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[quote=Anonymous]Entertaining is about making your guests feel welcome.  And, in some cases, celebrating a special occasion.  If you extend an invitation to dinner it is expected that you will pay.   If you really don't want to host at your home, then you could find a family-style restaurant to manage the costs.  Although I did attend a birthday party at a family-style restaurant once and one of the guests surprised the hostess by announcing, when the bill arrived, that we couldn't possibly let her pay because she and DH were in grad school and so all the guests should split the bill.  All the guests, of course, agreed but it was very akward for the hostess and her husband as everyone started fumbling around to get the cash collected.  Not everyone had cash on hand and so the waitress had to take a bunch of credit cards and then they were all mixed up.  It was a long, akward process.

You could invite people over for pot luck dinner - at least they know in advance they are expected to bring something.  Or you could do some simple dishes, beer and wine and make a cake like other's have suggested to keep the costs down.

A pot luck dinner invitation sets clear expectations for your guests.  A dinner invitation to a restaurant does not - unless you explain that it's some kind of "pot luck restaurant dinner" where all the guests split the bill.  I personally would prefer bringing an entree to your house rather than subsidizing the bill for the guest sitting next to me who will invariably order soup, salad, lobster entree, and dessert while downing glasses of champagne because he knows he's "splitting" the bill.

Your party doesn't have to be a sit down formal occasion.  My favorite parties have been at the homes/apartments of people where most guests were standing and eating from a buffet.  Your party will be great if you are a relaxed and welcoming hostess.

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