Christmas is the most expensive time of the year. Every year, cash-strapped individuals struggle to host a Christmas party. This year, don’t let your bank account suffer huge credit card debt for throwing an amazing Christmas party. Between planning your holiday meal, traveling to visit family, and buying lots of presents, spending on a party should be the least of your worries.

1. Plan ahead - if you want to throw a holiday party, start planning for it early and create a reasonable budget. Make sure that your Christmas party budget is something you can stick to.

2. Party at Home - every year, party costs increase. However partying at home is an easy fix. All you have to do is make sure you have enough food and drinks for the guests to last through the party. Go to a wholesale store to buy bulk items for the party. Ask your guests to RSVP to estimate how much food to buy and prepare.

3. Send invites via internet - your guests probably use Facebook, MySpace, Friendster, Yahoo Messengers or Skype. You can set up an account and invite friends on these social networking sites. Your guests can also RSVP using the site and also browse through the details of your party.

4. Do a pot luck dinner - Make your dinner party interactive and ask your guests to bring food or beverages, as most guests don’t mind bringing one or two items. You can take care of the main dish, side dishes, and desserts. Your party will be a fun venue for your friends and family to showcase their best dishes. Instead of cases of bottled beer, invest in a keg, which you can dress in Christmas colors. Your guests will bring their favorite bottles of wine. You can always opt for other beverages such as non-alcoholic punch or sodas.

5. Play it cool - play music from your iPod in loudspeakers instead of hiring a DJ or live band. You can include a wide variety of music to make your Christmas party activities extra festive. Be sure to add plenty of songs that people are likely to know, such as Christmas carols or old pop songs. Nothing's more fun than a spontaneous sing-along. Sometimes hosts make the mistake of thinking they must please everyone. You can often have more success with your party if you keep things simple. After all, you should get to enjoy your own party.

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