The holiday season can be a real strain on the pocketbook. With all the many obligations, the idea of entertaining can be especially daunting. I am someone who loves to host parties and cook, but there have been times when it just wasn’t in the budget. I finally learned that just because I wasn’t feeling particularly flush, didn’t mean I couldn’t open my home and entertain–I discovered the fun of hosting a potluck!
I used to think of potlucks as strictly reserved for church suppers and work events. I thought that if I was going to host a party, I should really go out and do the hostess thing to the max. But people actually love potlucks, it gives them a chance to show off their favorite recipes and there’s no awkwardness of showing up on someone’s doorstep empty-handed. Potlucks have a real casual, community feel to them and I still get to feel like a host. They are perfect for families with children as parents tend to bring dishes they know their kids will eat and there is enough variety to keep even the pickiest eaters happy.
I still clean the house and decorate, put out the dishes, glasses and serving pieces, and make sure there’s plenty of ice and toilet paper–but I don’t have to fuss over menu, cooking and shopping. It’s so much less stressful–especially during the busy holiday time of year. Sometimes, I’ll keep a list of RSVP’s and dishes so that I can fill in with last minute items. Other times, I’ve assigned a “type” of dish to attendees to make sure there was a good variety (salads, main dish, dessert). But, most of the time, I just let things happen organically–that’s part of the fun of potluck!
If you wanted, you could make your potluck focused on dessert or appetizers or even suggest a “theme” for the party (Mexican, Italian, etc.). A potluck provides some fun opportunity for creativity even if the hostess isn’t doing all the cooking. And attendees seem to feel more invested and relaxed since they’ve participated in the party. There’s also always plenty of food! I’ve never hosted a potluck where there wasn’t plenty to feed the hungry, chatting masses–it may be a little heavy on salads or desserts, but there’s always plenty to eat.
So, even if money is tight, you can still host a holiday gathering. Just get out your best dishes and invite everyone to a potluck party!