It is always nice to be able to have a party to celebrate a milestone, a holiday, or just for fun.  The problem is that if you aren’t careful, things can get expensive really quickly.  Here are a few tips for saving money while party planning.

There are two ways to save on the food that will be served at your party.  One is to make it yourself, rather than have use catering or carryout.  Fancy little hot dogs wrapped in mini croissants cost a lot from a caterer, but won’t cost much at all if you make them yourself.  You probably can find a coupon for Pillsbury croissants to help you save a little more money.

If you love to bake, then go ahead and make a lovely, homemade, cake for the party.  You can personalize it to make the birthday girl or boy happy.  This will cost less, and probably taste better, than if you picked up a cake from the grocery store, or local bakery.

If you are in a hurry here is a great tip.  If I was going to throw a party, I would probably check the local pizza places to see what kind of deals they have.  This is a great way to get a lot of food, that will feed a lot of people, for very little money.  Who doesn’t love pizza?

I would suggest checking out the local dollar store for paper plates, paper party hats, and little toys for the “goodie bags” at your child’s birthday party.  Dollar stores are also a great place to pick up inexpensive streamers to decorate with.  Most stores will have birthday candles, and some stores will have number candles as well.

If the party will be for children, you cannot go wrong with Kool-Aid.  It costs very little, and you can whip up a batch in just a few minutes time.  Adults will probably expect other drinks, instead.  Soda  often works out to be less expensive if you buy some 2-liters than if you get cans.

If you want to serve alcohol, and your guests are expecting an informal party, then you could request that everyone brings a bottle or two of their favorite drink to share.  The cost of the alcohol gets spread out over many people, and everyone gets the chance to sample something new.  Try this for St. Patrick’s Day, New Year’s Eve, or a birthday party!

Posted in: How to Save | Comments (0) | Join Discussion