Hosting a Fun (And Frugal!) Summer Party 

In order to produce the podcast and keep content up free for you, I work with partners so this post may contain affiliate links. Please read my full disclosure for more info.

How it ramp up to summer so quickly?! This week we've been battling 100 degree with humidity  – not fun. Hopefully, it'll cool down in the next couple of weeks.

We'll be heading up to my husband's family reunion. They do it pretty much every year and it's a lot of fun. It's great to catch up with relatives, spend time together, without paying much.

Since I also have some of my family in the area, it'll be a busy, but sweet long weekend.

While we don't have a big yard, we're still planning on having family over this summer to come for a little party. With that in mind, I wanted to share some ways you can throw an awesome summer party without blowing your budget.

Grab the Essentials on the Cheap

No matter what kind of party you're having, I'm going to say that getting your food right is one of the most important elements of planning.

Having lots of people coming over (like a mini-family reunion)? You may save a chunk of money by buying in bulk. Warehouse clubs like Coscto can provide high quality food at a competitive price.

If you love having people over, but don't like constantly making grocery trips just for a party, here's a list of pantry essentials that can give you plenty of options for those last minute get togethers. Those who like to serve some alcohol  cocktails may appreciate this handy chart on cocktails.

You can also cut down on stress by preparing a few dishes ahead of time. It'll allow you to have more time relaxing with your friends and family.

Decorate on a Budget

I will tell you right now, it's easy for me to come up with food for a party, but I have a hard time coming up with a theme or decor for it.

When I need ideas I turn to Pinterest. People share so many ideas and most of them will also show you how they did it.

Now that you have an idea of what you're going for, it's time to pick up the decor. Stores like Party City can have some wonderful stuff, but it can get pricey.

Don't laugh, but your local dollar store can be a great store to snatch somethings for your party. You might not be able to get everything on your list, but the money you save on those basics can be redistributed to other parts of your party budget.

Enlist Your Guests

No, I'm not suggesting you have your guests do all of the work. (Come on, there's a difference with being frugal and being cheap.)

I'm saying that when someone asks if they can bring anything, have a list ready so you can give them a small task.  Things like a bag of ice or a two litter aren't expensive, but they can be a huge helpful for you (especially when it comes to time).

If you don't want guests to spend a time, ask them to bring in their favorite game or a deck of cards. Playing a game together can be a wonderful way to pass the time as you work that grilling the main entree.

Thoughts on Summer Get Togethers

There you have it – some of my favorite tips on summer parties. I'd love to hear from you and get your thoughts. How many of you are either hosting a get together or going to one this summer?