Average But Inspired

Inspiring creativity at home with crafts, DIY, and home decor projects.

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7 Tips for Hosting a Big Party on a Little Budget

If you’ve ever hosted a party then you know that a lot of work goes into it, and it can be stressful!  Part of the stress can be paying for the party – it is NOT cheap to host a party!  Last month my sister and I hosted my mom’s Kate Spade Inspired Birthday Party, and we did it on a major budget.  Despite the fact that we weren’t working with a lot of cash, we still managed to put together a beautiful evening.  And because of that, I thought I would share my seven best tips for hosting a big party on a little budget!  (And P.S. if you happen to be planning a milestone birthday party, make sure to also check out my post on 5 Tips for Hosting a Memorable Milestone Birthday Party!)These tips are great and will save you so much money if you're planning a big party anytime soon! Click through to find out how to plan effectively and throw a party that people won't know didn't cost a fortune to host!

After you’ve read these tips, be sure to let me know if you have any others to add!

Tips for Hosting a Big Party on a Little Budget

Some of the links included in this post are affiliate links.  To read my full disclosure policy, please click here.

Tip 1:  Save Money on Invitations

Invitations are clearly a necessity for any party.  In addition to notifying your guests of the pertinent details, they set the tone of the event right off the bat.  The good thing is that you don’t have to spend a fortune to make a good first impression!

Paper Invitations

If you are old school like me and enjoy sending printed invitations, check out Etsy for gorgeous, custom invitations that you can have printed at your local print shop.  I ordered the invitations for my mom’s party from this shop on Etsy and paid just $9 for a fully customized file!  I printed the invitations on cardstock at Kinko’s for around $15, and bought a 50-pack of envelopes at Michaels for around $3.  They were beautiful invitations and I didn’t have to spend a fortune on them!  Kate Spade Birthday Party-8411-fade

Of course the old standby evite is an option for e-mailing invitations, but there are some really beautiful electronic invitations with added bells and whistles that you can pay a small fee to send.  I personally LOVE Greenvelope for electronic invitations because their designs are gorgeous, the tracking and reminder features are SO helpful, and it is a flat fee to send out as many invitations as you want.  It’s a great way to send a pretty invitation via e-mail while saving some money.

Tip 2:  Get a Headcount

I don’t know what it is with people these days, but getting them to RSVP to anything is like mission impossible.  (That’s a rant I’ll save for another day though.)  Anyway, when you’re hosting a party and concerned about costs, it is SUPER important to know exactly how many people will be there (or darn near close to exactly how many).  Having a reliable headcount will help you not overbuy (or underbuy, for that matter), and consequently, may save you a lot of cash.

So if people aren’t responding to your invitation, don’t be afraid to reach out to them (probably by phone), and ask if they plan to attend (in a friendly way, of course)!

Tip 3:  Use a Food and Beverage Calculator

Once you have a close to accurate headcount of party guests, use a food and beverage calculator to figure out exactly how much food and drink you should have at your event.  This will save you so much money because you won’t be overbuying expensive food and especially alcohol!

I used this great reference from Chickabug in planning my mom’s party, and it was so helpful in helping me determine how much of each thing I needed to buy.

Tip 4:  Buy in Bulk

If ever there were a time to use that Sam’s Club or Costco membership, this is it.  I can assure you that from the research I did for my mom’s party, the prices on frozen and fresh appetizers, drinks (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic), snacks, and meat (if you’re cooking for a dinner party), are cheaper than if you buy at your local grocery store.

Plus, buying in bulk and at once place saves you time and energy; both things that you need a lot of when planning a party.

As part of my planning process, I went to Costco one day and snapped pictures of all of the things I thought I might want to buy for my mom’s party.  Then when I planned the menu I had exact prices and a good reminder of the foods and drinks that were available at Costco.  It made the actual purchasing trip so much easier and efficient!

Tip 5:  Stock the Bar with the Basics

If you’re serving alcohol at your party, I would recommend stocking the bar with the basics: beer, red wine and white wine.  Then, plan a specialty cocktail of the night to have premixed and available for those guests who prefer a hard alcohol beverage to beer or wine.  It will be a fun addition to the bar and allow you to forego purchasing many bottles of liquor that may or may not be consumed.

