Host A Dinner Party on the Cheap

I do a segment for my news station KVAL called "Saving You Money." During sweeps (month of November - news ratings) I have several spots running about how to save money during the holidays. Well tonight - you get the scoop - here's how to save a buck while hosting a holiday dinner party:

Plan your dinners around unfussy inexpensive ingredients. Think Italian, cheeses, wine and pasta. You can also do a nice green salad for not much money.

Shop before Thanksgiving - before the prices go up. Hostesses in the know realize that prices are marked up in the time between turkeys and Santa so shop for your party before Thanksgiving rolls around.

Ask your guests to bring the wine. It is easy for them and really cuts down on the cost of hosting for you.

Rather than a plated dinner, host a a buffet. You'll notice caterers doing this ...when you set up the spread put the rolls and starchy items (such as potatoes) toward the front of the buffet and the meat and the end. The hope is that guests will not take as much meat this way...saving you money.

Clean and prepare your fruits and veggies yourself. The packaging and pre-cutting will cost you.

Frozen meat is cheaper. Thaw your turkey or ham in time to cook and serve it.

Make your own dessert! Do some comparison shopping and you'll notice a store bought can cost five times the amount of baking it yourself. As long as you have the right tools, making your own pie crust is pretty easy. Don't have a rolling pin? Use a wine bottle! Or, bake brownies from a box. Add Hershey chocolate squares on top as soon as they come out of the oven. This makes for a lovely frosting.

Help me add to the list...other ideas on how to save and party at the same time?