Tri-County news • Serving Chilton, Kiel & New Holstein • Thursday, November 15, 2018
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8 Page Pull-Out • Thursday, November 15, 2018
7 tips for staging holiday bash on budget The days leading up to the holidays tend to be among the busiest of the year, with lots of celebrations taking place over a few short weeks. If you are hosting a holiday celebration of your own, you are following a national trend. Statista reports some 59 percent of Americans anticipate spending on holiday entertaining this year. That said, it is important not to let your party planning become so stressful, time consuming or pricey that it interferes with your enjoyment of the season itself. Do not worry. Preparing for a holiday bash does not need to be hugely expensive or overwhelming if you can enlist help for some of the busywork and outsource some of the key elements. Consider the following ideas for bringing friends and family together this year without having to micromanage either your budget or the logistical details. n Enlist a crew of friends and family members to help with the pre-cleaning, prep, cooking, bartending, and final clean-up. Many hands make light work, and working toward a common goal can be a fun part of the gathering itself. n Instead of investing in your own serving ware and glassware, simply head to your nearest party rental store and check off all your needed supplies. The result will be far more elegant than opting for disposable paper products, and you need not worry about how and where you will store all those pieces afterward. n Worried that your limited furniture collection will not allow guests to fully relax? Instead of buying something new, think about renting some of the fun, comfortable, and design-forward seating groups now available for rental. Today’s options go way beyond traditional folding chairs to encompass cocktail tables, rugs, lighting elements, bars, and fully configurable sectionals and lounges, many of which can be used inside or out. n To take your party theme a step further, consider the fun of renting a fullsized backdrop that sets the stage while providing a prime selfie opportunity for your guests. Festive settings range from barns to castles to famous landmarks to cityscapes to breathtaking scenes from nature. n Hire a local caterer for your refreshments, or just contract for an attentiongrabbing main course. Keep it simple with a traditional meal or opt for a local specialty. n Simplify the entertainment and/or dance music by creating a party playlist on your smartphone ahead of time, then hooking it up to your own speakers. n Finally, do not discount the idea of holding your party at a restaurant or rented event venue. That saves you from time-consuming preparations and cleanup, shifts the liability elsewhere, and lets
Relying on area rental centers, caterers, restaurants, etc. might be one big way to relieve the stress of hosting holiday parties.
guests come and go at their discretion. Celebrating the holiday season with friends and family can become costeffective and hassle-free when you turn to a rental store for help. To find a rental store near you when planning your soiree, visit RentalHQ.com.
Dispelling 5 myths about holidays Holiday fantasies are not just for children. It turns out grownups actually celebrate the holidays living by their own set of myths, and they probably don’t even know it. If all the holiday prep and bustle is giving your inner Grinch a migraine, you may find yourself in very good company. A recent Coinstar survey, conducted among 2,000 adults by Atomik Research, uncovered some of these hidden attitudes toward the holidays. The findings revealed truths behind the following five myths we often cling to when it comes to the holiday season.
Myth No. 1: Regifting is in poor taste
Many people have a secret stash tucked into drawers and stuffed way back into closets: Presents from the past they do not really want but the guilt is too strong to let them go. If you think regifting is a tacky solution to lightening the load, here is a good secret you should know. Nearly two-thirds of us (65 percent) do it anyway, according to the survey. So if you can picture your aunt’s wide grin when she sees that over-the-top holiday sweater, by all means, wrap it up and give it to her. She will commend you for your excellent taste and your holiday budget will also give a tiny gasp of relief.
After past failures to make a holiday budget, you decided it is just easier to close your eyes and dive into a credit coma until January because it is impossible to keep up with the unexpected extras that keep popping up—added gifts, events, replacement decorations, holiday attire, and food. Here is a reality check: Some 68 percent of people stick to a holiday budget. Maybe past failures can be chalked up to not having enough information to create a good plan. Look back on last year’s bank and credit card statements to help you make a better plan for this year.
Myth No. 2: Sticking to a holiday budget is just too hard
Turn to MYTHS/page 10B