Tips for Hosting a Nice Party

Though most people think that you need to spend a lot of money to throw a fabulous party, the truth is that you can throw a good party on a budget. It isn't always easy, but there are many ways that you can save money while throwing a party.

Here are some tips for hosting a nice party on a budget.

Know what you can afford to spend. It is hard to stay on task if you are trying to budget but don't have a number in mind. So come up with an amount of money you feel comfortable spending and stick to it. From there, you can budget how much you want to spend on food, decorations, and location.

Invite everyone electronically. Unless it is a wedding or something formal, most events don't need fancy (and expensive) invitations. You can use a website or an app like Evite, which sends out invitations through emails and text messages. They also keep track of who is coming and who isn't. Others prefer to use Facebook. You can also make an event page inviting people and informing them of any additional information.

Plan your food carefully. Food can be one of the most expensive parts of hosting a party, especially if serving a lot of meat. You can do the food several different ways. You can provide the main course and ask others to bring their favorite side dish to share.

You can also plan appetizer-sized offerings instead of planning out a full meal. People will quickly fill up on meat skewers and dips. Even though they weren't served a full sitdown meal, they will still leave full.

Don't offer a full bar. Instead, stick with the cheapest option that works for your guests. Can you get away with only having beer and wine? If not, have a signature drink that will be served.

When you pick a signature drink, not only does your party throw off a trendy vibe, but you can also base your drink around a cheaper liquor. You also won't feel like you have to buy several wines and liquors only to have a lot of opened bottles that may go bad.

Make sure that you also offer other refreshments. Your guests aren't only going to want to drink alcohol, plus some of your guests may not drink at all. For this reason, you should also offer water, juices, and some soft drinks, so everyone can stay refreshed at your party.

Use what you have around the house for décor. Though many people love to buy décor for their parties, the truth is that it can get expensive quickly. 

You may have some happy birthday banners around the house from another birthday party. You may have graduation decorations left over from the last graduation party. The truth is that you don't really need much to make the party nice. A few bouquets, candles, and simple decorations can go a long way.

Let your guests help. Most guests want to bring something to the party, and you should let them. If they are comfortable bringing a side dish, it can take some of the load off of you, especially if you have several guests bringing food. You may also ask guests to bring wine, liquor, or even their playlist (instead of hiring a DJ).

Before planning a party, you need to know how much you can comfortably spend. Only then can you determine what you are going to put toward food, drinks, and décor. Don't ever be afraid to let your guests help. Many feel inclined to bring food or drinks, so when they offer, you should ask them for things that you actually want and need at your party. By doing so, you can use that money to spend on other things.

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Previously published on Medium and/or Newsbreak.