How to Hold an Inexpensive Halloween Party
Today’s post is from all the way across the pond, by Agnes Jimenez. Take it away, Agnes…
As days shorten and the weather becomes cool and windy, people are turning their thoughts toward holiday entertaining. For many families, the entrance into a busy season begins with a fun Halloween party. If you want to keep the screams and boos away from your checkbook this year, here are seven tips for holding a fantastic, yet inexpensive, Halloween party.
Shop Discount Stores
Get as much as you can for the party at dollar stores or discount Halloween warehouses. This can include decorations, costumes, dishes and some goodies. Dollar stores usually have great plastic party trays, bowls and cups for a dollar each. With a little creativity, you can use these items to provide ghoul-worthy décor for your entire home.
Make and Store Food Ahead of Time
Avoid a last-minute rush and hefty grocery prices by purchasing party ingredients on sale when you see them. You can make and freeze some foods for your party. For more information on properly storing a variety of foods, visit http://www.dailybread.com.
Replace Store-Bought with Homemade
Instead of expensive candies, make homemade cookies or dessert bars. You can also make some of your own decorations. A pack of black construction paper and a few templates can quickly transform your bathroom ceiling into a den for bats. You can cut out poster board jack-o-lanterns and lace them with glitter. Mount them in darkened corners and use small tea or night lights to provide a glow that will make the glitter come to life.
Make it BYOB
If the party is for adults, you can save big by asking guests to bring their own drinks. For additional fun, host a drink swap. Ask every guest to bring an extra of their favorite drink and have them all trade to try something new.
Make it Potluck
For a family affair, host a potluck style party to reduce your food budget. You can add to the fun by asking everyone to bring their favorite Halloween themed dish and having a contest. Choose several judges and enter dishes in categories like “desserts”, “chips and dip” and “veggies”. Have something fun, like a Halloween goblet full of chocolate coins, to give the winners. You can find prize items at dollar stores.
Make Decorations during the Party
If you are hosting a Halloween party for children, then skip decorations altogether and provide construction paper, scissors, glue and a few other craft items for guests. Ask them to create their own decorations for a contest. To really get the kids going, divide the house or room into sections and create teams. Have each team decorate a single room, wall or corner. Declare winners in categories like spookiest, most creative, most colorful, best use of paper, best ghost or best jack-o-lanterns. You can purchase prizes in a party store. Keep them simple and inexpensive so you can give an award to everyone.
Buy and Plan Early
For those who are good long-range planners, one of the best ways to save big on a Halloween party is to purchase decorations and supplies almost a year in advance. During the week after Halloween, you can purchase items at 50 to 90 percent off. Some things to look for include paper plates, cups, napkins, decorations and non-edible goodie bag items like plastic teeth, spiders, pens or erasers. Avoid buying candy, because it will be hard or spoiled by next year.
It is not hard to throw an inexpensive Halloween party. You just need to plan ahead, make due with things you already have, and be willing to put in a bit of time making homemade items. Think creatively and focus on having fun with your guests and any party will be a hit.
Agnes Jimenez is a professional blogger and writer. She writes for many online establishments and partners with those ones that offer alternative lifestyles to consumers. As a frugal living advocate, she recommends DailyBread.com for those budget conscious moms who want to get big savings in shopping for food and food storage. You may follow her in Twitter @empressofdrac.
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