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Whether you’re throwing a birthday bash, an engagement party, baby shower or “just because,” summer is a great time to soak up the sun, enjoy the outdoors while celebrating and creating fun memories with family and friends.
However, hosting a party can become expensive if you don’t plan it well. Luckily, there are several ways to save you money on your party-planning. Let’s talk about them one by one.
Create a Budget
This is the number 1 rule if you don’t want to end up overspending. Have an estimate of the costs of food, drinks, decor, etc. based on the number of guests and length of the party. Settle on an overall budget, set a budget for each category, create a shopping list and make sure you stick to it.
Send Invites Virtually
You don’t have to spend money on having your invites printed out and sent through mail. Instead, just send them virtually through Facebook, email or messaging apps like iMessage, Whatsapp, Viber, etc. If most of your guests are on Facebook, you can easily create an event on your account and just invite your friends virtually.
Party during the Daytime
Instead of having a dinner party which extends to an all-night affair, consider a lunch or brunch party instead. Switching up the time of the day will save you tons! During the daytime, guests are likely to drink less. No more last-minute beer runs.
Shop at the Dollar Store
If you don’t have party supplies and decorations to recycle, the dollar store will be your best place to shop for cheap party essentials.
Design a Menu around Seasonal Ingredients
If you are cooking some of the meals for your party, choose recipes with in-season ingredients. Check out your local farmer’s market for fresh produce at a cheaper price.
Make it a Potluck / BYOB Party
If it’s an informal gathering, you can cut costs by asking your guests to bring foods and drinks. You can be the host and provide the venue but you don’t have to be the sole provider of all the party needs.
Have a Free Entertainment
Bring out your inflatable pools, karaoke, board games and other free forms of entertainment to enjoy a fun day without spending a ton of money. Kids can typically make a game out of anything and as long as there are snacks, drinks and good music, adults will just enjoy sitting and chatting with each other.
See, throwing a party doesn’t have to be expensive!
