With Summer drawing to a close its time to fire up the grill for one last B-B-Q. Here are a few tips to help save some B-B-Q $$$

• Keep the menu simple, and only serve what the guests will eat.
• I make a menu plan with a tight budget for the B-B-Q. I list all of the dishes that I am serving, and the ingredients that it will take to make them. I estimate the cost of each item, and then shop around for the best deals. Its fun shopping for all of the bargains. Don’t forget your coupons too.
• As long as you have the grill out, grill items hiding in the freezer to use later in the week.
• I menu plan with the leftovers from the B-B-Q. The leftover grilled chicken could become tasty fajitas for later.
• Keep the desserts simple. I usually serve cake and watermelon. Everyone is full from all of the grilled items so there is no need to have a full dessert table.
• I start a few weeks ahead and make my own ice, to keep drinks nice and cool.
• This year I shopped the “soda sales” in all of the grocery fliers. I found Coca-Cola and Pepsi products for $2.00 a 12 pack. I purchased 12 packs of sodas instead of buying four or five varieties of 2 liter beverages that go flat fast. I kept the drink selection simple with what I found on sale
• This year I had a budget of $63.00 to serve seven, and I only ended up spending $50.87! I took the time and saved $12.13 🙂

I hope that your last B-B-Q of the season is a great one, and a safe one too.