Photo courtesy of ProFlowers (www.proflowers.com)

Photo used with permission from ProFlowers (www.proflowers.com)

Tip 6:  Borrow What You Don’t Have (or Thrift It)

Instead of buying things for a party like serving platters or bowls, table linens, extra seating, or glassware, why not see if your friends and/or family will let you borrow some of theirs?  Chances are you’ll be able to round up enough of what you need without having to spend a cent.

And if you just can’t find someone to lend you something you need, check out your local thrift shop.  You might be surprised what you’ll find there at a bargain price!

Tip 7:  Search for Free Printables Online

There are TONS of free printable party decor packs available online.  If you run a search in Pinterest for a particular party theme, you are almost guaranteed to come across pins that will lead you to free printable decorations (like banners, cake toppers, party signs, etc.), or accessories (like photo booth props, water bottle labels, etc.)  I even have a good selection on my Pinterest Printables board.  Printing some of these at home or at the print shop is a quick and inexpensive way to add some fun decor to any party!

{BONUS} Tip 8:  Buy Party Supplies & Decor at the Right Places

Discount stores, like dollar stores, can be a great source for party essentials like paper products and decorations.  But be careful when purchasing because sometimes these products are not good quality.  Check out my post on The Best Party Supplies to Buy at Dollar Tree (and Which Ones to Skip) for my go-to party supplies from Dollar Tree and what I’ve found to be a waste of money.

Also, purchasing flowers and greenery at the grocery store adds a fresh touch to party decor and is very budget-friendly!  The 3 for $12 bunches of flowers from the grocery store flower shops are among my favorite party decorations.  I break them up into small arrangements and place them throughout the party.  Check out my post on How to Use Grocery Store Greenery to Create a Gorgeous Centerpiece for more inspiration!

And there you have it – my tips for hosting a big party on a little budget!  I hope these help you with your next big party.  Also, let me know if you have any other suggestions for ways to save cash while throwing a fabulous party!

-Bre

I Bet You’ll Like These Ideas, Too!

How to Get Your Bathroom Ready for Guests (With No Stress!)

5 Tips for Hosting a Memorable Milestone Birthday Party

The Best Party Supplies to Buy at Dollar Tree (And Which Ones to Skip!)

 

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A Pretty Phone Charger Station Makeover

Along with the rest of the world, one of my New Year’s resolutions (which will be broken in approximately 2.5 weeks), is to get organized and clear out the clutter!  I don’t particularly love organizing or decluttering, but I do love the way it makes me feel once it’s done.  And something that really gets me motivated to clean up a space is using pretty organizational tools as part of the process.

In order to clean up my kitchen counter space, I needed a solution for all of those phone charger and iPad cords that lie around all tangled up and in a mess.  But the el cheapo phone charger station that my husband bought in his bachelor days was not going to suffice.  Look at it with its faux cherry finish and DUSTY AS HECK velvet lining.  So gross.  Keep phones and other technology organized with a pretty phone charging station! Learn how to give an old or thrifted one a makeover with fabric and paint in this easy tutorial!
Since it was in perfectly good shape, I decided to give it a makeover instead. Now I have a pretty phone charger station that no longer looks like it belongs in a bachelor bad.  If you have something similar lying around, you can easily do the same!  You don’t have to settle for plain or ugly.Keep phones and other technology organized with a pretty phone charging station! Learn how to give an old or thrifted one a makeover with fabric and paint in this easy tutorial!

Supplies Used in This Phone Charger Station Makeover

Before I give you the supply list, let me just give a big thank you to DecoArt for providing the paint used in this project!  Also, some of these links are affiliate links.  You can read my full disclosure policy here.

