budget entertaining

The Super Bowl is one of those events that was made for spending with a group — just think of all the high fives and hugs you'll be giving out. If you and your friends are still figuring out what to do, consider throwing your own football fiesta; there's still enough time to plan an event for the 49ers/Ravens faceoff. Here's how:

• Food and drink: Instead of hosting a regular ol' potluck, make a friendly competition out of it. Ask guests to put their cooking and mixology skills to the test by bringing their finest dishes and drinks. Have an incentive, even if it's just declaring a winner by holding a vote. This way, you'll serve deliciousness without spending a fortune. For your own contribution, make chili and punch (spiking optional), ideal items for big groups that don't cost too much.
• TVs and seating: If you don't have a huge flat-screen TV at home, that's OK. Just make sure guests are able to see the screen by offering plenty of seating options. (Get creative with garden stools and floor cushions.) If you have more than one TV, set up different viewing stations, which could work well if you have fans from both sides of the aisle.
• Entertainment: Luckily, the big game pretty much provides all of the entertainment you need. Still, make sure to have staples like playing cards on hand in case there's downtime or the halftime show isn't captivating enough. Another fun way to keep guests engaged is to ask them to use their imaginations and pitch their own Super Bowl-worthy commercial ideas.
• Decor: You don't have to go all out on the sports theme. Instead of getting 49ers or Ravens plates and cups, stick to basic team colors. In this case, utensils or tablecloths in red, purple, and gold are all pieces you can easily pick up at the dollar store. If all else fails, there's no rule against using some of your finest items for the big game day.

Save money and revamp your wardrobe all at once by hosting a clothing swap with your friends. Not only will you get a chance to clean out your closet, but you'll also be able to add new items for free. Make the event as small or as big as you'd like, and keep things fun by serving playful cocktails with simple appetizers.

A few tips to make the swap run smoothly:

• Ask each friend to bring the same number of items to keep things even. Encourage your guests to bring a variety of pieces, too, so that you're not left with 30 pairs of jeans.
• As people arrive, help them to arrange their clothing in a way that makes sense. Lay all the pieces out in a large room and group them by type so that guests can easily see each item.
• To give everyone a fair shot at choosing items, draw numbers from a hat and ask each person, in order, to pick out one thing. Redraw numbers before each round so that the same person isn't always getting the first pick.
• Make the most of your event by donating any extra items to a local nonprofit.

Have you hosted or attended a clothing swap? Share your suggestions below!

While you might not be able to take trip this weekend, you can still get away — sort of. Plan a night in centered around travel, and you'll feel like you're in vacation land from the comfort of your very own home without spending too much.

• Ambience: Set the tone by sending out airplane- or globe-themed email invites; and to make guests feel comfortable, tell them to dress in anything they would normally wear on a long plane ride. Decor doesn't have to be extravagant — hanging a world map or setting out a globe will add a nice festive touch.
• Swap travel books: Travel guides and books can be expensive, so why not borrow from friends who have already been to places on your checklist? Ask everyone who has one that they've used to bring it so you can all trade. Ask guests to share the highlights of their trips as a bonus.
• Tell stories: One of the best parts about travel is getting to share the exciting stories you've experienced. Chances are anyone who's ever been on a trip has one — good, bad, or ugly — that they can tell. Make things fun by gathering round the globe for this story-time portion of the night.
• Make it an international potluck: For some mealtime fun, ask friends to bring a dish or make a drink from their favorite place. This way, you can all learn about different cultures while enjoying some delicious treats.
• Plan a group trip: If you're with a close group of friends, then take advantage of your time to plan a trip together! Start figuring out a place you can all agree on so that, even if you don't figure out all the details right then and there, you'll have a starting point for you to build plans on over time.

With so many potential projects filling up your Pinterest DIY boards, hosting an art party is both budget-friendly and productive. With a few simple steps, you can turn your living room into an artist's studio and knock some of those must-try projects off your (ever-growing) to-do list.

Protect your space: Be sure that you stash anything you wouldn't want to get messy — vases, coffee-table books, place mats, etc. You'll want to cover your work surfaces with newspaper, recycled paper bags, or sheets of plastic that you can purchase at the hardware store.

Have guests pick a project and bring their supplies: If your guests select their own projects, then you can rest assured that everyone will be devoted to working on something they're truly interested in. Art supplies can really add up, so be sure to ask your friends to bring what they need to complete their projects. You can provide the basics like paintbrushes, pencils, glue, and paper, but everyone should be sure to pack a tote stocked with their project-specific materials.

Create the perfect playlist: After you send out your invitations, collect song requests or create a collaborative playlist on Spotify so everyone can contribute their most inspiring tunes. Having the music flowing will fill the gaps of concentrated silence while your guests are focusing on creating their masterpieces.

