Hosting a Budget-Friendly Fest: Tips for Saving Money

If you’re hosting your own party and you want to save money, it’s not hard at all. You just need to be smart about the purchases you make and the activities you choose to include. There are plenty of ways to have a great time on the cheap, so use these tips to host your own budget-friendly fest!

Organize it Yourself:

DIY parties and festivals don’t have to be boring. Instead of spending money on elaborate decorations and costly party favors, check out Pinterest, Etsy or other online resources to create your own. Better yet, ask your friends to help you decorate—their creative ideas may even lead to new friendship opportunities! And if you’re worried about food costs, consider asking everyone to bring their favorite dish instead of providing meals. Not only will it save you money, but it will also allow guests to try foods they might not normally eat. As an added bonus, there are lots of free apps that can help you track spending during a frugal festival. Try BeFrugal (iOS) or Ibotta (Android), which let you search for

products at local stores and earn cash back with each purchase. Once funds are in your account, redeem them through PayPal or Amazon gift cards—no cash required! Plus, these apps provide additional savings by letting you scan barcodes and receive discounts from popular brands like Campbell’s Soup Company, Kellogg’s and more. So next time you host a party or attend one yourself, remember to cut

corners without cutting quality!

Have a Clear Vision:

As with most things, planning your party with a clear vision from start to finish will save you time and money. Whether you’re hosting an intimate dinner or 100 guests at your favorite bar, it’s important to focus on what you want to achieve in order to bring together all of your ideas into one complete picture. Knowing where you’re headed will help guide all of your decision making along the way so that everything works seamlessly. Choose Festivals That Are in Season: If you’re hosting a large event with food, make sure to choose ingredients that are in season and cheaper than others.

For example, if you want to host an apple picking festival, avoid autumn when apples are at their priciest and instead opt for spring or summer when they’re less expensive.

CoSchedule With Friends and Influencers:

While it may not seem possible, it’s important to create relationships with influencers and bloggers. Influencers are more than just resources; they can also help you gain followers by posting about your content and connecting with you on social media. If you can connect with influencers in your niche, they might be willing to share some of their followers with you, creating an exponential reach

Stop Smoking:

Tons of people spend too much money on cigarettes, and it’s just not worth it. If you think you’re spending too much money on smoking, there are plenty of ways to stop smoking without having to rely on your willpower. One way to reduce your craving for cigarettes is by eating spicy foods—this will also reduce hunger cravings and help with weight loss.

Utility Savings:

If you’re like most people, your utility bill is one of your biggest monthly expenditures. If you host an event in an air-conditioned venue with flooring, renting tables and chairs and using lighting can add up fast.

Pack your Lunch:

The more you can bring from home, the less you’ll spend. Don’t just pack your lunch in reusable containers; pick up leftovers from work or other dinners (even potlucks) to eat later. And if you want to

Create an Interest-Bearing Account:

If you’re planning on hosting an event with a large number of guests, create an interest-bearing savings account to use as your event money. This helps ensure that money set aside isn’t just sitting in your checking account while you hope it gains interest. If you don’t have an existing account, just open one at your bank or credit union and deposit funds directly into it.

Annualize Your Spending:

Hosting a party, gathering or event can quickly turn into an expensive venture. But knowing your budget and how much you’re willing to spend will help you keep costs down while still having fun. Annualize your spending by multiplying each month’s expenses by 12. The result is your annual expenses, which is usually less than what it would cost to host one party per month. Consider using that amount as your maximum budget.