$6.50, $7.25, $9.00… You could easily spend this at the Wendy’s drive-thru. Or on a large carryout pizza. Or how about a loaf of garlic bread, a box of pasta, 2 jars of pasta sauce and a pound of ground sausage at your local grocery store?

It could be any of these; but in this case we’re talking about the cost of a single appetizer or maybe even a glass of wine at any given restaurant.

As a social butterfly, I love to go out and be around people, but with the slump in the economy, the rise in cost of living and the tough job market, those appetizers and drinks can add up fast. Fortunately, in this case you can have your cake and eat it too: by hosting a get together yourself. While there may always be a reason to go out, creating a reason to stay in and bring others to you can create just as many lasting memories with less damage to your bank account.

The Invite List

One of the advantages of going out is the opportunity to meet new people. Staying in shouldn’t stop you from growing your circle of friends. Don’t hand out flyers on the street (after all, we aren’t talking about hosting a frat party), but considering having a “get to know your neighbors” event.

You probably have a set group of friends to include in evening get-togethers–another option is to ask your friends to extend an invitation to one of their friends (someone that hasn’t partaken in your group activities in the past), to keep your friendship circle growing.

The Dinner Party

Once you know who is invited, you can think about the kind of event you want to throw. Sharing a meal is the most common and traditional social gathering there is. There are three meals a day, and I doubt that anyone goes through all three without at least a little company. You meet up to eat, bond and share common interests over food.

If you meet out at a sit-down place, the cost of your one plate will likely be the same as feeding you and three friends at home. So don’t wait for a special occasion to throw a dinner party; it’s a meal and everyone has to eat. Your generosity and hospitality will be recognized and your invitees will greatly appreciate a chance for a good meal–without breaking the bank.

And remember, having a dinner party doesn’t mean you have to pick up the whole tab; there is no shame in asking a friend to pick up a side, appetizer or bottle of wine on the way. You are still saving them and yourself money (and most people will offer to bring something anyway). The only down side is doing dishes afterward…

The Cocktail Party

Well, with dishes on the mind, consider our next hosting event proposal: the cocktail party. Cocktail parties are perfect for those nights you want to enjoy a beverage socially and realize there is no way you are going to make happy hour. Who actually gets home from work, changes and unwinds, then gets back out before 6 o’clock?

Nobody.

Instead, happy hour often means sprinting in your pumps and slacks to the closest available restaurant/bar, ordering three drinks at once to make the “happy hour price,” and then drinking entirely too fast because you don’t want your drink to get warm.

For the cost of two mixed drinks at the bar, you can buy the bottle of liquor and make the drinks yourself. Appetizers on paper plates with napkins will help you avoid extensive dishes and most people will be happy to bring a bottle, mixer or snack tray themselves, so there will be a nice array of choices.

The Theme Party

Most hosting events are casual get-togethers; one of the draws to going out to a nice restaurant or club is the chance to dress up. This is where the themed party steps in.

Avoid cover charges and $20 salads and wear your new black dress to a black & white party at your place instead. Any event can be a great theme for a party; A Cinco de Mayo Mexican fiesta would have been perfect earlier this month (and check out the Moxy cookbook drink recipes!).

Relive your youth and have a formal tea party for you and your girlfriends as a chance catch up or pull out all of those board games from when you were young and have a night of Twister or Candy Land. Recently, trendy themes have included Mad Men themed parties where guests dress in sixties-esque garb and glamorous old Hollywood themed get-togethers.

Don’t have the money to travel? Consider a Vegas party with a poker tournament night or have a luau and hand out lei’s at the door. Some of these ideas might cost a little more money than others, but they will still cost less and last longer then going to a club or restaurant in your area.

Article written by Liz Soucia for Moxy Magazine, May 2011. Image credit: Flickr.com user Fibroblast (front page) and Woodenmask (in text).