It happens sometimes; we lose our jobs or end up not having enough money by some other means. Sometimes this ends up on top of the already daunting task of entertaining for a group of people. Whether it be a small group of friends, or a party, here are a few tips to help entertain a group of people when you’re on a budget:

Decorations and Decor – Candles are a good way to make a room feel luxurious and it does create a certain kind of softness around the room. You can get candelabras at Target or other home stores like Bed, Bath and Beyond for a centerpiece. Smaller candles can then be placed around the base of the centerpiece and along the table. Candles can be very inexpensive if you start collecting them while they’re on sale.

The mood of the room can also be manipulated through music, and that can easily be done through a mix on an iPod. You don’t need one of those iPod players either; simply get a 3.5mm male to male stereo jack and plug it in to your existing sound system.

One tip is to mix and match dinner plates and glassware, but this is up to you. You’re the only one who knows about the kind of guests you will be entertaining and if they will appreciate mis-matched dinnerware.

Drinks - It may seem tacky to some, but having guests bring their own booze can be a very simple way to save a lot of money. Most guest end up bringing a bottle of wine as a house gift for a party, so instead of storing the wine, use it for the party. There are many different flavors of vodka now available also, you can try to mix up martinis or other fruity drinks using flavored vodka. Since a bottle of vodka will also last much longer than a bottle of wine, this could be another option depending on your guests.

Dessert – You can make your own chocolate covered strawberries. They seem very expensive when you go to a candy store and they cost $3-$4 each, but they are actually very inexpensive and easy to make. Simply go to the grocery store and go to the baking section, there should be all kinds of “melting” chocolate available. Some of it you can even put in the microwave. Then, buy some fresh strawberries, go home, and cover strawberries until you’re out of strawberries or chocolate.

Things you can do without – You can eliminate or cut back on fresh flowers because they are going to be very expensive and won’t last. This comes back to the decor, but you can decorate with things you already own. The source suggests a house plant, but that’s entirely up to you.

You can use these tips as guidelines when trying so save some money on a party. Good luck!