Whether times are abundant or lean, everyone loves dinner parties. And if you’re saving up for a trip or paying off a few debts, eating less glamourous food isn’t always a hardship when eating on your own… but entertaining and staying within the bounds of your budget can seem daunting.

However, it’s totally possible to throw an impressive dinner party that feels posh but doesn’t obliterate your bank balance. With some careful planning and creative selection, you can entertain at any budget level, with a few quid left over for wine or the fancy crisps. Here are a few tips to plan a bargainista bash.

Try pizzas, flatbreads or polenta as an appetizer. Prosciutto wrapped figs can get pricey quickly when you’re serving ten people. But as an ingredient on a pizza, flatbread or similar dish, the flavors have a chance to stand up well in smaller numbers.

You can invest in better-quality supplies, without worrying about using massive quantities. Pizzas are dead easy to make, and are well suited for appetizers and for passing around before a sit down meal. And the variations are virtually limitless, so you can…

Check out what’s in season. We’ll dispense with the idea that local suppliers and farmer’s markets are bastions of bargains, since they can run pretty spendy when all is said and done. But in season produce is not only usually reasonably priced compared with other produce, it’s also generally tasty and appealing.

Another plus is that markets will often run two-for deals or buy one get one when faced with an excess of certain items- and that often goes for a bountiful crop. Which also lends itself well to…

Soups and salads! Common dinner party features both, soups and salads are another course where you can really stretch lovely, high quality ingredients. Fancy cheeses, dried fruits and amazing dressings can make a salad really stand out. (My secret: I often purchase a take-out container of dressing from my local Japanese restaurant for orange-ginger salad with tangerines. It reminds guests of sushi dinners and makes a big impact for a sinfully low cost.)

Soups have a bit of a rep for being ingredient stretchers, but they can showcase your kitchen skills (think creative croutons, cheese garnish and inventive ingredients) in unexpected ways and wow your dinner party guests. And if you’ve scored as far as in-season produce, you can often create an amazing soup inexpensively. Presentation is key for soups, but lucky, garnishing them with a bit of cream and some grated herbs or cheese is simple. (And cheap.)

The main event… The bulk of your dinner party budget will probably go to the main course, and a large party of ribeyes would tax the biggest wallet. But less expensive cuts of meat can make a delectable main course as well, and they don’t have to scream “scrimp.”

Chicken thighs are oft overlooked but make amazing curries, and “peasant cuisine” has made a big comeback in recent years, even in exclusive restaurants. Fare like cassoulet, stews or stir-fries can be delicately worked to create an impressive main course, and paired with rustic breads, rice or potatoes, also work exceedingly well for serving a crowd. Again, garnishes and other accents will go far in dressing up a multi-ingredient dish.

Doable desserts. Desserts are usually not a big ticket item, and if you’ve scored a bounty of berries, you’ve got a bit of inspiration. Trifles are a nice standard, but a pavlova won’t set you back too much. If you’ve been harried by all the dinner prep, a nice gelato or premium ice cream will make a crowd-pleasing last course with a minimum of prep.

When you factor in all the costs, dinner parties can actually be a great way to socialize on the cheap when compared with frequent nights out. Have you successfully thrown a great one on a small budget? What tips or tricks did you use?