Frugal Party Planning
My five brothers and sisters and I are planning a retirement party for my Mom this year. We wanted to do something big so we can invite all of 
her friends and relatives, but most of us are also concerned about cost. There will be 50 to 100 people in attendance, and we’d like all of them to walk away with good memories. We also don’t want to come off looking “cheap.” Here are some of the ways we’ll be saving money:
- We’re renting the pavilion in a local national park. It will cost $50 to rent for the day. A relaxed country setting is more Mom’s thing and this will do nicely.
- We’re stocking up on beverages and snacks as they come on sale. By buying in bulk ahead of time, we’re saving money. Imagine what we’d have to spend if we bought everything off sale the day before the party!
- We’re making our own favors and centerpieces. We planted my heirloom marigold seeds in small, decorated pots. By the time August rolls around, they’ll be beautiful plants that can be grouped together to form centerpieces and taken home as favors.
- We’re making as much of our own food as possible. Most salads, veggie and fruit trays will be made by us. In the case of sandwiches, it appears to be more cost efficient to buy pre-made trays of finger sandwiches and wraps, than to buy the meat, bread and condiments on our own.
- Instead of using a high end printer, I ordered invitations from Vista Print. They offer some great designs, and printed invitations are very affordable. Because I had a coupon, the cost was comparable to my buying heavy card stock and colored inks, and printing the invites myself.
As you can see, you can throw a large party without having to break the bank. If we decided to do this through a catering hall with all the bells and whistles, it would cost tens of thousands of dollars. Sure Mom’s worth it, but we all have kids and have to worry about things like college and mortgage. With careful planning, and bulk shopping in advance, we’re able to throw Mom a wonderful party that only looks like we spent a fortune.
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POSTED IN: Doing it Yourself, Easy Entertainment
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