Decorating for your party doesn't have to mean renting fancy tableware or purchasing a new lighting scheme; a few small touches go a long way in invoking a festive atmosphere. Having Thanksgiving at your house? Shop for your centerpieces—in your backyard! Gather bright-colored leaves, berries, and fun-shaped twigs, and arrange them in vases or bowls, or around candles for a warmer touch. Hosting a Monday night football party? Get out extra jerseys and team blankets, and spread them over your furniture, or pin them up on a blank wall near the TV. You'll spread team cheer by reusing spirit wear in a new way, and it won't cost you a cent.

Cutting costs for a party with the kids? Try cutting crusts! Serving delicious, and inexpensive, finger foods won't strain your budget, and cleanup is a breeze. Mini-sandwiches, filled with turkey, ham, or chicken salad, are easy to make and serve. Keep your sides equally simple. For a sweet side dish, set out a big bowl of Orville Redenbacher's® new Lime & Salt popcorn. And for dessert, add a scoop or two of Peter Pan® Peanut Butter to your favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe. Your little guests will love the taste, and you'll love that you don't have to stray far from your pantry to find delicious ways to better your meal.

Chances are, your guests are keeping an eye on their budgets as well. Make a new rule for your monthly get-togethers: Everyone brings a dish. Going potluck also releases some of the stress of preparing a multi-course meal, leaving more time for chatting with your guests. Be sure to plan ahead and divide up each course, covering appetizers, side dishes, salad, bread, dessert, and beverages. As the host, you should prepare the main course. If you don't have the time, try Marie Callender's® Family Lasagna; it serves 12 people (and if you sprinkle some parsley flakes over the top, they might not be able to tell it's not homemade). Make it a family affair: Everyone has to prepare a dish that has been passed down in their family for generations. Your guests will learn more about each other, as well as add new recipes to their family cookbooks (if they're not coveted family secrets).

So you have the basics covered when it comes to parties you can plan, but what about those last-minute get-togethers? Slumber parties, surprise guests in town, neighbors popping by unannounced: Quick—what's an easy dish to prepare on the fly? Try the following dishes and your surprise guests will be happily surprised:

• Quick and Easy Quiche: Tasty and filling, quiche is perfect for breakfast, brunch, or lunch. It's also inexpensive and easy to whip up when the in-laws stop by "for a quick bite to eat." Try South of the Border Quiche or Tortilla Chicken and Corn Quiche for a zesty taste your guests will love.
• Stir-fry Fun: You and your guests can "wok" together to create a great meal when you bring out the stir-fry. Let your guests choose the ingredients, such as snow peas, mushrooms, chicken, and La Choy® Lite Soy Sauce, and cut everything into small pieces. Add oil to your wok and start stir-frying! Serve your personalized stir-fry over noodles or rice. Want to follow a more detailed recipe? Gingered Turkey Stir-fry takes only 20 minutes to prepare, and serves up to eight people.

Want to make sure you have a stress-free party? Take time to breathe. Planning, preparing, cooking, and serving sometimes can make you forget why you wanted to throw a party in the first place: to spend quality time with your loved ones. You always can find other ways to save but remember: It's a party, so do the best you can and then just have fun. If you need some other ideas on how to save, check out our past article, Help with Holiday Budget Busters, from Start Making Choices™.