5 year-end bashes that won't break the bank

© Gennadiy Poznyakov – 123RF.com

“Planning committees have to balance presenting a memorable end-of-year function and company budgets. But hosting an eloquent event doesn’t have to be a compromise on quality food or breaking the bank,” says Sally J’Arlette-Joy, founder of Sandwich Baron.

Here are five cost effective ways you can stretch your rand and still deliver a memorable function:

1. Have a braai/picnic/cookout at your work premise
   It may not sound as extravagant as dining at a five-star hotel, but there’s a reason braai’s have been around for as long as they have been. Done well, a braai can even surpass an outing at fancy restaurants. Couple great food with music and a familiar background and watch your staff have a ball.

2. Take it back to primal living (danger and regulations warning)
   South Africa’s outdoors are a great place to hang out at this time of the year. The sun is out, fresh cool air is in abundance. Take advantage of nature and host a team picnic or hike, where the team eats what they forage – you pre-hide some snacks and platters that they need to share to ensure they get their fill.

3. Try out a farmer’s market
   Take the team to a farmer’s market near your work area, where they can indulge in a myriad of festivities and interact with other people. Have a game master responsible for the entertainment with prizes for the winning teams.

4. Give a little and live a lot
   Instead of making this year about you, make it about those less fortunate. Spend your day having lunch with children from an orphanage, or spend some time with the elderly at a retirement village. No matter what the menu looks like, those who you end up sharing your day and meal with will appreciate the gesture.

5. Keep calm and order platters
   Platters are affordable, quick to put together and fit into any activity or event. They are fresh, nutritious and tasty snacks that can be enjoyed by everybody. Because they are also lighter on your pocket, you can feed the whole office block, and make new friends in the process.

   Whether you spend your office party outdoors, in restaurants or simply hanging around your office block, remember that fun like platters, comes in many forms. So, dig in and have a ball, concludes, J’Arlette-Joy.