Thread: Party on a very tight budget

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Things are very tight financially around my house this year. I'm only working part-time now and trying to focus on getting a photography business going. I'm debating on whether I should even have a party this year, considering that I hardly have any cash to spare!

Any of you guys done a great party (and a great costume for that matter) on a really tight budget??? I'm talking about less than $200......

I just bought materials for a bride of Frankenstein prop recently. A costume for a person wouldn't be much different. Cheap muslin-type fabric with a square hole sewed and hemmed in the middle (or use stich-witch fabric tape) for the dress. Cheescloth (comes by the yard) wrapped up the arms, red lipstick, drawn on neck stitching, and a black/white wig.

Absolutely you can! That is, if you have a few things already in place.

Do you already have decorations? Your guests won't mind that they're recycled from previous years if you have some "new" focal point. Last year I couldn't afford a big new prop so I found a bunch of items for a Cabinet of Curiosities and introduced a new game that everyone loved (the balloon popping version of Tempt Your Fate).

Ask your friends to help you with party food. There are always a few people at least that are willing to bring a dish or two. I put "finger foods will be available on a first-come-first served basis" in the invites and have always had enough to satisfy everyone. I also do BYOB aside from an alcoholic punch. No one has ever complained and it allows me to keep costs waaaaaay down.

As for costumes, if you have a varied closet (or costume box!) you probably have a lot of pieces that can be recycled/upcycled to work for SOMETHING. Check out my post from last year - Awesome "last minute" costumes from my party

That costume post was too funny, Rikki! I loved it!

For a costume, I think I might go w/ a vampire type thing...something simple and traditional.

It's hard for me to get too excited about H-ween this year when I'm so broke!!

I guess it just means I'll have to be a little more creative and inventive. I definitely have decorations I can re-use, I do that every year, but I usually have a "theme" so not everything fits within that. I'll come up w/ something, I'm sure.

I like the idea of asking people to bring an appetizer. I never liked doing that before, but this year I'll have to. And you're right, most people don't mind. Maybe I can give them some ideas, so they don't really have to think about it too much.

And as far as alcohol, some people bring their own anyway, since some have a preference.

Ok, so I'm starting to feel a little better about this!.....

I think you can definitely do an awesome party on 200, especially if you do BYOB and have a few people bring food.

What types of props and decorations do you have to work with?? Maybe we can help you think of a cool theme that will tie all of those things in, and give you ideas for some cheap things to add to the effect.

Also, I think you do this already, but go to a lot more yard sales. There are some great finds out there, for both props/decorations and costumes. I actually just got a really great witch/vampire cloak for $1.50.

Should be very easy to do a great party on 200. I would absolutely just ask everyone to commit to bringing food to help out. You can simple food items for the party that make alot and doesn't cost too much. Sloppy joes, cupcakes, punch to drink, doritos and chips and such. The point is the fun of having the party and i think most everyone would be glad to help out. I had this exact problem just last year, and i had a ton of help with the annual party and we all had a great time.

Invite the people to bring a dish or their posions to share. re-use your props again and just have fun. My sister and I re-use our props and we do them up different every year. We also ask to bring a dish or two to make it less costly for our self and less stressful as well. Do you do games? Dollar tree works wonders unless you are into making halloween craft or soemthing.

You're right, Dollar Tree does have some good finds that can be used w/ props and decor.

As far as the decorations I have...I've got lots of stuff...skellies, webs, spiders, crows, tombstones, lots of "creepy" cloth, black drapes, candles, pumpkins, bats, rats, snakes, old skool cut-outs, you name it!

For the food & drinks, I suppose I've always been a control freak and want to do everything myself. But this year, if we want to do this, things will have to be different!

RS, I have the same issue! I do all themed foods and it irks me when people bring things that aren't. But I'm always pulling my hair out come party day so anything that I didn't have to add to my already heavy workload is appreciated. I just take a deep breath and try not to look at the food table too often!

Originally Posted by Rikki

RS, I have the same issue! I do all themed foods and it irks me when people bring things that aren't. But I'm always pulling my hair out come party day so anything that I didn't have to add to my already heavy workload is appreciated. I just take a deep breath and try not to look at the food table too often!

Too funny, Rikki!! I'm totally the same way. I feel my heart start to palpitate when someone would come in w/ food in a bright yellow tupperware container and place it right in the middle of my Halloween spread....oh, The Horror!!!!