Hosting a Summer Party on a Budget

Summer is a wonderful time to gather friends together for a celebration. Whether it is one of the patriotic holidays, Father's Day or a just because it is summertime there are plenty of reasons to party

But, if you are concerned about the cost it can make you think twice Luckily, I've got some ideas to help you plan a spectacular summer bash without breaking the bank.

Set a budget

Determining how much money you have to spend for the party is one of the first things to do. Make a list of everything you will need including:

* Location
* Invitations
* Food and drinks
* Paper goods and utensils
* Decorations
* Entertainment

Once you have an idea of what items you’ll need to spend money on, you’ll be better able to prepare a budget. For each of the above areas you can save money with a little bit of thought and planning.

Keep reading for ideas to save money while still having fun.

Location

Let’s start with location. The cheapest way to host any party is to have it at home. By having your party at your residence, you have more control over who attends and how you decorate. You also don’t incur the extra expense of renting a facility.

Local parks can be another cost effective solution. Check with your city's Park and Recreation department to see about reserving a shelter.

Invitations

Decide how many people to invite. This will help you determine the other categories like food, drinks, party goods and invitations.

Speaking of invitations, with technology today it’s easy to send personal invitations via text, email or a program like Evite or Partiful (not sponsors).

Of course, you can also use a computer to make your invitations and mail them if you choose, but that would mean printing them out (paper and ink) as well as postage.

Don’t forget to ask people to RSVP so you can have enough food and drink.

Food and Drinks

Food and drinks will most likely be the most expensive part of hosting any party. Plan a menu and determine how much of each food item you’ll need.

If you find the food budget getting out of hand, don’t be afraid to ask your guests to help. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with having a pot luck party.

You can either serve the main course (burgers and hot dogs) and let your guests handle the sides, desserts and drinks; or make the entire meal a potluck.

Read my mom's post over on That Recipe for great tips on organizing a potluck with minimal stress.

If you want to go beyond hamburgers and hot dogs, I have plenty of great grilling and side dish recipes over on That Recipe to get your meal planning started:

Paper Goods and Utensils

Paper goods and utensils may be an expense you’re not looking forward to. However, using disposables mean you won’t have to spend time worrying about your good dishes or having to wash all those dishes later.

Head to your favorite discount store and grab some festive plates and napkins and maybe even utensils. Feel free to mix and match styles if you can't find enough of one.

Decorations

You can grab some decorations at the discount store while you are getting the paper goods but also consider what items you can make at home.

If you have children, have them make some decorations to kill two birds with one stone. They stay occupied and you have some fun decor.

Consider patriotic decorations for Memorial Day, Independence Day and Labor Day. Or go with a luau theme and decorate with pineapples, hibiscus flowers and tiki torches.

Entertainment

If you have a pool, most of the entertainment is taken care of for you. BUT for safety sake, designate one adult as pool watcher or consider hiring a lifeguard for the day if you will have children in attendance. Many high school and college students with lifeguard training are willing to do this at a reasonable rate so your guests can all enjoy the party without potential tragedy.

Otherwise, if it will be a hot day get some water balloons, sponges, and water squirters (encourage guests to bring their own) and place "refilling stations" (buckets of water) throughout the yard. Be sure to set up a "splash free" zone, for those that don't want to get wet.

While you are at the discount store grab some beach balls, string up a rope or net and have a beachball volleyball tournament. Make a giant twister board on the lawn with spray paint or on concrete with chalk. Ask guests to bring lawn games like croquet, bean bag toss, etc. Have soccer balls, footballs, etc. available for pick up games.

Summer entertaining doesn't have to cost a fortune. The important thing is to gather with family and friends and enjoy the season.