How to Stretch Your Holiday BBQ and Picnic Budget

The good news is that most picnic and barbeque foods are mostly affordable on their own; but, if you would like to make your budget go even farther, here are some tips that may help!

1. Keep your food menu simple, but versatile.

Spring and summer are usually about having fun and enjoying friends, family, and the weather. Most families grill, cookout, or picnic to celebrate, and that doesn't necessitate anything fancy. Keep in mind the likelihood of having children as guests now that schools are letting out for summer vacation. You'll definitely want to keep the fine china out of reach, and trade it in for some paper or dishwasher safe melamine plates! Take your guests and weather into consideration for simplifying your menu.

Some people may feel the need to impress others with diverse menus and out of the ordinary cuisine. I've heard of many families insisting on surf and turf like steak and lobster as main dishes for Memorial Day or July 4th. While this may be okay for a splurge or a small family gathering, meal options like this can get pricey and may not suit all of your guests' needs if you have a large number of guests. When you need to feed a large group of people, main courses of this type are certainly not going to help your spending. My advice is to save the desire for higher-end fare for more intimate gatherings or fancier holidays like the various celebrations throughout December and New Years in January unless by chance seafood and steak is somehow affordable in your area during this time period.

2. Select less expensive options for your main dishes.

Many families, children included, enjoy the basic main summer staples of hot dogs and hamburgers. You can even incorporate black bean burgers with ease if you have vegan or vegetarian friends. If you are tired of this traditional fare or still prefer a "surf and turf" menu, opt for skewered kebabs you can lace with fresh fruits and vegetables and set on the grill accordingly. By cubing or slicing the meat and adding fruits or vegetables, you will save your wallet while still satiating your craving for meat and seafood. My family and I have made chicken and shrimp skewers for our festivities in the past, and it was a nice change of pace we intend to repeat. The good news is that none of these main meal options are costly, and you can purchase a large quantity at a much lower price-point than other mains.

3. Diversify with side dishes.

Instead of focusing a large chunk of your budget solely on mains, utilize a range of summer sides including salads, fruits, dips, and roasted or grilled vegetables to spice things up; your wallet and taste buds will thank you.

4. Seasonal is always best.

When selecting side dishes, desserts, or fruits and vegetables for kebabs; take into consideration the fruits and vegetables that are in season. Not only will they taste better and fresher, but they will likely be the same items that are on sale and cheaper than other items you can purchase in the store. Local farmers markets may also offer a variety of seasonal fruits and vegetables that will often taste better than, and, at times, may even be cheaper than those available in store. As an additional bonus, fresh fruits can also be added to drinks particularly sangrias, punches, teas, and lemonades.

5. Make it a potluck.

Take your friends and family up on their offer to bring something. If you are taking care of the main fare, a drink and a side or two, it certainly isn't unreasonable to ask them to bring something. This is also a good time to recommend chips or soda. I often don't purchase those items because those are typically what most guests want to supply. If they have special dietary needs or are diabetic, I suggest they bring something they can and will want to eat. It also saves me time on making a dish they may or may not want specifically for them.

6. Plan around your local store sales ads.

Give your local grocery store sales ads a look to see if you feel inspired by any of the on-sale items they offer. If you must get sodas and chips, this is a good time to figure out where the best deal is. Meat deals, certain preferred brands, ice creams, alcoholic beverages, and seasonal fruits and vegetables are also advantageous to look at. Not all stores will have great deals and sales, but a few will. When looking at ads, be mindful of what you want to purchase, make a list, and stick to it.

7. Make your own mayonnaise.

Mayonnaise is a main component ingredient in coleslaw, potato salad (or low-carb cauliflower "potato" salad), macaroni salad, deviled eggs, and various dips for vegetables or chips, as well as a condiment for sandwiches and hamburgers. If you choose to make any of these mainstream summer picnic menu items, utilizing a homemade batch of versatile mayonnaise will help with your entertaining budget. Sure, some folks prefer to use yogurt in place of mayonnaise to be healthier; but homemade mayo is surprisingly more cost effective, and whipping up a large batch of mayonnaise yourself is easier than you think. You can easily double or triple any recipe you find to make all at one time, which will be far cheaper in the long run than purchasing the equivalent amount of store brands necessary for your picnic and barbeque dishes. There are a plethora of recipes online to choose from or you can feel free to use mine below.

