How to Plan a Party on a Budget

Last Updated: December 2, 2021 References

Throwing a party can be lots of fun, but you might be worried about the cost. There’s no need for a great party to break the bank, however. Keeping your food and drink tab down will decrease one of the biggest expenses. If you plan ahead, you can add special touches to make your party look and feel special, even if you’re working with a small budget. And if you’re planning a party for kids, just make sure to host it in the afternoon and keep things focused on fun, free activities.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Keeping Food and Drink Costs Down

1
Host a lunch or brunch party. Dinner or evening parties may be the first kind that everyone thinks of. But a party at another time of day can be less expensive and more memorable. For instance, you could host a lunch party that focuses on finger foods like bruschetta. A brunch party can also be fun, and it’s easy to come up with inexpensive dishes like omelettes.^{[1]
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Cook simple but crowd-pleasing dishes. You don’t have to go all-out when it comes to feeding your guests. Pasta dishes, casseroles, and stews can all be inexpensive. It’s also easy to make a large amount at one time, so everyone will have plenty to eat and you’ll have more time to mingle.^{[2]
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3
Go for a potluck or recipe exchange. For an even more inexpensive option, ask each guest to bring a food or drink of their own to share. If you’re wary of calling it a “potluck,” refer to it as a “recipe exchange.” It can be lots of fun to learn about each other’s favorites!^{[3]
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- If you don’t want your guests to be responsible for the whole meal, you can ask them to bring just part, like a drink or dessert, and you provide the main food.
4
Stick to snacks and appetizers instead of entrees. Serving finger foods and small plates gives people more opportunities to mingle, instead of being stuck at a seat with a full meal. It can also cut your party costs. Think about serving dishes like:^{[4]
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- Chips and dip
- Soup shooters
- Meat skewers
- Vegetable trays
- Fresh fruit
- Chocolates
5
Throw a dessert party. Everyone wants dessert, so why not cut to the chase? Host a party where you serve a few desserts. Even store-bought desserts will be a hit. You can also ask guests to bring their favorite so everyone can share and sample. These can be inexpensive crowd-pleasers like:
- Ice cream with a variety of toppings
- A simple pie, like apple or cherry
- A cake
- A trifle
- Pastries
- Cookies
- Chocolates or candies
- Brownies
- Custard or pudding
6
Keep alcohol to a minimum. Party costs can add up quickly when you factor in alcohol. To avoid this, you could always throw a “dry” party. Or, you could feature a “signature” drink at your party so that you only have to choose certain drinks instead of having a fully-stocked bar.^{[5]
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- For instance, you could serve a drink with sloe gin in it for Halloween, and call it a “vampire cocktail.”
- Alternatively, you could go with one drink that you know is a favorite of your guests.
- If you serve alcoholic drinks, make sure to have some non-alcoholic options for those who are designated drivers or prefer to abstain.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Cutting Costs without Cutting Fun

1
Create a budget but splurge on something special. If you're throwing a party on limited funds, you may have to cut some things to cover all the basics. Skimp on things like decorations so that you splurge on things that people are more likely to remember, like party favors or entertainment.^{[6]
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- For example, if have a budget of $300 for the party, but the location costs $150, you might have to stick to just serving snacks instead of a full meal.
- That way, you can leave money for something fun, like t-shirts that everyone can decorate and take home as a memento.
- To make a budget, first come up with the total amount you're willing to spend on the party. Then, split your budget up into categories, like the venue, caterer, florist, musician, and so on. That way you'll know exactly how much you have to spend on each vendor.^{[7]
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  Expert Source
  
