Here are some tips for a great family gathering without hassle or expense.

Location

If your house and backyard can accommodate your family, it will probably be the most convenient location for the get-together. If your house won’t work, call the relatives and find out who would be will to offer their place.

If a home party is not possible, contact the managers of a community park. Many times, you can use the outdoor facilities free of charge or for a small donation. Look for a place that offers restrooms and a kid-friendly play area, as well as picnic tables and perhaps grills so you don’t have to lug a bunch of big supplies.

Food Planning

The least expensive way to supply food for the party is to ask guests to bring a dish. Ask some to bring a hot dish, some to bring finger foods, and some to bring desserts so that there will be a good variety of foods to share.

Make the party a BYOB to save on the costs of alcoholic beverages if you plan on serving such drinks.

Serve drinks like lemonade and punch which are cheaper than brand-named sodas and other drinks. Borrow a large drink cooler to keep the bugs at bay. Many civic groups may allow you to borrow such an item.

You may be able to get a good deal on kid-sized juice boxes at a dollar store to help prevent kids from wasting drinks. Keep in an easy to open cooler of ice to cool down the kids.

Supplies

If you plan on supplying the necessities such as plates and utensils, shop at discount stores, clearance sales, or buy in bulk.

Take inventory of what local family members already have in stock and ask them to bring their supplies to you early to make sure there is enough for everyone.

Family Fun

If the location allows, bring a volleyball net, horseshoes, or other outdoor games to add a little competition to the festivities.

If time allows, get together with other family members and put together a scrapbook of old pictures or home movies. Or just ask family to bring their special mementos to share.

Host a little awards ceremony for fun family milestones, such as the oldest and younger members, recognition for recent achievements, and any other relevant family awards you can come up with. Offer little prizes or ribbons you can make yourself.

If it’s in the budget, buy some disposable cameras for each table. Get the pictures developed onto a computer disk and email the results to the guests after the party.

Ask relatives to bring copies of their famous recipes and create a cookbook for family holidays.

Invites

Many home computers offer quick and easy templates to create and print invitations. Make sure your provide all of the key information for your family, such as:

            Date   

            Time

            Location

            Directions

            Your Contact Phone Number

            Instructions for bringing food items

            Instructions for bring their own chairs

To save some extra money, email invitations to family who have internet access.           

Clean Up Right

Hopefully everyone will pitch in and clean up. Remember to collect any materials that can be recycled. Collect any aluminum cans and turn them in for cash. Put the money in account to save for next year’s bash.

Store unused supplies in a clean, protected location so you can use them for the next time.

Quick Tips for an Inexpensive Family Reunion was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Here are some tips to help keep you and your family safe and avoid bills from the emergency room this summer.

Whether you use a gas or charcoal grill is up to your family’s preference. The one thing that rings true for both is to never leave a hot grill unattended for any period of time. Children can easily get injured playing around a grill. You also can run the risk of having a fire that gets out of control and causes damage.

To keep stomachs safe, make sure meats are cooked to proper temperature: Chicken (175 degrees), beef (160 degrees), and pork (155 degrees). Make sure all food is put in a cooler or the refrigerator after everyone has finished eating. Anything perishable left out for more than an hour should be thrown away.

When you take cooked food off of the grill, do not put it on the same plate as the raw food.

Wear oven mitts to prevent burns to your arms and hands when working around the grill. Keep away from loose fitting clothes to prevent accidental fires and more serious injuries.

After use, clean your grill and grilling accessories well. Not only will they be ready for the next time, you will get a longer life out of your grill.

Stick to the basics when buying barbeque supplies. Plan ahead for the summer and consider what would be appropriate for buying in bulk. If your family tends to cook out often during the summer, pick up supplies like paper plates, pickles, condiments, and other items that are non-perishable and keep them in the pantry for impromptu gatherings.

Buy meats that are on sale. Use different marinade recipes to spice up the flavor of the foods.

Skip the pre-made burgers at the supermarket. Instead, make burgers at home and save money. Just remember to pat gently when forming the burger so you don’t squeeze out all of the moisture.

Don’t spend money on sugary soft drinks. Instead make homemade lemonade or iced tea to refresh your thirst or just drink plain ice water.

Summer Barbeque Safety and Savings was created by and is property of American Consumer News.