My Homemade Mayo Recipe:

Ingredients:

• 2 whole eggs
• 1.5 cups canola oil + more for desired consistency adjustments (approximate)
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar or white vinegar
• 1 tsp yellow mustard
• 1 tsp of granulated garlic (optional)
• Black pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Pour water in a sauce pan and heat eggs in water to 140-145 degrees for three minutes in order to pasteurize the eggs. (Many mayonnaise recipes do not call for pasteurization, so feel free to skip this step if you prefer. My personal preference is to pasteurize the eggs).
2. Crack eggs into food processor or immersion blender container. The egg whites may have started to cook, and this is okay.
3. Add mustard, salt, garlic, and vinegar to your processor or immersion blender container then blend on high.
4. Gradually add canola oil and blend throughout until the mayonnaise has reached desired consistency.
5. Add black pepper to taste and store in an airtight container in fridge until ready to use. (I usually use a Mason jar or Pyrex container).

* Special notes about my mayo recipe:

* This mayo can usually last us up to a month, but can have a shorter shelf life depending on storage and usage.

* You can always substitute a different oil such as olive oil if preferable (though it is generally more expensive).

* Feel free to add other spices according to taste. I have added more garlic, cayenne, paprika, etc. to this basic recipe and we have enjoyed it just as much. Just be careful to take note of what you add because it may not always combine as well with dishes you prepare using this version as it does on its own as a condiment.

8. Consider offering alternative beverages to alcohol and soda.

As a whole, teas and lemonade are cheaper beverages to incorporate in your menu plan than sodas and alcohol. They also appeal to children and guests who prefer not to partake in alcohol.

Sweet and unsweetened teas are common during hot summer days, and most generally a typical part of the family picnic. Most stores sell large packages of tea bags for cents per unit, which makes it an incredibly budget-friendly alternative. Plan a little ahead by brewing a batch then refrigerate to cool or add ice. Many families have members with diabetes or others who are watching their sugar intake, so making an unsweetened batch is a wise idea. You can always place a sugar container on your picnic table for guests to add their own or make an additionally labeled sweet tea batch easily if you prefer.

The first sign warm weather hit for me as a kid meant I was excited for one beverage in particular; lemonade! Not only is it a childhood favorite to both make and drink (and in some places sell for pocket money), but it is also a wallet-friendly drink. Fresh lemons cost around $2.99 a bag (according to the latest local Aldi's sale price) or you can purchase lemon juice concentrate at around the same price point (the concentrate goes much farther, but doesn't necessarily taste as refreshing). Fresh lemons also add versatility to your summer picnic menu because you can add a slice or two to tea or water.

9. Reconsider your shopping method for beer and soda.

If you aren't intending on replacing beer and sodas, there are a few ways to do it. Previously, I mentioned asking family and friends to bring sodas of their preferred type. I also mentioned looking at sales ads for soda deals which I would like to further expound upon now.

If you choose to buy sodas, 2-Liters and bulk packages are often more affordable. 2-Liters can generally be purchased for 88-99 cents if generic or on sale brand names. The major disadvantage to 2-Liters is that they can go flat much quicker. If you are having a large gathering, however, these will likely be drank before they have time to go flat which nulls their disadvantage.

You will still have to purchase cups or utilize dishware and provide ice, but often this will be cheaper than the purchase of cans. If you insist on disposable, you can often buy large packs of cups for a good price at Sam's Club, Costco, or other wholesale retailer. You will also likely have been using these already for any of your other beverages, so it won't put much of a dent in your budget plans.

If your guests insist on having beer or prefer it, you have a few different options; treat it like soda and purchase only name brand beers that are on sale, check for locations that sell kegs of preferred brews and purchase one, or tell your guests that it is B.Y.O.B if you do not wish to purchase any alcohol for budgetary reasons. You can also offer beer cocktails like making a Shandy with lemonade, but not all beer drinking types will go for this. Overall, make a point of reconsidering all of the options available to you when shopping for both beer and sodas, and plan your purchase accordingly.

