1. They need a place to rest their head:
-Buy an inexpensive mattress (if you don't have a guest bedroom) at Wal-Mart, Target, or on Amazon. You do not need to go to a specialty store to purchase this. Most likely, you will only use this once or twice and there is absolutely no reason to purchase a pricey air mattress.
-Clean your couch (if you can't afford an air mattress). You can do this by sprinkling baking soda all over it and thoroughly vacuum it after it sits for about a half hour. You will be grateful you did this because you may end up sleeping on it. Being a good host/hostess means you need to first sacrifice your place of comfort for the comfort of others. Sorry, but its true.
-Wait a day or two before your guests arrive until you wash the sheets they will be sleeping on. If you do this too early, they will collect dust and no longer smell nice. If you wait to do this, not only will it save time, water, and energy by having to wash them twice, but they will feel cozy when slipping into a freshly washed bed that smells clean!
2. Prepare the washroom:
-Head over to the local dollar store or travel section of your local grocery store or Wal-Mart/Target and check out their toothpaste, toothbrushes, soaps, etc. Your guest may have forgotten something, and they will LOVE that you took the time to get these very important items. In most cases these items are under a dollar each. Place them in a cute basket or on a tray in the bathroom, place a cute welcome tag in front of it, so they know its theirs. They will love you for it!
-Pick up some new towels & wash them. You don't need hotel quality towels, but purchase the least expensive, large, fluffy towels you can find. Wash them. Dry them. Hang them, or roll them up. They may not be hotel quality, but your guest will feel like they are at a hotel when they step out of the shower/bath and have a fresh towel to dry themselves.
-Clean the washroom. Take 15 minutes while the sheets or towels are washing and clean the washroom from top to bottom. Work from wall to wall to ensure you don't miss anything. This should be a task you perform before you have anyone over. Don't let them see your bathroom dirty, that's just rude. Don't forget to let the toilet bowl brush dry before putting it away.
3. They will be hungry!
-Before your guest arrive, you will want to be sure you have food, drinks, and snacks for them to eat. The first thing you will want to do is search the newspaper ads and online for coupons. Take one hour to do this. Plan meals accordingly. This will, in the end, save you a lot of time and a lot of money. Every penny counts.
-Plan for quick and/or easy dinners. There is no need to do a BIG elaborate meal for every meal while your guests are in your home. Plan for crock pot meals and boxed dinners. These are inexpensive and they will allow you to spend more time with your guests. Trust me.
-Use the Thanksgiving/Christmas leftovers. Turkey sandwiches are so delicious the day after Thanksgiving. You can get creative with the leftovers. Use your imagination. The possibilities are endless. ;-)
4. Décor:
-While you're at the dollar store picking up toiletries for your guests, take a look in their floral department, pick a few of the prettiest flowers and a simple vase. Find a couple places in your home to place them, they will never EVER know they are from the dollar store!
-Head over to TJ Maxx, Marshalls, Ross, Home Goods, Target, etc. Check out their clearance department. You need to look closely because sometimes they have them in several locations of the store. A lot of times you can find the cutest decorations, pillows, picture frames, and my favorite, candles. If you look in the Dollar Spot section of Target, they have a lot of interesting pieces that coordinate with the seasons that are only $3 & $1!
-Shop your home. You may have some things around that you don't have out-and-about that are stuffed in a closet or attic. You can move things around to make your space feel fresh and new. This is the first place you will want to look, your home, before you take a trip to buy some decorations.
5. Suggest activities for your guests:
-Search online or in the newspapaer for local events that are free. Art festivals, live music, and other events can keep your guests busy. It would be fun for them to see your city or town. Listening to live music and having a bite to eat or some coffee is something that everyone likes to do. This is an inexpensive, but fun thing to do!
-Black Friday events! They may want to do some shopping, make it fun for them and look up which places open earliest and which stores have the best deals. A lot of stores have Black Friday events all weekend long. Allow them to use your computer or laptop to do some online shopping for Black Friday. They may not like crowds. Plus, a lot of retailers have online deals that are not in-store.
-Decorate! If they are not into shopping, local events, or live music, suggest decorating for the holiday's. Turn on some holiday music, get your tree out and go to town! Get some hot cocoa and let them help you decorate for the holiday's. This is a fun way to spend time with your family and friends and create memories. They may even have ideas that you haven't tried before! Make it fun!
Having guests to your house shouldn't be stressful whatsoever, its supposed to be fun. Making sure they are comfortable the easy and affordable way is a win-win. They will feel very welcomed and you save money and time. Make it a time that you will never forget.
Have fun with it, and get creative.
Happy Holiday's!!
~Fancy~
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