The truth is I love throwing a great party (and who doesn’t?). The planning, the food, the decorations, the fun…. Just the thought of gathering friends and family for a celebration, fills me with an excitement and I get lost in the thrill of planning the event.
And as you can imagine, it is not rare, in my eagerness to throw the perfect party, my budget to quickly get out of control.
Gradually, I learned that planning a party on a tight budget can actually be much more fun. This is how I discovered that some of the most fabulous ideas have nothing to do with spending money. It’s all about creativity and coming up with well thought out ideas.
Today I will share my little secrets to help you make your next birthday party the best you’ve ever thrown without having to spend a fortune.
- Pick A Theme
Picking the theme is the key for a fabulous birthday party. It helps you set the tone of the party, make your guests feel more comfortable and a part of a group, and, of course, keep your budget under control because all your expenses revolve around the same idea.
Pinterest and moms’ blogs are full of inspiration and once you select the theme, I can assure you that the creative ideas will start rolling in. Just make a list of ideas and then pick up the ones you can easily realize and are within your budget.
- Plan the food and don’t forget the beverages.
No matter what, always be sure to provide enough food and drink! The good decoration and details do matter, but not necessarily the details you might think. Let’s face it: Pinterest-worthy decorations and a stunning dessert display won’t save a party because hungry guests will not have fun.
If you can’t afford both food and decorations, opt for food. Even if the party is not at mealtime, provide at least a few sizable snacks & munchies just in case. Party food is usually junk food like cake, ice-cream, chips, salsa, dip, chex mix, candy, brownies, and cupcakes. But of course you can switch it up according to the motive of the party. Get creative!
- Send Invitations Via Email
Another way to reduce the expenses is skip the overpriced paper invites in favor of the email variety. You can either make your own designs or use a free online graphic editor such a PicMonkey and a DigitalOcto. You can also use one of the email invitation online services like Evite, Celebrations, and Green Envelope. Not only will you save on paper and postage, but managing your guest list will be a breeze.
- Get Crafty to Make Your Party Decoration
With so much inspiration coming from Pinterest, magazines, and the blogosphere, there is no excuse for not joining the DiY revolution. You don’t even have to be exceptionally gifted; all you need to do is to follow simple instructions.
Just like the homemade food and desserts, which are both cheaper and usually better-tasting compared to their store counterparts, the handmade decorations will make your party special and one-of-a-kind. What’s more, it is a great way to spend more quality time with your kids and family members. Win-win J)
- Plan Some Activities to Make Your Guests The Focus
No party is complete without some fun games and activities. Party games increase the level of thrill and enthusiasm at any birthday party. You can choose some icebreaker games to get things off to a good start. And be sure to offer prizes! They don’t have to be expensive, just a little something to get things rolling.
- Memorable way to Say “Happy Birthday”
The culmination of each party is the birthday cake with lit candles on it. What if in this very special moment a birthday song with the name of the birthday girl/boys starts singing for her/him? I bet it would be a great surprise that will remain lasting memories. So go to BirthdaySongsWithNames.com’s home page. Find the name of the birthday person and then select the song, you believe he will enjoy the most. Quick, simple, cheap and surprisingly touchable surprise!
