Party Planning Tips - Making the Most of Your Budget
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Planning is fun and exciting, but it can also be costly. Fortunately, with a few clever money saving ideas, you can throw a great get-together without having to count your pennies. Interested in money-saving party ideas? Below are ways to make the most of your budget!
Invitations
Instead of sending paper invitations, email out the invites. These days you can design a stylish invite, save it as an image, and send it off to your entire guest list with one quick click of the mouse. It's easy, cost-effective, and efficient. Why spedn all that money on expensive invites?
Design the invites yourself and customize them to suit the party theme and your personal taste.
"We're Out of Ice"
Running out of ice is definitely a party buster.With a portable ice maker, you'll never hear those words again. Invest in a portable ice maker and enjoy ice cold beverages all afternoon.
Portable ice makers are compact and lightweight so having one on hand is easy. No need to stop at the store and buy bags of ice. No need to fill ice chest full of ice to keep drinks cold. Just add water to the ice maker and enjoy fresh ice instantly.
Some ice makers make as much as 50 lbs. of ice per day. You and your guests can enjoy cold beverages for as long as necessary. This is a cost effective way to serve iced and blended drinks.
Don't Pre-Order Your Menu
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When shopping for your menu, stay away from foods that are pre-cut and pre-cleaned, as these are big money wasters.
Instead, hit the local produce stand or farmers market. Enjoy fresh produce at a fraction of the cost. Buying fresh is always better than buying pre-packaged.
Another great money saving tip: fill your menu with foods like pasta, potatoes, rice and breads. These items are not only inexpensive, but they look great on the table, and keep your guests feeling full. And when all else fails, you can always plan a pot-luck. This is an idea that works great around holidays or birthdays; instead of having guests bring gifts, ask them to bring a dish. They'll enjoy sharing their favorite dish.
DecorationsThe best decorations are the kind you make yourself. A bit of paper and scissors can go a lot way. Paper cut outs, paper lanterns, and paper pictures all make lovely decorations.
To make paper lanterns follow these tips below from the Paper Lantern Store:
Supplies you'll need: scissors, glue, tape, stapler
- Fold a rectangular piece of paper in half, making a long, thin rectangle
- Make about a dozen cuts along the fold line. When cutting the paper, leave about 1" of space from the edge, do not make cuts too close to the edge of the paper.
- Unfold the paper. Using the glue or stapler, put the short edges of the paper together
- Now, cut a strip of paper about 6" long and .5" wide. Glue or staple this strip of paper across one end of the lantern. This will be the handle of the lantern.
- Make more than one so you can string them across a room.
Being crafty costs far less than buying formal decor. Cut fresh flowers from the garden for a centerpiece and you're all set.
Activities
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Avoid awkward silences and early departures with group games. Games are the best way to get everyone's attention and keep it. Your guests will get to know each other and the party will be a hit.
Temperature Control
If your party is in the middle of summer and it's hot, do your best to keep indoor and outdoor spaces cool. The best way to keep everyone cool and comfortable is with a fan. Fans keep the air circulating and eliminates hot spots. Decorative fans look great too and there ar many types made for both ndoor and outdoor use. A misting fan out on the patio is a great way to go too, keeping everyone feeling great.
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