Sunday, December 20, 2009

Keeping Your Halloween Party Budget Friendly

Halloween parties can be fun for all ages, but they can also become
expensive quickly if you do not have a budget in mind. And while
everyone wants to invite all of their friends, the more people, the more
money the party costs. After all, you have to figure in the decorations,
entertainment, food, and costumes. However, with the right planning you
can create the perfect Halloween party on any budget.

Halloween parties can be fun for all ages, but they can also become
expensive quickly if you do not have a budget in mind. And while
everyone wants to invite all of their friends, the more people, the more
money the party costs. After all, you have to figure in the decorations,
entertainment, food, and costumes. However, with the right planning you
can create the perfect Halloween party on any budget.

Make it a potluck

Potlucks are a great idea for any party. For starters, you do not have
the work and expense of creating multiple dishes yourself. You also get
the advantage of trying new and different recipes. It is often easiest
to make the main dish yourself, and assign dishes to different party
goers (for instance, asking one family to bring a side dish, another
dessert, another salad, etc.). You can also make your Halloween party
snacks or desserts only.

Plan ahead and shop on sale

If you host an annual Halloween party, paper supplies and decorations
can often be bought cheaply in November for the following year. If this
is your first year hosting a Halloween party, start buying as soon as
Halloween merchandise starts hitting the shelves so that you can take
advantage of the lower prices and better selection.

Look for items that can be used more than once

If you can get two uses out of one item, you have saved money right
there. Pumpkins that are painted or left natural (no carving) can be
used to make baked goods after the guests have gone home. Fall
decorations can work just as well in November as in October, provided
that there is nothing specifically Halloween about them. Also look for
Halloween decorations that can be reused from one year to the next. That
way, if you do invest much money this year, you won't have to next year.

Small and intimate beats large and loud

While a large party involving the entire neighborhood may sound like
fun, the amount of money that it will cost, let alone the amount of room
that you will need, can make this a bit prohibitive. Consider making the
party for adults only, or limit to only the families that you are
closest with.

Shop at warehouse stores

Buying in bulk is often less expensive, especially when you need to buy
a large amount of items. Candy, paper goods, and treats for the goodie
bags can often be found for less than you would pay at the department
stores.

Chances are, if you spend more money on your Halloween party than you
were intending, it is only going to stress you out. So by shopping smart
and planning ahead, you can have just as much fun without the stress.

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