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If you're throwing a party on limited funds, you may have to cut some things to cover all the basics. Skimp on things like decorations so that you splurge on things that people are more likely to remember, like party favors or entertainment. For example, if have a budget of $300 for the party, but the location costs $150, you might have to stick to just serving snacks instead of a full meal. That way, you can leave money for something fun, like t-shirts that everyone can decorate and take home as a memento. You might worry about the costs of decorating your home for a party, or having enough space for your guests. Don't panic: you have other options. For instance, you could host an afternoon get-together at a park. You could even have everyone meet at a restaurant to celebrate. Some restaurants have rooms you can reserve for private parties. Sometimes these can be expensive, but you could check anyway. You might find that the reservation fee is less than you would spend on preparing for party at home. These days, it's convenient for almost everyone to keep track of events online. Try using an e-invitation (evite) service to create and email free and fun invitations to your party in a snap. For an even easier method, post an invitation to your party on social media, and ask your friends to reply if they plan on coming. If you don't want to invite everyone on your friends list, just message the information about the party to certain people and ask them to reply if they want to come. If your party has a theme, or if you're trying to make the location look a little more exciting, you can still work with a budget. Look for everyday items that you can use to glam up your party. For instance: Arrange candles you have at home as a centerpiece instead of flowers. Use natural items for table-scapes. For instance, use pinecones in autumn, then spray paint them silver for the wintertime. Create a placemat from decorative paper for each guest. Blow up some balloons yourself. For instance, there's no need to go out and buy new cups and plates. Just mix and match what you have for some vintage charm. If you're having an informal party, it's also fine to just use paper dishes or plastic-ware. If you're hosting a big party, visit a bulk store to stock up on inexpensive plates, cups, etc. Dollar stores also usually have great bargains on these types of supplies. By using your digital music library or an online music streaming service, you can have a basically endless playlist, for free. To make things even more fun, you can ask guests to make playlists of their own before the party, and take turns listening to each other's music. If the party location isn't already set up to connect phones or other devices to a stereo for the party, look for an inexpensive digital docking station with speakers at any big box or electronics store. People are what make a party great, not the food, decorations, or anything else. Make sure to make all of your guests feel special. Greet them individually at the door, and make time to talk to all of them. Create seating arrangements where people can talk to each other, or leave plenty of open floor space for mingling.
Create a budget but splurge on something special. Get creative with the party location. Use evites or social media to create your guest list. Go with budget decorations. Use everyday place settings. Shop for supplies at warehouse, discount, or thrift stores. Be your own DJ. Focus on your guests above all.