Instructions for This Phone Charger Station Makeover

First up, I removed the old velvet fabric from the charger station’s trays.  Then I dusted off the entire thing, which was disgusting.  I then painted the entire charger station (except for the trays) with two coats of DecoArt Chalky Finish Paint in Serene.  Keep phones and other technology organized with a pretty phone charging station! Learn how to give an old or thrifted one a makeover with fabric and paint in this easy tutorial!
Once that dried, I dry brushed the charger station with a coat of DecoArt Chalky Finish Paint in Lace. Keep phones and other technology organized with a pretty phone charger station! Learn how to give an old or thrifted one a makeover with fabric and paint in this easy tutorial!
Next, I cut upholstery fabric to the size of the two trays. Then I put down a thin layer of DecoArt DecouPage onto the trays. Keep phones and other technology organized with a pretty phone charger station! Learn how to give an old or thrifted one a makeover with fabric and paint in this easy tutorial!
I pressed down my fabric and smoothed out the wrinkles. Once the DecouPage dried, I applied a thin, even layer over the fabric. Keep phones and other technology organized with a pretty phone charger station! Learn how to give an old or thrifted one a makeover with fabric and paint in this easy tutorial!
After that was dry, I sealed the painted surfaces of the phone charger station with matte varnish. I love this varnish because it has no odor, so it can be used indoors without passing out. Win! Keep phones and other technology organized with a pretty phone charger station! Learn how to give an old or thrifted one a makeover with fabric and paint in this easy tutorial!
Not gonna lie – my husband is not a fan of this phone charger makeover. He liked it better how it was before.   Keep phones and other technology organized with a pretty phone charger station! Learn how to give an old or thrifted one a makeover with fabric and paint in this easy tutorial!Judging from his taste, I would say that means this makeover is a success.  And hey, if it keeps our stuff neat and tidy, then it’s definitely a win!  I’m loving how this cabinet bank is clutter free (and cute)!Keep phones and other technology organized with a pretty phone charger station! Learn how to give an old or thrifted one a makeover with fabric and paint in this easy tutorial!
Do you have any old and ugly organizational items that you can beautify? It might help inspire you to get your stuff in shape! Keep phones and other technology organized with a pretty phone charging station! Learn how to give an old or thrifted one a makeover with fabric and paint in this easy tutorial!

-Bre

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Dollar Store-ganization: Binder Ring Organization Ideas

Welcome to Part 3 of my series, Dollar Store-ganization, where I share tips and tricks for getting organized with products from the dollar store.  The goal of this series is to show that you don’t have to spend a fortune to get your life (or stuff!), in order!  Binder rings are awesome little tools for organization and are so CHEAP! This post has great ideas on how to use them to organize everyday items.
Last month I shared ideas for getting organized with mesh laundry bags, and previously it was all about plastic bins.  This post is all about the mighty binder ring – the often overlooked but oh-so-valuable binder ring.  Seriously.  Binder rings are awesome little tools for organization and are so CHEAP! This post has great ideas on how to use them to organize everyday items.
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Dollar Store-ganization: Mesh Laundry Bag Organization Ideas

Hello and welcome to Part 2 of my new series, Dollar Store-ganization, where I share tips and tricks for getting organized with products from the dollar store.  The goal of this series is to show that you don’t have to spend a fortune to get your life in order!  In the Dollar Store-Ganization series, Average But Inspired shares tips and tricks for organizing your life, one dollar store product at a time!
Last month I showed you how I whipped my closets into shape with dollar store plastic bins, and this month I’ve got some great ideas on how to get organized with dollar store mesh laundry bags!  Mesh laundry bags from the dollar store are a GREAT organization tool! This post gives you lots of ideas on how to use them to get organized!
My dollar store currently has three packs of mesh laundry bags for $1. That’s incredible! A couple of summers ago they had different shapes and sizes of bags, so you never know what you’ll find.

I ADORE these bags for organizing because: (a) they’re cheap; (b) they’re washable if they get dirty (obviously); and (c) they’re see-through so you can easily see the contents within.

I’m sure there are about a million things you can use them for, but here are some of my favorite mesh laundry bag organization ideas!

Puzzle Storage

Keep puzzle pieces together and easily accessible in mesh laundry bags!  This system has been working for my family for years!  Mesh laundry bags from the dollar store are a GREAT organization tool! This post gives you lots of ideas on how to use them to get organized!

Winter Gear “Packets”

This is a new idea I’m going to test out this winter with my kids.  I plan to have them put their hats, mittens, scarves, etc. into a mesh laundry bag when they get home, and then put it in their designated drop zone area.  I hope this will keep their things together in one place, so that the next time they go to put them on they aren’t hunting for a missing glove or hat, and costing me precious time!  Mesh laundry bags from the dollar store are a GREAT organization tool! This post gives you lots of ideas on how to use them to get organized!

