It’s party time! Celebrate a birthday, anniversary, or holiday without breaking the bank. I’m sharing my best secrets for hosting a party on a budget. You can have fun and make your guests feel special without spending much at all.
Hosting a party – whether it’s a kids’ birthday, a holiday gathering, or just a weekend with friends – can definitely be expensive. When you add up the cost of decor, entertainment, and food for a crowd it can easily be a few hundred dollars.
Today I want to share a secret.
I have never spent more than $100 on a party. Most of the time it costs closer to half of that.
You really don’t have to spend much to throw a great party. Here are a few ways that I save.
Party on a budget
1. Make it a potluck.
If you’re hosting a casual get-together with family or friends, ask everyone to bring something. We usually provide the main entree and ask our guests to bring sides. They do the same when inviting us over.
Set a theme and tell everyone what you’re making. Ask them to bring complimentary sides. For example, last time we cooked hamburgers on the grill, our guests brought chips and dip, fresh fruit and vegetables, and dessert. There was tons of food, but nobody spent more than $10-$15.
Bonus: If one of your guests has a food allergy, they won’t feel weird bringing something that they know is safe to eat.
2. Send electronic invitations.
For a kids’ party, an email or Evite is just fine. If your guests are in the over-13 crowd, create a private Facebook event and invite everyone.
3. Go outdoors.
There are times of the year when hosting a backyard party is not going to work, of course. When the weather is nice, your backyard or a neighborhood park is a nice venue. There is no need to decorate and you’ll probably do less cleanup afterward.
4. Borrow furniture.
Nobody owns 20 dining chairs. If you’re hosting a wedding or a large event, you’ll probably need to get them from a rental place. For a regular party, borrow some folding chairs from a neighbor or family member. You can also ask some of your guests to bring a few if you know that it wouldn’t be inconvenient.
For a kids’ party, nothing beats a few blankets on the ground for a backyard picnic.
5. Use the real dishes.
Disposable paper plates and plasticware are really convenient, especially when it comes time to cleaning up. Using the dishes you have automatically checks that item off of your shopping list, though.
If you’re worried about things getting broken, invest in some inexpensive dishes to use at every party. We bought a dozen plastic plates for $1 each and have used them at every party for nearly 10 years. I’ve also slowly purchased white glass serving pieces as I find them on clearance at Target and Walmart.
6. Plan, plan, plan!
Do not go to the store to shop for your party without a list. The easiest way to stick to a party budget is by making a list of what you need and estimate how much everything will cost. Shop for the most important items first so that if you get to the end of your budget, you can elimiate a few things without ruining your plans.
7. Search Pinterest.
It’s easy to get overwhelmed and go overboard with Pinterest party ideas, but it’s the perfect place to find free party printables. For a kid’s birthday party, choose your theme and search for “free X party printables.” You’ll come up with everything you need – invitations, decorations, activities, thank you notes, etc.
8. Plan free kids’ activities.
No matter how much time I spend planning and shopping for specific activities, I know that my kids and their friends are going to end up playing tag. They really just want an excuse to run.
Some of the best kids’ games don’t involve any supplies at all: tag, duck-duck-goose, red rover, etc. If you do want something a little more elaborate, find games that use everyday items that you already have around the house.
9. Skip the party favors.
This has been a bit of a hot topic in a few parenting circles. You really don’t have to send home a goodie bag at the end of a birthday party. {Although it’s fine if it fits your budget.} Think about what you do when your kid brings one home. Chances are, you hide the candy so they don’t eat it all and go nuts and you toss out the tiny toys after they’ve laid on the floor for a week.
10. Remember why you’re celebrating.
A big fancy party isn’t really that great if you forget why you’re having it in the first place. Make sure your guests feel welcome and the focus stays on the person or thing that you’re celebrating. Ultimately, parties are for spending time with the people you care about and time doesn’t cost a thing.
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