thanks to pancakes, eggs, bread and coffee galore. Even if you include Prosecco (for mimosas), chances are you’re saving big compared to a dinner menu.

2 Go back to your penniless college days with a pizza-and-games night. Order in a jumbo pepperoni and pop and spend the evening playing Monopoly, Trivial Pursuit and Pictionary, or upgrade to Nintendo or Rock Band. If you serve beer, trade in the microbrew for an inexpensive domestic ale or lager. Split the evening’s bill like back in the day, too.

3 Have friends over for wine and cheese. It will save you money and effort compared to a full-on dinner party. And if you’ve been nursing a pricey boutique winery habit, try crowd-pleasing (that includes wine snobs) bottles like Argentinean malbec, Spanish brut (as an alternative to Champagne) or unoaked Chardonnay (cheaper than oaked Chardonnay). They’re three choices that will save you money without making you feel like the dork with the Tetra pack vino.

4 Go traditional. Skip the pricey sushi-grade tuna steak and wow your guests with a good, old-fashioned Sunday dinner. Consider slow-cooked brisket or a roasted whole chicken, garlic mashed potatoes, buttered carrots or peas, plus a simple green salad: easy to make, inexpensive and absolutely delicious. (Cheaper cuts of meat mean you can maintain your organic, free-range principles without paying through the nose.)

5 Make your next dinner party a potluck. Set a theme (i.e. Spanish or Indian), and exchange notes beforehand via email or eVite to avoid duplication and make sure dessert’s covered!