You’ve got company coming over but you’re worried about feeding guests on a budget. How can you still make sure they are comfortable? How can you best make sure that everyone has enough to eat and that everyone is happy with the meals?
That’s what we are going to talk about today!
I just got done with my grocery shopping to stock up to feed five more people at our table for a couple extra days this week. It got me thinking…
“Why do people think they NEED to completely blow their normal grocery budget when they have guests over?”
Let’s talk more about feeding guests on a budget!
3 Hacks for Feeding Guests on a Budget
- Meal Plan as Normal
Have unexpected guests? Not a problem! No need to rearrange everything! If you have been meal planning then just choose one of the meals on your plan that can be easily doubled to feed a larger crowd. Meals I love to do this with are things like pastas, casseroles, or “build your own” type meals like, build your own… tacos, baked potato, salad, etc.
You can also choose meals that can easily be bulked up by adding extra veggies. Things like roasts are great for this, because you can just add in extra potatoes and carrots. Mexican dishes are also great for this when you add in an extra can of something like black beans or rice to carry the meal further.
2.Grocery Pick Up or Delivery
I get it! When company is coming you have an extra long to-do list. Laundry, dishes, and bathrooms are usually at the top of my list before guests come. I mean I am right in the middle of washing all the bedding in our entire house. Literally! I just put the fifth load in the wash before I sat down to write to you.
So you’ve got your meal plan. Check… But you do need to actually buy the groceries. When are you going to find time for that? Welcome to the world of grocery pick up or delivery. Have you tried it yet? I usually do grocery pick up to avoid any delivery fees. It is heavenly! Getting your groceries this way helps you stick to your list so you can also stick to your budget.
Another way to stack the savings on your groceries is to use a cash back app like Ibotta. What’s especially great about using Ibotta is that they have new ways to earn cash back with the browser extension on grocery pickup & delivery!
Ibotta has more ways to earn cash back than any other browser extension. What I love so much specifically about Ibotta, is that a lot of times there are cash back opportunities on “any item” purchases. Also, unlike other browser extensions and rewards platforms, Ibotta offers real cash back, not points, and not promo codes that need to be tested, you get real cash!
All offers were valid as of publish date. Check your app for details, as offers change frequently and may not be available in all areas.
I love that when I’m shopping from my computer, any time I am setting up my grocery pick up order, Ibotta’s browser extension will automatically remind me about all the amazing cash back offers I have set up for my order.
Don’t miss out on stacking up your cash back!
3. Make Meat the Side Attraction
One more tip for your grocery list. Make sure that in the meals you choose to feed your guests that do have meat in them, that meat is not the main ingredient. So if you are looking for ways to keep costs low, a steak dinner for all ten people probably isn’t your best bet. If you stick with the meals I suggested in hack number one that also follow this rule, you should be good to go!
You can do this! There is no need to panic if you’re feeding guests on a budget. A few minor adjustments to your normal meal planning and grocery shopping and your guests are going to have an amazing time in your home!
What are you tips for feeding guests on a budget? I would love to hear all about it over on Instagram.
