I love having friends and family come over to the house to celebrate the holidays. What I don't love, however, is the price tag that can accompany this soiree. Because of this, I am always looking to cut a corner or two in the cash department and I am usually successful when I do. This year's Fourth of July bash at my pad is no exception.
This, the Fourth of July falls on a Wednesday, and for frugal shoppers like me, this is wondrous news. If you want some tips on how to have a frugal Fourth of July barbecue for friends and family, and are willing to wait until Friday to do it, I have a couple of tips that might come in handy.
Deeply Discounted Meat
Most grocers stock up in anticipation for the Fourth of July barbeque fanatics. This means that there is a plethora of ground beef (for burgers), hot dogs and steak on display. If you wait until the sixth, the meat your grocer didn't sell gets marked down -- many times by as much as 50 percent.
For me, this means sirloin steaks for barbequing, and an opportunity to have a festive bash at the same time.
Healthy Options
My family is full of health nuts. We love produce. In fact, when I go grocery shopping, fresh fruits and veggies account for 75 percent of the stuff in my basket. When it comes to the Fourth of July barbeque bashes I throw, I take advantage of in season veggies. I grill summer squash, zucchini and corn alongside my deeply discounted steaks and I don't spend over $20, but still get enough produce to feed 10 people.
Other Sale Items
Do you know what else is going to go on sale by the sixth and will be as much as 50 percent off? All of the July Fourth celebratory swag, that's what. I take advantage of that for my post-Fourth barbeques.
BYOB…and Other Stuff Too
I am an avid pot-lucker. Whenever I invite folks over to our home, I ask them to bring a dish, a bottle of wine or their favorite adult beverage and a mixer. This way, we can kick back and enjoy the day, without anyone going over budget.
If your goal this year is to throw an ultra-frugal Fourth of July barbeque, do it a couple days later and save twice the money you would have spent on Independence Day goodies. Your wallet will thank you, and your buddies will still have an awesome time.
*Note: This was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Do you have a personal finance story that you'd like to share? Sign up with the Yahoo! Contributor Network to start publishing your own finance articles.
More from this contributor:
5 great sites for free samples
