Throwing a Christmas Party on a College Budget

‘Tis the season to be jolly – and what says “jolly” more than a good Christmas party? During the holiday season, many of us find ways to share this jolliness by busting our wallets, all in the name of good Christmas cheer. However, being in college comes with a steep price – literally. So perhaps you can’t blow all your money on lights, a grand dinner and a bunch of booze, but that doesn’t mean you still can’t go all out. Here are a few tips, from a fellow broke college student, on how to create a night of festive cheer that you and your friends won’t be forgetting. 

1. Choose a Theme

Even the biggest Christmas party lover admits that they tend to get a bit redundant. The same colored decorations, the same turkey and even the same small talk. If you really want to make your Christmas party stand out, try applying an exciting theme to the occasion. A popular favorite is the Ugly Christmas Sweater theme, where everybody comes wearing their ugliest sweater, often acquired through various thrift stores. You could even throw a Nightmare Before Christmas themed party (is that a Christmas movie or a Halloween movie? The answer is yes). If you want to get a little more creative and a little old-school, you could throw a Christmas Masquerade Party. Just get a few friends to dress up a little big, get some Dollar Store plain masks and decorations, and have a competition on who can make the most elaborate mask that would put the Sugarplum Fairy to shame. No matter what theme you decide to go for, the possibilities are endless. 

2. Go for a Potluck

A nice, fancy Christmas dinner large enough to feed a group of people requires far too much time and money – two things nobody has at the end of the semester. In college, nobody has the right to claim that potlucks are tacky. If anything, it’s pretty smart. It provides picky eaters with a wide variety of food and saves you the extra cash that you don’t have. Besides, your friends might appreciate the opportunity to get involved – especially considering you’re offering up your own dorm or apartment so that they don’t have to spend the time with their psycho roommate. But you should still offer to make the main dish. After all, you are the host. Keep your eyes away from the turkey or ham, it’s far too expensive and takes hours of preparation and cooking. Instead, go for something pasta based, like lasagna or ravioli. Pasta is the easiest and cheapest way of making large quantities of food. 

3. Opt for a Hot Cocoa Bar

I don’t want to be a Scrooge on the holiday “spirits” here, but let’s be honest, alcohol can be expensive. Especially when you’re trying to buy enough to satisfy a whole party. So, skip the sparkling cider and spiked eggnog and offer your guests a hot chocolate bar instead. It’s actually quite simple. Make a large portion of hot chocolate (which is a lot cheaper than it sounds. If you have a crockpot, there are tons of crock pot hot chocolate recipes that will satisfy a whole crowd). Get some cheap toppings like marshmallows, whipped cream and sprinkles and let your guests fill their bodies with diabetes. 

4. Bring Out the Christmas Tunes

Nothing sets the mood like a good playlist. It’s proven that Christmas music is good for the soul and it’s the perfect way to get your guests moving without having to do any work. Pull up one of Spotify’s remade holiday playlists, or make one of your very own, and plug it into a speaker. If you don’t have a speaker, here’s a DIY tip: Cut a rectangle out of a paper towel roll and stick the speaker end of your phone inside. The tube will project the music like a surround-sound system. 

5. Borrow, Rent and Create

When all else fails, the Dollar Store is a beautiful thing. There is no need to spend a bunch of money on tablecloths and decorations that are going in storage or in the trash soon anyway, so stop into your nearest thrift store or Dollar General and find what you need for a price that won’t hurt your wallet and your spirit. You can even get a small, three-foot Christmas tree for $20 if you look in the right place. Plus, if you can’t find what you want for the right price, there are plenty of cheap ways to craft some decorations fit for a Winter Wonderland. 

6. Don’t Overthink It 

In the end, don’t worry too much about impressing people. Good friends and tasty food make the perfect recipe for a great night. No matter what kind of party you decide to throw or what kind of decorations you have, being surrounded by people you love and enjoy is what makes an unforgettable party. So grab some hot chocolate, turn on some Christmas music and let the holiday cheer fill the air like helium. 

• christmas
• christmas party
• FSU
• holidays
• party