Here are a few low cost Halloween party planning tips:

• Decorate with nature. Look around you, Mother nature has decorated herself for fall. Take advantage of her free decorations. Use plenty of free (and low cost) decorations from Mother Nature. Grab some fall leaves, pumpkins, gourds, ask your neighbor if you can borrow a couple bales of straw, or some corn stalks.
• Make it a pot luck party. Have all your guests bring their favorite ghoulish Halloween treat or dish. Tell them to bring a couple copies of the recipe to share.
• Make it a pumpkin party, and have everyone bring a pumpkin and their favorite carving tools for a pumpkin carving competition.
• Invite everyone over for a Halloween bonfire, roast some hot dogs, and make some s’mores.
• Make your own apple decorations.
• Use some free printable Halloween games and activities for the kids.
• Think about what you can “borrow” for the party from a friend or neighbor or ask them to collaborate with you on the party.

If you have more low, or no cost Halloween party planning tips I’d love to hear them.

Image istockphoto.com

Post from: She Knows Parties

Over the summer my family and I planned a retirement party for my mother. While planning the party the subject came up over whether or not to have favors. The truth is, we like favors but we were on a limited budget so we needed to find something not so outlandish. We solved this by taking marigold seeds harvested from my heirloom marigolds and planting them in decorative pots and tea cups – items we had in the house. We also had door prizes and giveaways of nice items we had in our own homes but would never use, for instance candles and vases.

I’m such a big fan of things you can make yourself, and wedding or party favors have so many possibilities. You can still give elegant favors without breaking the bank. Behold:

10 Party Favors You Can Make Yourself

1. Potted plants: I harvest marigold seeds every year, but you can buy any kinds of seeds any they aren’t expensive. Purchase small pots, tea cups or other receptacles from the party or dollar store and plant the seeds. Of course you’ll have to do this in advance, but it’s a cute gift. Spray paint the pots colors matching your theme or choose something decorative. This favor will last the whole summer as your guests can replant them.
2. Cookies - Make and decorate your own cookies. Look for cookie cutters matching your theme. For instance, if your planning a graduation party, look for a cookie cutter shaped like a mortarboard.
3. Kisses - Buy some tulle bags, decorative ribbon and bags of Hershey’s Kisses.  Put several Kisses in each bag. Your guests will love the sweet treat.
4. Pine cone ornaments  – If your party is during the winter try making pine cone ornaments. Collect as many pine cones as you need and put in a foil pan. Bake in a very low heated oven, about 200 degrees, to get the bugs out. When they’re ready, spray paint your parties colors, silver, gold, or spray snow. Tie a ribbon to the stem for hanging.
5. Lollipop bouquets – Give your guests lollipop bouquets tied with a decorative ribbon.
6. Gourmet coffee, tea or hot chocolate – Measure coffee, Tea or hot chocolate into decorative bags and tie with a ribbon.
7. CD’s - Burn a CD featuring your favorite music, or music being played at the party and give one to each guest.
8. Coasters – Buy some inexpensive ceramic tiles at the home improvement center and paints. Make a hand painted coaster for all your guests.
9. Potpourri Sachets – Fill decorative bags with potpourri.
10. Seeds - Give your guests decorative bags or envelopes filled with seeds.

As you can see, you’re only limited by your imagination. Craft stores, dollar stores and party stores will provide you with lots of inspiration

Image: Morguefile

Post from: She Knows Parties

We have solved this problem in our household in many ways. Here are some frugal kid birthday party planning ideas that I have used personally:

• Have your child choose between a big party or big present. – This is one thing we have done with our kids now that they are getting older. If they want to throw a big birthday bash where they can invite as many friends as they want, then the birthday budget goes toward the party. If there is a big present they cost quite a bit of money that they have been dying for, then they can invite a couple of friends over for a sleepover and then we can buy them the big present. So far this has worked out great and our kids actually like getting to choose.


More frugal party planning tips below the cut.


• Put a limit on the amount of kids they can invite. - Almost all places that will host your birthday party, will have a price per child attached to it. Decide how much you want to spend, and then tell your child he/she can invite 10 kids. You will probably have to mail out the invitations to the kids they have handpicked, since most schools have the “invite the whole class or no one” rule.
• If you decide to throw the party in your home, add up everything! - I used to be under the impression that they only way to throw a frugal party was to have it in my own home. Well, this isn’t always the case. When you throw a party in your own home, it can be easy to go overboard on the food, drink, decorations, games, party favors, presents, etc. In order to solve this problem, be diligent about adding up what you want to buy and then compare it to having the party somewhere else. Sometimes it’s about the same and sometimes when you add the stress of hosting the party yourself, that far out-weighs the price.
• If you have the party somewhere other than your home, ask if you can brink your own cake , food and drink. – Some places will let you bring in your own cake, food and drink and some won’t. Also, sometimes it is cheaper to have them provide everything and sometimes it’s not. If you want to throw a frugal party it will take some research on your part.
• Be creative when deciding where to have the party. - You don’t have to throw a party at your own home or even one of those party places where everyone else has them. Think of some other places around town that may be original or even more fun. Maybe you could have it at the park (check your park rules first) or you have a friend who has a pool would let you celebrate at their house.

Throwing a frugal birthday party that won’t break the bank can be a lot of fun and so can the party. Frugal does not equal boring! Just be sure and start planning the party way in advance so that you can do the necessary research. Have fun with this and even turn it into a competition – see if you can beat your budget from the year before while still making the party one everyone will be talking about!

Do you have some frugal kid birthday party tips? If so, then send them in and share with the rest of us!

Picture Source: Elmo Face Cake Pan

Post from: She Knows Parties