Party Planning

Only a Trump could afford not to work from a budget -- and he wouldn't dare do it. Everyone has some budget -- the trick is to make your party appear as if you spared no expense.  We'll show you how.

Yes, you can afford to throw a party!  And you can do it within your economic means.  And don't think that because you are on a budget that your fun needs to take a back seat.

That is the farthest thing from the truth.  There are lots of way to create a party on a shoestring -- and still make your guests feel like a million bucks.

But if you really do feel as if you can't afford what you'd like to do, find a "cohort in crime."  By this, I mean enlist a help of a partner who may want to split the cost with you.  Or perhaps you can split up duties and location and items like that.

You may play host at your house if she buys the alcohol or if she furnishes the main meal.  You get the general idea.  This also takes some of the stress that naturally goes with planning off of you.

If you don't want to share the costs, it's still possible to throw a great party with minimal cost.

You need to create a budget
before you can stick with a budget!

Your first step is to determine how much money you realistically have available to spend on your party.  That one fact, may determine many aspects of your future get together.  It could either dictate the size of the guest list or the items on your menu.

Either way, don't panic. You can always create a theme to work around either.  For example, if you'd like to throw an old fashioned barbeque party, several years ago, you might have thought "steak" on the grill.

Well, tell me what's wrong with hot dogs and hamburgers?  Give it a gold old fashioned 50s theme and not a single guest will ever know your first impulse was to buy steaks.

From hot dogs and hamburgers, the dessert idea comes easily enough -- watermelon.  Now, we're not talking a lot of money here -- and it sounds like great fun.

But let's just say, you want a bit more food than that.  Then go that extra "1950s" step and ask everyone to bring something.  Once a person is invited to a picnic, she inevitably offers to bring something.

You may ask one person to bring potato or macaronic salad, another couple of people to bring a single bag of potato chips, and even another two or three to bring some bottles of soda.

Before you know it, your entire menu is laid out and ready to eat and you've only really had the expense of the hot dogs and hamburgers!

Become a wise shopper

It's to wise up!  When shopping for your party on a budget, become a wise shopper.  Develop your budget limit. Vow not to go over it. Then go out to fulfill your vow -- and create a memorable party.

Your first step is to "comparison" shop. This is especially true when it comes to any decorations you may need or those bags of potato chips and other snacks for the party.

Don't be afraid to walk into those "dollar stores" to take a good look around.  These places may be your budget-saving places when it comes to snack food, mixed nuts and even party decorations.

You'll be surprised at some of the items dollar stores stock these days -- and you'll be delighted with some of the prices.  But be careful, because not all of the prices are the bargain you think they are.

Resist the impulse to "impulse shop"

It happens to the best of us.  We're looking for one item, and then we see it.  That one item that would just top off the plans of your party beautifully. It's as if fate brought you to this very moment to discover this product.  Your party just wouldn't be the same without it.

Whoa!  Before you buy it, ask yourself this question:  is it on my list?  Then take it one step further:  If a don't buy it, who but me will really be aware that it's missing from the party.

If you feel that this particular catches your imagination ... then shop around (even internet shopping at first!) to see if you can buy it elsewhere for less.    It's highly unlikely that this is the only store in your area that carries this "must-have" item.  Chances are you'll run into it again -- and even at a better price.

You can save on some things ...
but not on others

And one of the "others" you should never try to cut big, humongous corners on is your food.  Obviously, you're going to shop around the major grocery stores to get the best price ... to snatch food up while it's on sale ...even freeze it if you can (You are going to do these things, aren't you?).  Don't go to either a dollar store or even these very deep discount grocery stores for you food.

The dollar store prices are super cheap for a reason.  Even the brand name items in food may not be exactly what you think you're buying.  The bottom line is simply this:  the origin of the food they carry may be questionable.

Let me give you an example.  I was hungry for those overly processed, package food items called Hot Pockets.  Yes, I know that they aren't good for me.  But now and then I harken back to when my daughter was younger and ate them morning, noon and night.

So I found a package of my favorite kind in a dollar store.  It appeared to be a good price.  I prepared it.  And thought I was going to eat it.  I even checked the expiration date before I prepared it.  It was definitely not of the same quality as what comes out of a grocery store.  How could this be?  That would take up the contents of an other book entirely.

Some very deep discounted grocery stores go so far as to sell food that has already expired.  Before you buy any food at a place like that, check the expiration date.  If the date has come and pass, say "pass" yourself on the item.

Don't save on those very important points

Think of it as a reward system.  If you've bought your party favors, your decorations and other items diligently and saved yourself money, great.

But now, you're down to a few bare elements you've waited to buy.  And let's say for example, they revolve around the guest of honor. Let's say you're throwing a 30th birthday party for a dear friend who loves chocolate cakes.

Well, you're not about to buy a cheap, less than delicious chocolate cake are you?  Of course not.  And here is where all your saving, scrimping and careful shopping has finally paid off.  Now, go out there, without fear of guilt -- or impact of budget -- and buy his favorite cake ... the best tasting cake you can find.  Oh, yeah!  Life is good!

And as the guest of honor  with his favorite cake sitting in front of him, even if he did notice you scrimped on a few things (which is even doubtful!) he'll never forget that party because you were thoughtful enough to present him with the very best of ... chocolate cake.

What about just borrowing something?

Why not?  This might be a great money-saving idea.  This is also an excellent way to save on rental costs.  Instead of renting chairs, why not just borrow a few from neighbors, families and friends?  That trims your budget nicely.  And if the truth be known, your friends and family are happy to help.

If you're a member of a church, you may find your church has a policy about loaning certain items out to members.

Creating your own?

Now, here's a novel idea these days.  And before you tell me that you have absolutely no creative talent, stop.  Because quite frankly my dear I don't give a darn.  I'm going to forge ahead with this section anyway.

Ever consider instead of buying your invitations, making them yourself.  Sure you could print them out on your computer, but why not make them so they look "homemade."

That's right!  Let me tell you exactly what I mean.  A friend of mine was throwing a moving party.  Since her husband was a minister, they had moved several times in their lives.  So the process of packing up everything and labeling it on brown boxes was standard operating procedure.

She took that idea to heart and created "homemade" invitations.  Plain brown paper -- like butcher paper -- became the invitation.  She simply tore -- yes tore -- pieces and wrote the essentials of any good invitation on them.  And she wrote them with a black "Sharpie" permanent pen.  Just as she would be labeling her boxes.

Economical?  Yes.  Creative?  Indeed.  Budget minded!  Absolutely.  And those invitations ended up to be what everyone at the party was talking about!  And it didn't take one ounce of talent to do!  Just a little thinking out of the (moving) box.

You can do the same with just about any aspect of your party, depending on your theme, location and type of food you're serving!