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Holidays on a budget – 18 Great Money Saving Tips for your next celebration

Want to throw a party, but worry that it will cost much? You can still have a big celebration without breaking your budget. Here are 18 tips to help you save money.

1. Borrow Music CDs in your collection. Perhaps what dance music needs to encourage the crowd. You may want easy listening tunes as a backdrop for conversation or songs for a party Hawaiian luau theme. Your public library should have available and ready to lend to you.

2. Decorate with balloons. Balloons are festive and cheap, especially if you fill them with air instead of helium. Search online and you will find instructions for making impressive arches balloons, garlands, columns and more.

3. Rent a helium tank. If you prefer to helium balloons and you need a lot of them, it is cheaper to rent a tank and fill the balloons yourself. However, if you're buying just a few, you can save money by buying them already filled at the dollar store.

4. Light lots of candles around the party for the immediate atmosphere, low cost.

5. Keep your small, white Christmas lights by hand. String around the buffet table, door, table, pots, almost anywhere to give an elegant touch to any party without spending much cash.

6. Buy a reusable ice sculpture mold. These can cost under $ 20, are easy to fill, fits in the freezer and can be used again and again. find them line for a low cost, yet whimsical touch to your celebration.

7. Forget the flower arrangements. Yes, they are cute, but expensive. Instead try tealights floating in a large shallow glass bowl filled with water. Or could place framed photos of the guest of honor at the table for a nice tribute. You can even display party favors as the centerpiece.

8. Make your own invitations. With software greeting card on your computer, printer and a little creativity, you can save money by doing it yourself.

9. Browse online for cheap invitations. If you're not the crafty type, you can find great deals online for invitations. Do a little searching, and you may be surprised at deep discounts available.

10. Go to photo invitations that feature guest of honor. These medications can cost less than regular paper invitations, if you look around the internet for the right company. You can also cut the price in the choice a smaller size, like 4 x 6 or 4 x 8 inches.

11. Invite less and save more. Sure, it's good to have a big party. But if you're watching your wallet, not the cost cuts faster than the decrease of the guest list. Think quality over quantity. It is better to have a smaller party, that no party at all.

12. Cost reduction in the party favors. You obviously can remove them if your budget is very tight, but if you decide you want to send your guests home thanks to a little gift, you can do by itself. A simple idea is to use time appropriate gift wrapping paper Hershey candy bars wrapped as a gift thoughtful.

13. Order online financial favors. If you do not want to make your own, do not have to resort to the dollar store in exchange for favors. For around the same price you can find inexpensive personalized items, some even with a photo. Just be willing to do a little searching.

14. Consider having your party 2-5 pm on Saturday or Sunday. Nobody expected a great meal during those hours, so you can get away with just serving coffee and cake.

15. Invite your customers for just appetizers or desserts. Your invitation can say something like "please join us for an open house with hors d'oeuvres. "

16. Go with a buffet, if you want a full dinner for a lot of people. Include inexpensive, but nice people pasta dishes and casseroles. Find recipes that you can do before and freeze.

17. Do not be afraid to ask for help. Be it a meeting and ask that clients bring a dish. If you can, borrow, instead of renting chairs, chafing dishes, tents outside, etc. Enlist a friend to help you serve.

18. Be kind to the environment and your budget by using real plates, glasses and cutlery. Of course, disposable paper plates, cups and plastic utensils make cleaning easier, but they add to their office. Use what you have, wash dishes and save money.

Yes, you can have a big party without spending much money. With a little creativity, time and effort that can reduce costs. But that's not all. You can leave your guests with the impression that you really wasted.

About the Author

Linda Kling, as the owner of Photo Party Favors, has offered ideas to people planning parties and celebrations since 1992. Visit her website for cheap unique photo favors and inexpensive photo party invitations plus lots of free make ahead party recipes.

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