| Budget-Friendly New Year's Parties By: Shannon Southerland It’s 2010, and that’s something worth celebrating. Whether you want to throw a big bash or have a few friends over for a relaxed evening, you can party through- out the month. AMG has your budget- friendly party-planning guide, complete with themes, invitations, and decorations. So ring in the New Year in style! The first step in your preparation is to choose a theme. Casino Night is great for a large group because you can step up tables for blackjack and poker, and then gamble with board game money or pieces of candy. Bingo is another option for a group, and you can offer inexpensive prizes for the winners. If you want more of a spicy theme to your party you can have a Fiesta! Spice up your evening with some quick and tasty Mexican food, such as chips and salsa, quesadillas, and Mexican pizza. A fiesta is not complete without a piñata. Everyone will want a chance to take part in this activity, and you can fill it with beads, candy, even fake jewelry. This is a theme that has a lot of options and the more creative you get the more fun your guests will have. A sure-fire hit for any crowd is a Costume Party. Everyone loves the chance to dress up, and this really allows your guests to get creative with their costumes. You can even ask your guests to follow a specific theme, such as 80s rock or superheroes and give out prizes for best costume. This might sound extravagant, but you can stick to a budget. A great way to save some money is by simplifying the invites. One option is to send out e-vites, e-mail invitations that allow you to type out all your information in one message and send it to several people at once. If you prefer to get personal and send out paper invites, http://www. hooverwebdesign.com/free-printable-invitations.html allows you to print out free New Year’s invitations. Another great way to save money is to buy all your supplies from one place, since some stores offer discounts depending on how much you spend with them. A great site to use is http://www.party411. com/millennium.html. They have a huge list of theme ideas and for every theme listed they have a link for all the supplies you could need, from decorations to place settings. They allow you to do all your shopping in one place from the convenience of your home. If you are unable to find exactly what you’re looking for, contact the site’s Party Concierge and they will find it for you. New Years is a great time to celebrate, and throwing a party with your friends can be a lot of fun. With these tips and ideas you will be able to host a great party and save yourself some money. Mexican food recipe sites: http://mexicanfood.about.com/od/mexicantwists/r/mexicanpizza.htm http://mexicanfood.about. com/od/quickmexicanrecipes/r/QuickQuesadilla.htm http://mexicanfood.about.com/od/supersalsas/r/BasicSalsa.htm |
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