Are you hosting a party, get-together, or even a shindig anytime soon? Here are _ ingenious tricks for stretching your party planning budget without souring the good time!
1. DIY When You Can
Many events call for festive decoration. And as fun as that is, it can also cost a pretty penny—unless you take matters into your own hands. DIY decorations can be a lot of fun. With so many online tutorials for creating beautiful things from virtually nothing, your arts and crafts projects don’t have to look too crafty.
2. Make a Playlist
If the event typically involves hiring a DJ, it’s time to DIY DJ! Make a playlist ahead of time with some party-perfect tunes and hit play; personalizing a playlist is a fantastic way to bring some of your flair and prevents you from paying the hefty sum for a professional. Add to the fun by having the guests contribute songs they’d like to hear; you can curate these as necessary, but it’s a blast to have someone hear their song pick come on in the middle of the party.
3. Buy In Bulk
You probably can’t get away without buying some things. But the things you do buy should be in bulk. Bulk purchases are significantly cheaper, especially if you need non-perishable items like cups or plates. You can save any excess you have left after the party for one in the future!
4. Limit Your Guest List
Let’s face it: there are probably many people you feel you must invite out of obligation, or you could take or leave if they show up. Free yourself from the yoke of expectation and only invite the people you genuinely want to be there. This frees up some extra expenses for the people you cherish so you can have an even better time if you’d like, or it will save you more money.
5. Plan Ahead
Put the “planning” in “party planning” by keeping your ear to the ground about deals as early as possible. The further ahead you plan, the more likely you are to snag some outstanding deals. You can take this to the next level by planning your event around the season and opting for dishes or drinks that use seasonal ingredients to save even more money.
6. Make It a Potluck Party
Potlucks are fantastic for so many reasons. It allows your friends to show off a signature dish, helps them feel like they contributed to the event even in a small way, and saves you a fortune on food costs. Take it a step further and suggest the party be BYOB as well, though you can still offer something if you’d like, especially for the N/A drinkers in your life.
7. Keep It Simple
Many people consider parties with good food, drinks, music, and company more than enough. Don’t fret about overly complicated party games or other entertainment that might cost extra and muddy the experience for some. It’s fun, in theory, to hire a magician for your aunt’s birthday, but unless she’s a major magic buff, keeping those cards close to your chest might be wiser.