6 Tips for Simple, Affordable Summer Entertaining

Summer's here, which means it's time to invite over the neighbors, fire up the grill, and move your meals outdoors. But just because formality is going on vacation doesn't mean your entertaining costs are going to drop: After all, as even a quick glimpse through your local department store will reveal, it's possible to spend a fortune on summer entertaining -- even if you discount the cost of air conditioning.

One strategy for keeping costs low is to focus on the basics: You want fresh food, you don't want to cook indoors, and you don't want to worry about foods that will spoil in the heat. With that in mind, we've compiled a list of reasonably-priced summer eating and drinking tips that will keep your house cool, your guests happy, and your backyard full. If we've missed any of your favorite summer entertaining ideas, please be sure to mention them in the comments section below!

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Bruce Watson is DailyFinance's Savings editor. You can reach him by e-mail at bruce.watson@teamaol.com, or follow him on Twitter at @bruce1971.