Generally, if we want to treat ourselves, we end up spending money. Whether you go to a restaurant or a concert, it all ends up with a nasty bill at the end. But what if you could arrange a treat for yourself, or even your friends and family, without breaking the bank?

This is where the idea of the Big Night In comes into play.  Rather than going out, you can treat yourself at home, without spending a lot of money. This could be part of your self care routine, where you set an evening aside for yourself, or it could be a movie night or something with friends and family.

Here are a few ideas to help you plan your Big Night In so you can enjoy life without breaking your budget.

Entertainment

One of the first things to think about is what the entertainment will be. Depending on what kind of evening you want and the people (if any) that you invite, the type of entertainment you choose might differ.

A classic choice is to have a movie night, where you get together and watch a movie (or the latest episode of a great show) of your choice. You can vote on the movie if there’s a group of you, or you can rent a recent release. If you have a wide screen television and a decent sound system, you can even turn your living room into a mini cinema, especially if you turn off the lights for maximum effect. 

There’s nothing quite like watching a horror movie or a thriller in a dark room, especially if you like jump scares and ramping tension.

Another option is to watch a documentary. If you’re interested in the history of music, for example, you could learn more about artists like Clive Davis while also listening to music through the twentieth century. This is the kind of themed event that can add a lot of fun to the evening, without adding any extra costs.

Think about forms of entertainment that facilitate conversation as well as allowing people to focus. For example, a tabletop gaming evening might be perfect for a group of friends who want to explore new ways to game, because you get to enjoy the fun of the game while also enjoying each other’s company.

Creating a Guest List

There are two ways to have a Big Night In. 

You can have a treat night just for you, which is where you really focus on self care. You can give yourself an amazing spa evening by enjoying a hot bath, a glass of wine, and some relaxing music or even some television in the bath.

This is honestly one of the best ways to relax, especially if your life has been stressful recently. People who spend a lot of energy looking after other people, whether it’s in their careers or their personal lives in a caretaker or parental role, need this time alone. Even better, you don’t have to feed anyone but yourself.

But the other way is to have a more social event. Having people over to watch a sports game, a film, or to have a gaming evening. 

In this situation, you need to think about who you’re inviting. If you want to invite a lot of people over to watch a certain film, make sure that it’s a film that they will probably enjoy. If you want a Disney evening, maybe don’t invite people who aren’t interested in Disney things. The same applies to watching a match or playing a tabletop game together.

The guest list is often what makes or breaks any party or Big Night In.

Feeding a Crowd

In this situation, you might need to think about feeding everyone who is there. This is often what stretches the budget the most, especially if you have a lot of people over.

There are a few answers to the problem of feeding a crowd. One solution is to do a potluck, which is where people bring some food to share around. If you’re worried that everyone will bring the same thing, you can either embrace the fact that you’re having a chips and dip evening, or just be more specific.

Another option is to go for a finger foods option. If you have a big night in after most people have eaten their main meal, you can serve mostly snacks and small bites, which is cheaper and easier to manage than a full meal for a crowd. 

Or you can do a large one-pot meal that you can cook on a budget and then enjoy the leftovers. Something like a slow cooker chilli with baked potatoes is simple, tasty, and can easily feed a crowd.

If budget isn’t as big of an issue as effort, then you can definitely have a takeout evening. You can get people to order what they want or you can order in bulk and just get pizzas for a crowd. There’s something very fun about sitting around and sharing food together.

The key is to communicate with people. If someone has dietary restrictions, find out before they come. You want every one to enjoy themselves.

Offering Drinks

But what about drinks? If you want to offer alcoholic drinks, you can ask people to bring drinks to contribute. You can even plan an event around this. For example, if everyone likes whisky, ask everyone to bring a bottle and you can host a whisky tasting. Just be sure to measure small tasting portions for everyone, especially if you have a lot of people over!

Another option, especially if you like cocktails, is to prepare some pitcher cocktails. This is easier on your budget and your time, so you’re not constantly mixing drinks or allowing everyone to have free reign of your liquor cabinet.

Of course, it’s always a good idea to have soft drinks available as well. Fizzy drinks as well as juice and mocktails add a bit more variety for those who aren’t drinking alcohol.