What About Potluck Dinners?
We don't all have the time or the money to give lavish dinner parties and, really, is that even important? There is something great about simple get-togethers where everyone brings a plate and you all share and enjoy a good meal together. Great company and some simple good food! It can also be a lot of fun. :D
You could have a theme, like: pizza evening, or tacos, or American hot dogs, where everyone brings the various items needed. Or you can have any other theme you might enjoy, such as: a single color, or a mixture of colors, or western, Italian, or Chinese, ... whatever takes your fancy. Of course, you could add another aspect of fun by having some sort of appropriate dress code!
Another great thing about potluck dinners is that one person doesn't have all the expense, as it is shared in smaller increments between all those attending.
Clean up is also a breeze as each person either takes their own plate/s home to wash, or everyone does the washing up together! (Or, you could decide to use disposable plates and cutlery... just saying, cause we all have those days where we're just plain tired and want less clean up to worry about... )
What could be simpler? Bring back more potluck dinners, I say!