Throwing a holiday party without breaking the bank? We’ve got 7 surefire tips to help get you started and make sure that you still have a couple of dollars left for some last minute Christmas shopping.

Throwing a holiday party, whether it’s for officemates, friends, or family gives me all kinds of stress. Planning a holiday party can be a daunting task and take a toll on the wallet. There’s a guest list to think about, dishes to prepare, and don’t even get me started on the party decorations.  It’s easy to go overboard for all these things. It is  after all a time of generosity, a time where you give your loved ones the best that you can give. That includes throwing a holiday party and inviting only those near and dear to your heart.

Planning A Holiday Party On A Budget That Everyone Will Enjoy

But what if I told you that yes, it is possible to throw a holiday party on a budget? For starters, it’s all about planning everything out. Answer the 5 Ws first: who, what, when, where, and why, and then carry it out from there. List out the essentials you need and ask help from others, they might be able to contribute!

 Curious on my other tips? Check out it all out below!

1. Stick to a budget

One of the most important things in planning a holiday party is sticking to the budget. You can start by knowing the kind of party you want to have. Is it a brunch or dinner party? How many guests are you planning to invite? Are there things you can let them bring? Are there things you can recycle from last year’s parties? These are the kinds of questions that can help you identify the range of your budget.

2. Pick a theme

Themes can be as simple as a holiday color everyone can follow, or if you’re like me, you can stick to Christmas plants and anything covered in gold glitter — I’m a sucker for it, I swear. However, you can always experiment with other colors like pastels, silver, white, and even black if you manage to pull it all off!

Working around a theme helps make everything more cohesive and serves as a backbone for party ideas. Feeling festive and traditional? Make everyone bring their favorite Christmas dishes. Feeling kooky? Have everyone don a Christmas holiday outfit.

3. Make an FB event page

Almost everyone checks Facebook nowadays — it’s basically what we spend most of our time scrolling endlessly on.

This year, put your social media savviness to good use by setting up an event page for your next holiday party. You get to save money and paper on invitations and you even get an instant RSVP list by checking out the people who’ve clicked on the “attending” button.

4. Have a potluck

This is one of the oldest tricks in the book when it comes to throwing a holiday party budget style. Having guests bring a dish helps make sure there’s plenty of food on the table. After all, a party should never be low on food to stuff yourself on.

Bonus tip: Have a rundown of the things guests will be bringing to avoid any duplicates.

Another bonus tip: Thinking about what to make? We’ve got a Holiday Gingerbread recipe  just for you!

5. Make-Your-Own Food Stand

Interactive food areas make for some of the best perks of a holiday party. I love hot chocolate so I always put a little DIY stand of it as part of my dessert table.

Want to do the same? All you have to do is fill a big jar of cocoa powder, throw on a couple of syrups and garnishes here and there, and round it up with a nice little photo area for future Instagram posts.

6. BYOB

If your guests have their own favorites when it comes to drinks, have them bring their own bottle. That way, all you’ll have to prepare are a couple of mixed drinks. Fruit punch, anyone?

7. Decoration DIY

I’m a huge fan of DIY decorations because (1) they save me a lot of money and (2) they get me working on my crafty side.

Worried that your decorations won’t look as pretty as store bought ones? Relax! There are plenty of online DIYs to choose from. You’ll find loads of easy ones in no time!

Looking for more holiday party tips? Here’s a video from Millennial Moms!

Ladies, remember that you don’t have to spend too much when it comes to throwing a holiday party. A little perseverance and discipline go a long way. I’m certain that if you follow my 7 tips above, you’ll have a string of parties to plan very soon! Maybe you could even make a career out of it!

Want more ways to save this holiday season? Read this! 

Look fashion forward in your next party! Check this out!