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Graduation is a wonderful time to get everyone together and celebrate the years of hard work that has led to the achievement of receiving a certificate of accomplishment.

While it is fun and exciting to be apart of the celebration, it can also be costly to put together.

With the graduation season approaching, I have included some tips on how to cut the budget and still throw a great graduation party.

Create The Invitations

Having invitations printed professionally can cost a little bit of money.

To help keep some of those extra dollars in your pocket, you can create the invitations yourself by using free templates online and printing them out.

If you have many of the guest’s email or they are friends on social media, you can post your event and have them RSVP online for free.

One of the best ways I’ve found to make invitations is to use normal 8.5″x11″ cardstock, design the card for half a page so you’ll get two invites from one page. Then these half-page invites fit perfectly into an invitation envelope. You can find both the cardstock and the social envelopes at your local Walmart or even online!

Host At Home

Don’t spend the money renting out a room in a restaurant or clubhouse.

Instead, host the graduation party at home.

If you need help setting things up and cleaning after the party, then ask for volunteers. You would be surprised how quickly things can get done when there are a few extra hands.

Borrow outdoor tables and chairs from friends and family to make sure you have enough seating for guests.

Invite Close Friends And Family

Instead of inviting the whole class to the graduation party, have a smaller, meaningful, celebration with family and a few close friends.

You will not only save money on the party expense, but it will create a close-knit environment.

Plus, who doesn’t know your graduate the best! And they will be able to tell those funny and embarrassing stories too!

Have A Potluck

Instead of spending a lot of money on catering or having to spend hours cooking food to feed everyone, invite family and friends to bring a dish.

Make sure you communicate who will be providing beverages, chips, sides, and the main course.

Our family’s go-to potluck is lasagna, salad, and garlic bread. Easy and it feeds a ton of people!

Partner With A Friend

Mostly everyone in the graduation class will have a celebration the same weekend of graduation.

Instead of hosting a party and then bouncing from one friend’s celebration to another, discuss having a joint party.

If you have a close group of friends, you may choose to split the cost and have one big celebration.

If you decide to do this, then make sure everyone contributes an idea so that they feel it is their celebration as well.

Provide A Photo Booth

Create your photo booth area for guests to take pictures with the new graduate.

Include some cheap props like goofy hats or glasses to make it a fun experience. Check your local dollar store for some great deals!

This can be a great way to help guests create wonderful memories that everyone can enjoy looking back at in the future.

You can create a special hashtag and have everyone share their photos.

Bake The Cake Or Cupcakes

Getting a cake professionally made at a bakery could cost between $50 to easily over $100.

You can check out cakes or cupcakes at your nearby grocery store like Walmart or Publix which will save you money but to save even more you might want to make the cake or cupcakes yourself.

If you feel like you are not creative, enough or don’t know how to bake then ask a close friend that loves baking to see if they would be willing to take on the task.

Did you know you can freeze buttercream frosted cupcakes for up to three months? You can!

If you know you are going to be busy around the time of the party, you can make the cupcakes, frost and freeze them in advance. This will give you plenty of time to decorate and enjoy the party! Check out more details about freezing cupcakes!

Use A Pitcher

Instead of buying many cans of soda, use a pitcher and plastic cups to serve drinks.

Provide a permanent marker for guests to write their name on their cup to help save the number of cups used.

You can even purchase these drink dispensers. They are great for parties!

By following this tip, you will prevent guests from losing their cup and wasting beverages and creating a lot of trash with used cans.

Skip The Graduation Decorations

Instead of purchasing the expensive decorations that say, Class Of 2018, decorate with solid school colors.

You can save a lot of money by shopping around and buying tablecloths, napkins, plastic utensils, cups, streamers, and balloons at your local dollar stores.

Save the more significant expense for gifts and other essentials.

Pinterest has some great ideas to decorate for graduation parties!

You Don’t Need A DJ

You can easily play music using your cell phone and some speakers.

Decide on what music you would like to play and create your playlist or save time and select an already established playlist on YouTube.

You probably won’t have to worry too much because there will more than likely be people recommending songs during the celebration.

Congratulations on achieving this stepping stone in life.

I hope these tips and suggestions will help you as you plan the upcoming graduation party.

It can be stressful trying to figure out all the details to planning a party but don’t forget to have fun and enjoy yourself at the celebration.

 

YOUR TURN: What was the best money saver you used at your last party? Let me know in the comments below!

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