  Christina Millikin
  Professional Event Planner
  Expert Interview. 11 February 2020.}
2
Get creative with the party location. You might worry about the costs of decorating your home for a party, or having enough space for your guests. Don't panic: you have other options. For instance, you could host an afternoon get-together at a park. You could even have everyone meet at a restaurant to celebrate.
- Some restaurants have rooms you can reserve for private parties. Sometimes these can be expensive, but you could check anyway. You might find that the reservation fee is less than you would spend on preparing for a party at home.
3
Use evites or social media to create your guest list. These days, it’s convenient for almost everyone to keep track of events online. Try using an e-invitation (evite) service to create and email free and fun invitations to your party in a snap. For an even easier method, post an invitation to your party on social media, and ask your friends to reply if they plan on coming.^{[8]
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- If you don’t want to invite everyone on your friends list, just message the information about the party to certain people and ask them to reply if they want to come.
4
Go with budget decorations. If your party has a theme, or if you’re trying to make the location look a little more exciting, you can still work with a budget. Look for everyday items that you can use to glam up your party. For instance:^{[9]
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- Arrange candles you have at home as a centerpiece instead of flowers.
- Use natural items for table-scapes. For instance, use pinecones in autumn, then spray paint them silver for the wintertime.
- Create a placemat from decorative paper for each guest.
- Blow up some balloons yourself.
5
Use everyday place settings. For instance, there’s no need to go out and buy new cups and plates. Just mix and match what you have for some vintage charm. If you’re having an informal party, it’s also fine to just use paper dishes or plastic-ware.
6
Shop for supplies at warehouse, discount, or thrift stores. If you're hosting a big party, visit a bulk store to stock up on inexpensive plates, cups, etc. Dollar stores also usually have great bargains on these types of supplies.^{[10]
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Be your own DJ. By using your digital music library or an online music streaming service, you can have a basically endless playlist, for free. To make things even more fun, you can ask guests to make playlists of their own before the party, and take turns listening to each other’s music.^{[11]
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- If the party location isn’t already set up to connect phones or other devices to a stereo for the party, look for an inexpensive digital docking station with speakers at any big box or electronics store.
8
Focus on your guests above all. People are what make a party great, not the food, decorations, or anything else. Make sure to make all of your guests feel special. Greet them individually at the door, and make time to talk to all of them. Create seating arrangements where people can talk to each other, or leave plenty of open floor space for mingling.^{[12]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Planning a Kid’s Party on a Budget

1
Start the party in the afternoon. Holding a kid’s party between the hours of 2 and 5 in the afternoon means that you won’t have to provide a full lunch or dinner. Instead, you can just have finger foods, snacks, and drinks available. Not centering the party around a meal means that kids will have more time to play, too.^{[13]
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- Pre-made snacks like chips and cookies are inexpensive and loved by kids.
2
Host a double kids' party and split the costs. For instance, if two kids in your group have birthdays close to each other, have one party for both of them in between. You can then go 50/50 on the expenses to make it more affordable for everyone.^{[14]
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3
Throw the party at a park. A picnic means simpler foods can be served, and there will be plenty of space for kids to play. Be sure to bring some games and supplies to keep kids entertained, like:^{[15]
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- Frisbees
- Balls
- Bubbles
- Sidewalk chalk
4
Plan no-cost activities. Kids look forward to parties as a time to play with their friends. To keep them entertained, teach them or let them play simple, free, and fun games like:^{[16]
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- Freeze dancing
- Musical chairs
- Hot potato
- Duck duck goose
- Simon says
5
Make a semi-homemade cake. Boxed cake mixes are inexpensive, and kids love them. If you want to make it a little more special, you can make a homemade buttercream frosting. You could also add additional ingredients to the mix, like chocolate chips, sprinkles, or nuts.^{[17]
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Community Q&A

Question

What if our house isn't big enough and friends are okay with potluck but might talk behind my back about it?

Community Answer

When you send out the invite, say "Potluck is optional: NOT required but always welcome." Honestly, it sounds like your friends are not very nice people, though.
Question

How do I politely tell guests my rules?

Community Answer

The best way is to simply tell them as soon as they arrive. You shouldn't have a long list of rules that will be difficult to remember. Keep it simple and kind.
Question

How can I buy healthy food for my party and still stay in my budget?

Community Answer

Check the flyers from your local grocery stores and curate your food based on what is on sale.