Holiday party season has arrived! Whether you’re planning a big family bash or an intimate gathering with close friends, don’t let a tight budget take the fun out of entertaining! New York City event planner Patti Morris shares creative ideas and tips on how to be a “hostess with the mostest” for next to nothing!

Tip 1: Make it a Group Effort
From vacuuming and dusting, to hiding the laundry (shhh!), a ton of effort goes into making your digs suitable for a soiree. On top of all that party prep, whipping up a huge meal Martha Stewart style can be stressful and expensive. Patti says potluck is the way to go! Ask your guests to each bring a dish. But forego a four course feast and keep it simple by sticking to appetizers, dessert and alcohol.  

Tip 2: Shop Smart
If you’d rather be in charge of the menu, shop at wholesale clubs for more reasonably priced treats and eats. Then plate your food on tiered trays made from large plates and teacups. (Patti recommends using teacups as a base and then alternating plate and teacup to your desired height.)

Tip 3: Use the Great Outdoors
You don’t have to spend a cent to create a cozy, inviting atmosphere. Just look in your own backyard for instant decor! Patti loves placing twigs, leaves, and other rustic touches in recycled glass jars. Create a warm glow by lighting votive candles, perched in jars filled with pebbles. To take it up a notch, spray paint the branches silver or gold and decorate with contrasting ornaments for a more modern twist.  

Tip 4: Do it Yourself Décor
Light up the night! Patti’s champagne glass masterpiece is always a crowd pleaser. Simply pick up some plastic champagne glasses at the 99 cent store. Use wire or clear fishing line to tie them together in any shape you like (columns, traditional wreath shape, balls, words, etc.). Then wrap white or colored Christmas lights around the structure you made. Try to use lights that have white cords (not the green ones). Once the lights go down and you flip the switch, everyone will ask where you got it.

Tip 5: Make an Edible Arrangement
Since flowers can cost a fortune, swap out fresh blooms for fresh fruit! Create centerpieces using clementines, pomegranates, pears and apples. The rich seasonal colors will really add pop to your table. Patti stacks them in groups or piles them up in clear vessels.

Tip 6: Make it Personal
A memorable party is all about adding personal touches that your guests will appreciate. One of Patti’s favorite ways to do this is by hanging ribbon or string from the ceiling (or a spray painted tree branch) and attaching funny pictures of your guests from other great times you’ve spent together.

Tip 7: Say Cheese
Capture the fun! Patti suggests turning a corner of your house into an impromptu backdrop for a festive photo shoot. Set your camera up on a tripod (or small table) and have guests take their own photos. It can be a scenic backdrop that you painted, or a funky chair adorned with holiday decorations. Put out a bowl of wacky props they can use. Don’t forget to snap a group photo before the end of the night!

Tip 8: Go Back to Basics
Help your guests make a grand entrance! A few bouquets of clear helium balloons tied together with thick gold and silver ribbons flanking the entry way of the party are inexpensive and fun!

Tip 9: Drink and Be Merry
Booze can guzzle up your budget, fast! Kate, a producer from Atlanta skips stocking a full bar and serves a “signature” holiday themed drink instead. From spiked egg nog to peppermint martinis, unleash your inner mixologist and shake up something seasonal!

Or ask that your guests each bring a bottle of vino for a holiday game like this one. Jen, a realtor from New York said, “Once I went to a party where everyone was told to bring a bottle of wine. The hostess covered up all of the labels and we got to taste all the wines and vote on which one was the best. Then the person who brought the tastiest wine won a nice bottle!”

Not only is this a great ice breaker, but it’s a great way for guests to chip in and keep the drinks flowing!

Tip 10: Just say No … to Hostess Gifts
Hostess gifts are so pre-recession! Rachel and Craig Duber from Cleveland, Ohio are throwing a holiday party in their new home. They’ve asked their guests to come bearing gifts … for those in need.

Rachel explained, "Since Craig and I got married a year ago, we’re fully stocked up on bowls, platters and dishes thanks to our wedding gifts. We definitely don’t need anymore as housewarming gifts! We thought it would be nice to ask our friends to help us give back to those less fortunate than we are, especially during the holiday season. There are so many children and families out there in need of a coat and a pair of socks to stay warm this winter.”

Whether fellow partiers bring “toys for tots” or clothes to donate to Goodwill, giving to charity goes a lot further than another crystal vase.

So don’t let a small budget downsize your holiday celebrations! Pull that Santa hat out of the closet (for the photo shoot, of course…) and follow these tips to throw a chic shindig for less.

Jessica Solloway is a freelance writer and producer based in Washington, DC. From wedding planning to work, dating to dieting (and everything in between), she enjoys writing about lifestyle topics women want to know about. Jessica received her degree in Journalism from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.