. The time of day at which you choose to entertain is important. There are seven basic factors which should be considered:

1.How much you have to spend
2.Whether you can have help
3.If you have children, where they will be
4.The amount of space in which you can give the party
5.The number of people you want to invite
6.How well you know the people you plan to entertain
7.What the people you plan to entertain like to do

if it's a big party-it's on a week end
If you're going to have a big party, especially if it's to be a late one, you'd best plan it for a week end. At least half the people you invite work. Even though they will sit up late the night before a working day, they are not as likely to be relaxed as on a week-end night. When your guests start to murmur, "We really ought to be going. I have a big day at the office tomorrow," you know they're reluctant to stay, and you must make it easy for them to go. But all that reluctance, which can dampen the best of parties, disappears on a Friday or Saturday night.

but not on Sunday
Sunday evening parties are traditionally informal. They're especially good for the people who have only two meals on Sunday-late breakfast and early supper. If your Sunday gathering is planned as an early party with the understanding that people can and will go home early, it is more likely to be a success. Otherwise, Sunday is a bad night to choose, because Monday is the day when people who work prefer not to be tired.

And, of course, when you give supper or dinner parties during the week, usually small parties, you can plan entertainment which won't last too long and thus allow people to leave without feeling guilty about breaking up the party.

breakfast parties-relaxation at low cost
Breakfast is one of the most delightful and relaxed times of day for a party. It is usually given late on Sunday morning. If there are house guests, they will probably sleep late, which gives the cook-hostess plenty of time to carry out her well-laid plans. House guests or not, breakfast makes for an informal gathering. It is one time when it is simpler to mix friends and acquaintances and still be reasonably sure that they will come to know and enjoy each other quickly. A breakfast party should be small-eight at the most. Further, they are the least expensive of all parties, whatever the menu. They are an especially thoughtful way of entertaining the house guests of friends.