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How to throw a graduation party on a budget
Graduation is a huge moment in a person’s life. That doesn’t mean you need to spend a fortune to throw a big party though. There are so many ways to save a lot of money when it comes to food, decorations, etc and still make it a memorable event. Let’s take a closer look at how to throw a graduation party on a budget.
Host the Party with Another Family
If your child has a cousin or best friend, and you’re friends with the child’s parents, get together to plan and host the party. This allows everyone to spread out the cost. You can create a list and each group of parents can be in charge of different things.
Go Direct
Get your gowns, caps and graduation essentials direct at CapandGownDirect.com. Back in my day, you would buy all the items you needed from a catalog that was supplied by the school. I remember even back them it was so expensive and everything was in packages. Most of the items were pointless and you never actually used them but since you wanted the best deal, you would go for the package that had the most for the money.
Now days, you can get what you need and only what you need for a great deal with Capandgowndirect.com. You can get the best price and in the school colors you need and have it simply shipped to your home for a fraction of the cost the schools will try and offer.
Stick to a Small Party
The party will more enjoyable for the guests if it’s a small group. Encourage your child to invite his closest friends and family but limit the guest list. You will never be able to stick to a budget if the guest list is out of control.
Skip the formal invites and announcements
Not only is this super time consuming but they charge an arm and a leg ….PLUS stamps. And to be honest, I will probably loose your kids announcement before I have a chance to respond. Today, it is perfectly acceptable to use facebook for invites and announcements. Traditional, no, but it keeps things free and organized! Everyone is one their phone, making it easy to update guests on any changes, and help you plan for how many quests will be coming.
Hit the Dollar Tree
The Dollar Tree is the absolute best place to find almost everything you need for a graduation party. You can find decorations, greeting cards, sunglasses, paper plates, cups, napkins, picture frames, small gifts, and so much more. It’s crazy how many things the Dollar Tree has available. Start here and see what you can find before shopping elsewhere.
Amazon is your friend!
Sometimes it’s not all about the actual money, but rather the value of your time and running around store to store to get it all. I swear, Amazon has some AMAZING options! If you are a prime member get free 2 day, or even 1 day shipping, (if you are not a prime member, get a FREE 30 day trial HERE).
For only $13.99, you can score this 27 piece graduation party supply pack or this ALL IN ONE party pack for only $69 and BOOM you would be done!!!!
Keep the Menu Simple
The menu doesn’t have to be extravagant. You can do hotdogs with a bunch of sides. You could do a bar of some sort, such as a taco bar or baked potato bar. Of course, you can’t go wrong with pizza. Pizza is not only loved by teenagers, but you can also find it really cheap. There are so many places that have pizza for around $5 each. It’s pretty hard to feed a large group for less than that. As for drinks, make pitchers of lemonade, tea, etc. to help you stick to your budget.
Use pictures, awards and accomplishments as decor
Set up a table with school photos, and early childhood art. If they are going to college, decorate with their acceptance letter and mascots. Showcase their likes and interests, if they were in sports, dance or the arts. Working with what you already have really cuts down on the cost and makes it entertaining for your guest to look through.
Host the Party at Home
Instead of renting a space, have the party at home. With the weather turning nice in most area, a nice backyard gathering will feel fun and casual. By choosing your home, you don’t have to worry about a cost. That’s more money that can be but toward the party or a graduation gift.
Have a thank you card station
Last year I went to a graduation party and they had the most genius set up. As you walked in the front door, you “signed in” by filling out your return address for thank you cards. So simple, now all they have to do is fill out the thank you and add a return label…… done!
You can throw a graduation party on a budget. Whether you choose to host the party with another family or host the party at home, you can greatly cut the costs. Remember to keep the menu simple, shop the Dollar Tree, and keep the guest list short.
