If you had visitors from out of town for the holidays what, if any, creative ways did you come up with to save on costs for yourself or those visiting? Hotel arrangements, food preparation, activities?
For visiting friends and family members, I usually invite them to stay at my home or my other in-town siblings will welcome them instead - this saves a lot of time, money, and less stress for those visiting me. If a family member is visiting me, my family and I cook up a meal for them before or during their stay which we all will eat it together, then afterwards hang out and talk. For friend(s) who visit me, I opt to go out and eat with him/her/them at a buffet, and then we'll go hang out at a lounge, bar, club, casino, or whatever comes to mind - sometimes, we just head back to my place or one of my other friends place and relax there if we don't want to spend anymore money. I say, the best way to save money for visiting friends and family members is to have everything preplanned out as best as one can, and then don't ask what to do but allow the visitors to suggest activities first, then respond and react back accordingly.
I never have to get concerned about saving money when I have guests staying with me over the holidays. You know how city-folks like to show off? Well since I live in the country and relatives coming from town to stay for a little while always like flaunt their cash, they buy virtually everything. So for as long as they stay with me [visits last a fortnight always] I won't have to buy anything. It's why I like Christmas . . . everyone is so generous.