10. Stretch your other alcoholic options by utilizing sangrias and spiked punch, grog, or hard lemonade.

Who doesn't love sangria? The majority of people I know love the stuff, so it doesn't feel like a compromise if that is the alcohol you have at your party. On sale fruits can be utilized not just here, but also in fruit salads or desserts. See why versatility is important? I find that for sangria, you don't have to have a high-end bottle of wine because you are adding additional sugar and fruit anyway. Some people add juice, lemonade, soda, or carbonated water depending on where you are. Flavor-wise, you can usually get a tasty drink with whatever combination you add.

For white sangrias, I like to add peaches, strawberries, and citrus fruits like oranges. Oftentimes strawberries, oranges, cherries, blackberries, plums, and darker fruits go well in red wine versions. Reading the label of what flavor notes the affordable wine you purchase advertises can actually give you a hint of what to add. If you are a first time sangria maker, I'd recommend adding the fruits that are labeled on the bottle. There are also various sangria recipes online if you prefer to use a scripted version. For guests who like an extra kick or prefer higher alcohol content in their sangria, you can always find a bottle of rum or vodka and add a shot or two to the pitcher.

Liquor may seem pricey, but one bottle can be stretched fairly easily; bars and restaurants do it all the time. A bottle or two of liquor will also last longer than alcohols of an alternative type both in shelf life and usage. For example, you can find a versatile 750 ml bottle of light rum for between $12.99-15.99, and that equates to a little over 25 shots. If you add one shot per pitcher, that is enough for 25 pitchers full of alcoholic beverages.

Personally, I prefer to utilize rums and vodkas for spiked punch, grog, or lemonade, which are easy and affordable beverage options. Many of these can be thrown together with a combination of ingredients you already have. If you didn't opt for soda, you can most certainly use tea in your punch. Black tea goes really well with peaches and rum. A friend of mine once made a batch of green tea into grog, and I could not stop drinking it. He literally made it with rum and whatever juices were in his fridge, and it was quite impressive. If you want to give your punch a frothy texture, use sherbet or ice cream. Ginger ale or lemon-lime sodas also work well in punch if you purchased or someone else brought them. You have only the limits of your fridge and pantry to create something delicious, appealing, and refreshing.

*A word about spiked punch: If you choose to make a spiked punch and have children around, please ensure you make a kid-friendly non-alcoholic version and label each accordingly. You don't want a child to sneak the adult punch or for someone to give it to them by accident. I also find it easiest to mitigate and prevent temper tantrums resulting from a "no, you can't have this punch"; trust me, it makes the whole experience go much smoother if you offer the child-safe punch from the start! It also helps everyone feel included, which is an important part of every gathering.

A benefit to making lemonade is that it is easy enough to make a spiked version, and you already have the non-alcoholic version for the kiddos. Just add a shot or two of vodka to a separately labeled pitcher, and voila!

On a side note, I personally find it fun to use Smirnoff's Red White & Berry vodka for these spring and summer occasions which pairs surprisingly well in lemonade. Not only is it festive for your summer occasions; it tastes like those rocket-shaped popsicles we had in the '90s. Oh, the nostalgia! You can purchase it for less than $15. Remember, you're only using a shot or two per lemonade pitcher, so this can last for quite a while depending on how many guests are over.

You can always alternate your alcoholic beverages by making a single pitcher of each type if you desire more creative freedom and personal choice. Some people may want sangria; others may want the spiked lemonade or punch. You'll only need to make a single pitcher of each in order to offer guests options, and allow yourself to create drinks you can be proud of; maybe that's a little too much of a teaser, but it also helps you gain insight on what everyone would like to have again and what beverages guests find memorable for next time.

I hope you've enjoyed these tips and tricks for stretching your holiday barbeque and picnic budgets or at the very least found them helpful. No matter how you allocate your budget, the important thing to remember is that the nice weather and time spent with loved ones make every occasion a true celebration. Enjoy your holiday picnics and barbeques and remember the simple things. Focus on the things that make you happy, and incorporate as many of those as possible! Soak up some sunshine, and bask in warm friendly conversation. Remember, the best things in life (family, friends, and nature's provisions) are free, after all! Cheers to wishing you a happy and healthy spring and summer season!