Emma9 Money-Smart Ways You Can Throw aHoliday Party
The holidays are a great time to throw a party. Regardless of whether you are an extrovert or an
introvert, hosting a party can be an enjoyable way to catch up with friends and enjoy the holiday
season together. It’s easy to feel the temptation to pull out all the stops and overspend. Here’s
what you should do instead to let your wallet relax.
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Make a Party Budget
Planning a good party down to the details is one important tip from successful party hosts. Plan
the kind of activities you want to do and figure out what you want to spend your budget on. Do
you want to host the party at your home, or would you rather find a venue? Hosting at your own
place will always cost less. A budget can help you determine how much you can spend.
Don’t Be Afraid to Borrow
Some decorations or utilities are better off being borrowed. Maybe you’re cooking up a meal
and need a pressure cooker but don’t want to shell out money for it. If a family member, friend,
or neighbour has something you need (and you have a good relationship with them), don’t be
afraid to reach out and borrow it. Of course, make sure you take good care of their stuff.
Plan with a Friend
Co-hosting is a great way to split expenses and come up with new ideas for your party. Find a
friend who has similar financial values to you, and bounce ideas off of them. A friend can be an
excellent sounding board for you to figure out what you can do to make your party successful
while saving some money at the same time.
Add an Outdoor Element
If the weather permits, you could allow your guests to go on your patio or in your backyard to
enjoy the festivities. If you’re going in this direction, you may want to hire landscape design
services to help you create an amazing backyard space your guest will love. You can find these
professionals through online job boards and vet candidates by reviews, experience, and costs
(so you don’t overspend).
Stick to Tradition
There’s a reason why some holiday decorations, such as strands of colourful lights, are staples of
tradition. They have interesting histories and significance, they’re aesthetically pleasing, and
they throw a cosy glow over the whole party. Plus, there’s no doubt that holiday cosiness and
nostalgia work best with the sights and smells people are familiar with. You’ll be able to spend a
little more on decorations if you go traditional because you’ll use them for future holidays.
Turn It into a Potluck
A potluck is a great way to save money on food, which can really cost you if you’re not careful.
Transforming a potluck into a full meal experience begins by assigning a type of food to each
guest. Send out a sign-up sheet to your guests and make sure each category is claimed. This
can also reduce the workload for clean-up.
Prioritize the Most Important Items First
When it comes to planning a party and shopping, purchase your most important items first. You
can have more wiggle room on your less-important items. It’s also important to figure out what
you’re going to do at this party and how you’ll get all your friends together. Figuring out a
schedule that will work for nearly everyone is a difficult task to coordinate, so use event-
planning apps to reduce the planning stress.
Decorate Just a Few Focal Areas
If you can’t afford to decorate everything, just focus on some areas of your home that will
typically get the most traffic and attention. According to Today, you can also recycle some
trimmings from your own tree into the holiday decorations.
Add Some Music and Dance
Science has shown that some party activities, such as dancing, might have been an important
way for prehistoric people to communicate and bond. It doesn’t have to be much — just put on a
little festive background music and start grooving. Elevate everyone’s experience by picking up
an affordable and high-quality wireless speaker for your music.
Surveys show that nearly everyone experiences an increased level of stress around the
holidays that is often related to finances. Being able to throw a fun party on a budget is an
excellent way to reduce some of that stress. You can still have fun while saving your money.
Credit: Dean Burgess