Bath Toy Storage

If mesh laundry bags aren’t PERFECT for bath toys, I don’t know what is!  Pop the bag on a 3M Command Hook in the tub and let the toys dry off in there when bath time is over.  If the bag starts to get slimy or gross, just toss it in the washing machine!  (And yes, real life – we have hideous yellow tile in my kids’ bathroom.)  Mesh laundry bags from the dollar store are a GREAT organization tool! This post gives you lots of ideas on how to use them to get organized!

Socks (or Unmentionables)

If your socks share drawer space with anything else, things can get out of hand pretty quickly.  Especially if it’s a small drawer.  Segregating them with a mesh bag is an easy way to keep things tidy! Mesh laundry bags from the dollar store are a GREAT organization tool! This post gives you lots of ideas on how to use them to get organized!

Food Packets

I don’t know about you, but I’m constantly “losing” food packets (like onion soup mix, Italian dressing mix, taco seasoning), in my pantry.  They fall down to a different shelf or something – I don’t know.  Putting them in their own special container helps mitigate this problem!  Mesh laundry bags from the dollar store are a GREAT organization tool! This post gives you lots of ideas on how to use them to get organized!

Purse Items

If you are like me, you carry 12 million things around in your purse.  Little pouches are great for corralling things like lipstick, mints, sunglasses, etc., but they’re not see-through!  Tiny mesh laundry bags are perfect for inside a dark purse because you can easily spot what’s in there and grab your necessities in a hurry!Mesh laundry bags from the dollar store are a GREAT organization tool! This post gives you lots of ideas on how to use them to get organized!

Reusable Food Container Lid Storage

When I’m trying to clean up the kitchen, there’s nothing I hate more than being unable to quickly find the lids to my reusable food containers.  Inevitably the lids are nowhere to be found, or are not with their proper containers, and I spend a ton of time trying to find them.  Keeping them in their own mesh laundry bags will keep them together and eliminate the “where is the lid?!?” problem!

Mesh laundry bags from the dollar store are a GREAT organization tool! This post gives you lots of ideas on how to use them to get organized!

I’m sure there are lots of other wonderful organization uses for mesh laundry bags.  If you can think of any, please tell me about them in the comments below!  I may update this post to include your idea – giving you credit, of course!

Thanks for stopping by and make sure to come back for future Dollar Store-ganization ideas!  And if you enjoyed this post, please “pin it” to help share these ideas!  Mesh laundry bags from the dollar store are a GREAT organization tool! This post gives you lots of ideas on how to use mesh laundry bags to get organized!

-Bre

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Dollar Store-ganization: Hall Closet Organization Ideas

Friends!

I am so excited to launch a new series on the blog today – Dollar Store-ganization. What is Dollar Store-ganization, you ask? Well, it’s lots of AWESOME ideas for organizing your home and life with products from the dollar store! The goal of this series is to show that there’s no need to break the bank to get your life in order, and each month I will give you a new organization idea to try!  This post has awesome ideas for organizing a hall closet with items from the dollar store! You don't have to spend a fortune to get your stuff in order!

Although this is the first post in this series, I am no stranger to using items from the dollar store to get organized. You may remember my Splatter Screen Earring Organizer, Chip Clip Organizer, and Spinning Art Supply Caddy – ALL created with dollar store items!

This month I’m tackling something a little bigger, though – the hall closet!  From the outside, this closet looked fine, but the inside was a WHOLE different story.  This post has awesome ideas for organizing a hall closet with items from the dollar store! You don't have to spend a fortune to get your stuff in order!

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Stenciled Chair Seats – A Thrifty and Fun Kitchen Chair Makeover

Thank you to Cutting Edge Stencils for providing the stencil used in this project and the prize to be awarded in the giveaway.  The project and opinions are all my own. One thing I love is giving a plain object new life and personality with a simple change.  Stenciling the seats of my beat up kitchen […]

Two-Tone Painted Dresser Makeover in Cypress Vine Green and Wood

Have you ever had a vision of how something would look in your home – and you were convinced it would be awesome?  That’s what happened to me when I purchased this antique tall dresser in a Facebook resale group recently.  I knew it would be gorgeous in my living room (to take the place […]

Chalk Painted Drop Leaf Table Makeover

Several weeks ago my kids and I were driving when I spotted a table in the alley behind our church.  Like the dedicated furniture hoarder that I am, I immediately threw the car into reverse and backed into the alley to check it out.  It was an old drop leaf table that hadn’t sold at […]