Admire your finished work: Be sure to celebrate your hard work with a gallery showing at the end of the night. Since you won't want to eat while you work (mixing paint and dip is not ideal), this would be the perfect time to bring out some appetizers. You could even incorporate some wine-tasting into the evening.

Share the love: Don't be afraid to trade projects with your guests. Sometimes artwork doesn't turn out exactly as expected, and you might have more fun swapping your creation than keeping it! Besides, what's cooler than having your friend's original artwork adorning your wall space?  

If you still haven't figured out your New Year's Eve plans, then chances are a lot of your friends haven't either, so consider throwing your own soiree. It's not too late to plan an unforgettable party without spending too much. Here's how:

• Food and drinks: You probably have at least some drinks and treats leftover from the holidays, so offer to serve it up for your guests. Pull from what's in your cabinets, and tell friends to bring whatever's missing, like mixers or their favorite alcohol. Depending on who's invited, don't be shy about asking people bring their own excess party food.
• Decor: Christmas lights and candles are really all you need for mood-setting decor. But you can also put out mismatched holiday napkins and find ways to upcycle your Christmas decor — using gift wrap to line drink trays, for example.
• Entertainment: Fireworks, a ball drop, end-of-the-year playlists? There's an app for all of that. Give guests a true (simulated) New Year's Eve experience by going digital. Most apps to help ring in 2013 are free or only cost a few dollars.
• Photo fun: Sure, photo booths are popular again, but you can create your own makeshift one by simply setting out a large frame (use one that you already have, or pick one up from the thrift store) and providing props straight from your closet.
• Dress: Save yourself and your guests money on clothes by calling for casualwear when announcing the party. Make known that no one will be judged for showing up in jeans and a t-shirt or even pajamas, if so inclined.

If you've always wanted to entertain in your home but felt it was too small, don't fret. Here are some ways to make a decent-sized group fit into your humble abode comfortably.

• Pillows are the solution. No dining table? Not enough seating for your guests? No problem. Take a couple of pillows and place them around your coffee table.
• Move furniture around. If possible, move some of your furniture around so there is more space for guests to walk around in your living room. Any unnecessary pieces can be kept in the bedroom. Move your living room furniture closer to the wall as well so people will have more room to move around in.
• Preparty or afterparty. If your apartment can't hold dinner for a big party, why not throw a predinner party at your place instead with cocktails and finger food, then head to a restaurant after? Or you can even do the opposite — have dinner at a restaurant before heading over to your home to enjoy cocktails and desserts to end the night with.
• Find space for coats. If your guests need to hang their coats, don't let them build in a pile on the couch and take up valuable space. Instead, hang them in your closet (move your items out of the way), on the shower rod in your bathroom, or over the backs of chairs.
• Borrow from others. Ask to borrow certain items from friends or neighbors such as pillows or chairs for guests to sit on.

Pick up plastic platters, bowls, or even wineglasses from the dollar store, and transform them into chic party supplies with the help of homemade chalkboard paint. For less than $5, you've got the ingredients needed to mix together enough paint for upscaling dishes, turning them into seriously cool party provisions. Once the dishes are dry, write the names of snacks and appetizers on plates and bowls to let guests know what they're digging in to. And you can even coat the bases of wineglasses for guests to write their names, ensuring no one loses a drink.

Keep reading for the simple directions.

Want to decorate the house this holiday season but aren't into decking the halls with red bows, green boughs, and sparkling lights? Here's a hip and eco-friendly decoration that is seriously easy but looks like you purchased it at a chic shop. Using burlap keeps the price of this holiday bunting around $5, and you can even personalize it to really celebrate the season.

Click here for the easy-to-follow directions.

One of the best ways to bring a group together is with a healthy dose of competitiveness. Luckily, hosting a game night doesn't require too much time, effort, or money on your end. Follow these tips to, err, score at your next party. Let the games begin!

• Keep track of the number of guests. Sure, you should do this with any party, but it's especially important in this case because the number of guests might determine how game night will run. If it's a small group, you can probably all play the same game at once. If it's too large, several games might have to be going on at the same time.
• Ask friends to bring games. Not everyone likes board games like Monopoly or time-sensitive ones like Scattergories. To ensure enough options for everyone, ask friends to bring their favorites. Make sure that as a host, you're prepared with essentials, like playing cards and pencils, and that all your games are in their complete sets.
• Set ground rules. Game night can bring out some pretty competitive spirits, so before things heat up, make sure everyone's on the same page. That can include deciding upon tricky, often-disputed rules in advance and designating someone to explain instructions.
• Be flexible with space. A large dining table is a safe bet for many games (just make sure to clear it first), but the floor isn't a bad option if you're playing something like charades. Be open to figuring out what works best.
• Provide snacks and drinks. Game night wouldn't be complete without munchies or drinks, but because of the nature of the gathering, you don't have to go all out. Lighter plates, like chips and dip or cheese and crackers, are safe bets. Offer enough wine or beer — it might go quicker than usual if you incorporate drinking into the games.