Sometimes hosting a get-together or backyard barbecue can be expensive, with the cost of paper products and supplies adding up to more than the actual food sometimes. When we host a party, we always ask everyone to bring a dish to share and their beverage of choice while we supply the proteins and “house” wine and beer. This makes it easier and less expensive for everyone to get together and everyone is always more than willing to help out. But even with help with food and drinks, hosting a party can add up with the price of decorations, paper products and condiments. I checked out our local Dollar Tree, where everything is $1 each, and found cheap but fun supplies that can help keep the costs down…so you can afford to get together more often and enjoy the weather.
In the grand scheme of things, your friends and family aren’t really going to care about what type of plates you’re serving the food on but for some fun paper plates, this package of 14 plates is a good deal. Lots of different varieties to choose from too. (They have matching napkins too but I forgot to buy them!) If you use plastic utensils, the Dollar Tree has packs of forks/knives/spoons or packs of just forks, knives and spoons. I don’t bother with spoons or knives unless the food being served needs them. This pack of 48 heavy-duty plastic forks will make clean-up faster and they can be tossed in your recycle bin.
You can find tablecloths at most stores but they will cost you. For an inexpensive splash of color for your table (and to help protect from spills), you can pick up this one for only a dollar. They have a variety of sizes and shapes, along with designs and colors to choose from.
A lot of times I prefer to use “real” dishes when we entertain. These plastic plates, bowls and glasses come in packs of 4 for $1 and come in several different summery colors. And the plates are actually quite sturdy.
Love this bowl and platter! The bowl is perfect for a green or fruit salad and comes with “hand” tongs you can use to serve it up with.
Help protect your food from pesky bugs (or the dog) with a food tent. I was actually surprised to see how big this was once I got it out of the package.
I’ve been buying citronella candles from the Dollar Tree for years and they work just as well as other more expensive National Brands. This lasts up to 25 hours and comes in lots of different colors. And if you need toothpicks for appetizers or fruits, this pack of 75 colorful plastic forks is a great deal.
For basting and brushing marinades on your grilled foods, this silicone basting brush is perfect. It’s extra long to help prevent getting your hands too close to the heat and is dishwasher-safe.
Grill toppers (pans) make grilling cut up veggies and fruits a lot easier and you don’t have to worry about the food dropping through the grates. You get 2 for $1.00. These are sturdy enough to hold quite a bit of food. Extra-long tongs make it easier to flip burgers, steaks and chicken without getting too near the flames or heat and this pack of 4 skewers are sturdy enough to load up with all your favorite vegetables and meats.
Condiments can be expensive. I typically buy store brand versus name brand because I can’t tell a difference except when I’m paying for them. Of course Hunt’s is a name-brand but there’s quite a bit of difference in price when you buy it at a dollar store versus a grocery store. I sampled the Koops spicy brown mustard, the Breckenridge Farms Kosher Baby Dills and the Garland Jack’s barbecue sauce and honestly, they all tasted just as good as other brands! And again, only a dollar each.
And I love this idea! We’ve feature the Foldable Spray Bottles in earlier posts and now they have Foldable Water Bottles. These easily fold up when you’re not using them, which saves space. When filled with your beverage of choice, they stand upright and they come with a convenient carabiner so you can easily attach it to a belt loop or backpack if needed. It’s dishwasher safe (on the top rack) and FDA-approved BPA-Free plastic so you know it’s safe. This can save you some serious bucks while being green. They come in lots of different colors and designs. I think our grandkids would love these (and you can send them home with your guests as a reminder of how fun it was to get together).
If you have a dollar store in your area, stop by and check out all the merchandise they have to offer to make your next outdoor barbecue “stylish” but still inexpensive….makes hosting a party more affordable and fun.