How to Throw an Inexpensive Party

Parties are a great way to take a break from the daily grind, catch up with friends and bring people together over good food and company. On the other hand, good parties are also notorious for exceeding budgets and leaving the hosts with more stress than fond memories. Fortunately, a little planning, time and creativity is all you need to throw a truly memorable bash without leaving a little crater in your pocket.

Tips and Ideas to Throw a Cheap Party

Here are a few simple tips that you can follow to throw an inexpensive party for any occasion:

• The guest list: It goes without saying that the more guests you have, the more you will be spending on party supplies and food. Invite only those who you really want to be at your party to ensure that costs do not get out of hand. This way, you can have a great time with friends who you know will have no trouble getting along with everyone.

• Food: Good food is one of the main attractions to any party, so a little extra time and planning spent on food preparation will be well worth it. Any dish made at home will cost considerably less than the same thing ordered from outside, so try to handle most of the cooking yourself. Dishes that can be prepared in advance must be ready a day before the party, and for dishes that have to be cooked the same day, make sure all the ingredients are ready to be used a day in advance. Don’t be fooled into believing that the best dishes are the most elaborate and expensive ones. Go for tried-and-tested winners that will have your guests raving about your cooking skills, or impress them with unique dishes that are novel yet inexpensive.

  For those who don’t mind, a potluck is a great way to save time, money and effort, and exchange good recipes in the process.

"Invite only those who you really want to be at your party to ensure that costs do not get out of hand."

• Decorations: Sticking with a theme for your decorations is the simplest way to turn inexpensive items into impressive décor that look well-planned and elegant. Broad themes are the easiest to work with, and simple ideas like sticking to a single color for the entire theme can turn a few hours of effort into great results that will be remembered and talked about for weeks!

• Centrepiece: Centrepieces do not have to be ordered, nor do they have to be expensive. It is possible to make admirable centrepieces with just a little creativity and simple items from around the house. Think beyond flowers and go for ideas that fit in with the theme of your party. Another great idea is to combine your cooking efforts with your decorating efforts, and display your dessert in an arrangement that looks as fabulous as it tastes!

• The venue: Having a party at a restaurant is the best way to let your expenses exceed your budget. Having the party at home will be cost-free, but for some, the preparation before and the clean-up after is not worth the money saved. The best alternative is to host an outdoor party at a local park and save on both counts.