When planning a party, everyone has a budget. However, Pinterest has also really raised the bar for the party experience. So, I am going to give you some tips on how to balance your budget with your desire for a great party. Keep reading to learn how to plan an amazing party without emptying your savings account.
Guest list
#1 rule for throwing a budget friendly party: pare down that guest list! It is no secret: the more guests you have, the more you will tend to spend. Try limiting your guest list to just your closest friends and family. If you haven’t spoken to someone for years (unless this is a reunion party), don’t invite them. More guests will lead you to supply more food, drinks, and snacks. It also means that you need a larger venue, which generally means more money. Keep your guest list tight and keep your budget tight.
Venue
Renting a venue can be a huge cost, so this is great way to save you a lot of money. Venues near me start out at $100, but generally are much more (up to $500 for only a few hours). So…how do you avoid this cost…? There are a few options: Find a local business that offers free or cheap meeting rooms (sometimes banks, hotels, and offices will rent out their space during slow time). Know somebody with a large home or yard that would let you crash their place? Take advantage of it and throw a party there. Or…opt for a beautiful outside party at the park.
Decorations
Parties are about having fun and celebrating with your friends and family. Therefore, decorations are not necessary. However, when most people think about planning a party, how to decorate is usually the first thing to come to mind. Table covers and streamers are my go to for creating a Big Bang for your buck. They come in all varieties of colors, so they can match any theme. Table covers can be used for other things too…like backdrops!
Activities
Just hanging out together, is usually enough activity for most party-goers. Although, if you are throwing a kid’s party, activities are a great idea to keep all the kids entertained (and somewhat contained).
For example, this inexpensive “mummy wrap-up” game from my last Halloween party. Only $2 for up to 8 pairs of kids! The game lasts 5-10 minutes, but is lots of fun. You can also create other activities for follow up (think races, relays, photo ops, etc…).
Food and Drinks
Food and drinks can add up fast. Food: if you must serve food on a budget, think of things that can be made in bulk…like tacos, hotdogs, or sandwiches. Drinks: kids love Kool-Aid!! Well, let’s face it, a lot of adults do too. It is inexpensive and easy to make a variety of flavors to keep everyone happy. Snacks: grab a couple bags of chips!!! Done!
Let’s be clear, you do not have to feed your guests a full meal… in fact, you don’t have to serve any food, if you don’t want to.
Party Favors
Party favors are another item you can omit completely. But, if you must have party favors, there are budget friendly ways to create some great options. I love shopping at the Dollar Tree for party favors! They have stickers, crayons, pencils, folders, and all kinds of other great favor items. For most of my budget-friendly parties, I can get favors for 12 kids for around $10 total. For the favor bags, I just get a package of brown paper lunch bags. Then, I decorate the bags according to the theme. Sometimes it’s a s simple as folding the bag over and putting a sticker on it. This cool Super Mario Brothers bag below was made with a brown paper lunch bag and construction paper!
