Throwing A Party On A Limited Budget? Ten Ideas Under Ten Dollars!

January 26th, 2012 by Caitlin Morgan| Posted in Apartment Guide, Apartment Holidays, Apartment Interiors, Apartment Living, BOOZE, College Housing, Decorating, Etsy & DIY, Off Campus Apartments, Parties and Events, Saving Money, Tips & Tricks | No Comments »

1.  Homemade Invitations start your party off on the right foot—personal, put-together, and fun. Using recycled paper, the unwritten-on half of old cards, or any other re-purposed materials will keep this part of your planning under budget.

2. Buy your decorations from a discount party store.  Actually, when arranged attractively, a couple dollar streamers can do the trick all by themselves.  Or bust out your white Christmas lights to frame your doorways and add ambiance.

3.  Cute Napkins are an classy alternative to paper napkins; they make clean up easier but don’t scream “red cups, chips, and cheap beer tailgating party.”

4. Make it BYOB. Booze get pricey pretty fast, so indicate on your invitations that you’ll be provide no drinks, or only one, and guests should feel free to supplement the situation.  You could even end up with extra alcohol at then end of the night; that’s what we call profit.

5. If you are providing some alcohol, dress it up.  For example, buy a couple of cheap-but-not-undrinkable red wine and mull it with spices.  The result will be delicious but not ridiculous.

6. Economical doesn’t have to look cheap; carefully plan some low-cost appetizers. Ideas include make-your-own grilled cheese, a cheese and fruit plate (go heavy on the fruit), and mini pancakes with sour cream and chives.  Get creative!  And avoid pricey ingredients.

7. Decide ahead of time on some simple entertainment.  Depending on your style, this can be anything from a Ouija board to a football game.  If you don’t have the necessary components, try to borrow them from a friend.

8. Put on the music. If you own a stereo and several universally-palatable CDs—or a computer from which you can put on a party-themed Pandora station—this essential component shouldn’t cost a dime.

9.  Personalized favors impress guests but don’t have to break the bank.  You can write notes, give your friends a photo of the two of you, or bake cookies and write a person’s name on each gooey treat.  Let the favor reflect what kind of party you’re throwing.

10. Finally, wear a fabulous outfit—but choose one already inhabiting your closet.  Rather than use your party as an excuse to buy yet another 1950s Lucy dress that you’ll wear maybe once a year, dust off the one you already have.

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