Girls Wine and Cheese Night for Under $75 (Including the Wine!!!)
So we’ve all been there. You want to have some of your girls over but you’re on a budget. Girl, you don’t have to spend a fortune to entertain! Check out my menu and tips below on how to throw a intimate get together with your closest girlfriends without breaking the bank.
MENU:
Cheddar, San Andre Brie, Basque Style Cheese with Strawberries, Asian pear and Apple
Spanish Charcuterie ( Salami, Chorizo and Jamon)
Caviar & Crème Fraiche
Sourdough Baguette and Rosemary Artisan Croccantini Crackers
Crescent Roll Pizzas
Spinach Mushroom Dip
Truffle Spanish Chips
Dry Roasted Peanuts
Skinny Pop and Pretzel Mix
Malbec, Rosé and a Sparkling Champagne
TIPS:
Skip the fancy cheese shop! Trader Joes and Grocery Outlet Bargain Market have artisan cheeses that won’t break the bank.
I once frowned upon Grocery Outlet Bargain Market until this became the only grocery store in my neighborhood. I soon discovered there are deals in every nook and cranny of this place. No, they aren’t expired and, yes, there are a lot of deals you’ll never see again. Their wine selection is A-MAZING. I snagged a Reserva Malbec for $5.99, regularly $42.00 and a Spanish style Rosé for $3.99, regularly $18.99. I also snagged my trusty go-to bubbly - Korbel! On sale for $9.99 at Safeway. The same bottle sold at Raley’s posh market for $17. Search out prices before you buy! Alcohol can easily be the priciest part of a get together. You can easily spend $75 on the wine alone. Look for deals and sales like BevMo’s 99 cent wine sale.
Use those gift cards! Why use your own hard earned money when you can use your holiday/birthday gift cards at places like Target or Home Goods that sell some pretty tasty and unique snacks. I snagged those Truffle chips (made in Spain) at Home Goods in their food aisle.
Get creative - I used a roll of Pillsbury crescent rolls as faux-pizza’s and they tasted as good as the real thing.
Watch how you chop the cheese! Rather than dumping a block of cheese on a plate, slice and cube your cheese for more volume to “fluff” the plate.
Use items you purchase throughout your entire spread. For example, the strawberries were used to jazz up the champagne flutes as well as in the cheese plate. The mozzarella blend cheese was used in both the spinach dip AND the pizza.
If you have time before your girls’ night, don't rush to buy the first thing you see. If you’re shopping for your daily grocery needs, browse the prices of items for your wine and cheese menu. You may be glad when you saved a few bucks on each cheese because you found some artisan cheeses at Trader Joes versus Whole Foods.
Not diet friendly but use carbs to fill you up your BFF’s tummies.
Puff pastry can be your best friend. Make tarts that look fancy but are cost-friendly by cutting squares of puff pastry and literally topping with ingredients of your choice.
Taco bars can be a filling, yet, fun way to celebrate a night.
Make chips/popcorn fancy by seasoning them with your favorite spices and fresh herbs. Smoked paprika is a great ingredient to toss into your favorite crunchy snacks.
Use seasonal items! You’ll pay less when items aren’t being shipped in from different countries.
Avoid nuts unless you have the budget for it in your cheese display. While it is a great accompaniment, it can be very costly.
Use what you have on hand! - Dig through your fridge and cabinets first to see what you can use. This avoids buying duplicate products. I had some pretzels and popcorn on hand so I used these as a yummy snacking item.
Break out the decorations if you have them. I incorporated some modern lanterns from my bedroom as table décor.
So… What was my tally for the below wine and cheese night?
Malbec (Bargain Market)- $5.99
Rosé (Bargain Market) - $3.99
Korbel Champagne (Safeway)- $9.99
Italian Shredded Cheese (Bargain Market)- $1.99
Sour Cream (Bargain Market) - $1.69
Strawberries (Bargain Market) - $3.49
Caviar (Bargain Market) - $2.99
Roasted Peanuts (Bargain Market) - $1.99
La Panzane Rosemary Crackers (Bargain Market) -$2.99
Truffle Chips (Home Goods)- $3.99
Philadelphia Low Fat Cream Cheese (Bargain Market) - $1.99
Sourdough Baguette (Trader Joes) - $1.99
Asian Pear (Trader Joes) - $0.99
Honey Crisp Apple (Trader Joes) - $1.29
Marinated Olives (Home Goods) - $4.99
Spanish Meat Selection (Home Goods) - $4.99
Parsley (Trader Joes)- $1.19
Green Onions - ON HAND
Pretzels Mini Bag - ON HAND
Skinny POP Mini Bag - ON HAND
Sliced Mushrooms - ON HAND
Cheddar Cheese (Bargain Market) - $2.99
Brie (Trader Joes) - $3.49
Basque Cheese (Trader Joes) - $4.50
Frozen Spinach (Bargain Market) - $1.99
Pasta sauce - ON HAND
Crescent Rolls (Bargain Market) - $0.99
MY TOTAL: $70
My spread served 6 people with plenty of leftovers. You can easily make this a “$50 and under” budget if you’re only having a 2 or 3 of your girlfriends over.
Let me know what some of your budget-friendly go-to entertaining foods are in the comments below!
CHEERS!
