So you’ve already sent out invites the to your friends, family members, and co-workers. Now you’re at the point where you’re wondering: “How am I going to pull this off on a budget?”. myMoneyPower is all about saving and generating money, and it is designed to be as light as possible on your checkbook. Here are some ideas and resources to help you host a myMoneyPower Party and save even more money in the process.

Here’s a short checklist:

Atmosphere: It is always a good idea to create a pleasant setting for your guests. It will make them feel welcomed, comfortable, and relaxed. This will allow them to experience a myMoneyPower party in the proper setting, a fun one! The first step is to make sure you clean and tidy up your house. This act of hospitality will go a long way to impress your guests. You can use homemade cleaners from vinegar, baking soda, and water to avoid purchasing unnecessarily expensive cleaners. The second stop is to have enough seating to accommodate all your guests comfortably. Preferably in the same area so that you can keep every guest feeling included. If you don’t have enough seating, ask your guests if they don’t mind bringing a chair or two. If you are still short chairs, you should be able to rent some for less than a dollar each a day. Music is also always a good mood setter; just make sure that the music doesn’t drown-out the chit-chat between your guests. Make your CD/playlist selection available to your guest so that there is opportunity for your guest to play their “favorite song.” As always, the radio is always a good option if you don’t feel like being a DJ. This includes internet radio, Pandora is easily one of the best free online music options out there. Another great idea, light a couple of candles that have a pleasant scent. However, you don’t want to get carried away with lighting too many….it’s not Valentine’s Day.

Decorations: Adding a little decoration here and there is great, but it is not a necessary to fill your whole house with streamers and balloons. For a myMoneyPower party, I would leave it simple and concentrate more on a center piece or two. I love making my very own flower centerpieces. They can be very inexpensive if you just use your resources around you and get creative! Try incorporating your natural surroundings or seasonal elements. Take a stroll down your block and pick some wild flowers, greenery, and even berries. If you don’t have time or any flowers around you, then there are plenty of beautiful and cheap flowers at your local super market. The dollar store is always a great option for party supplies. They have a bunch of fun little knick-knacks to place around your home. Decorating is all about the overall presentation and if you have cleaned your home that’s more than half of it, so there is no need to fret about crazy decorations. If you have a co-host this would be a great time to collaborate!

Party Snacks: Finger foods and drinks are always a good idea to impress your guests. Cheese and crackers are always a hit and I strongly suggest it. It’s quick, easy, and depending on which cheese you buy, it should be fairly cheap! Slice the cheese into semi-thin pieces and lay the cheese and crackers out on a good sized serving plate along with some fruits such as grapes, strawberries, or kiwi. Finger sandwiches are another idea, just get a loaf of bread and make a few different sandwiches to account for the different tastes of your guest. Cut the sandwiches diagonally to make little triangle shaped bites. An easy dessert is to make a batch of cookies for the guests to enjoy. Oh what fun! For drinks, I would have a nice variety to suit the guests’ taste. Water, kool-Aid, soda, sweet tea, beer, and wine are among the popular favorites.

Icebreakers: It’s always a good idea to play a couple of fun games to keep your guest entertained, especially when the guests may not know each other that well. Establishing a social setting and breaking the ice will ensure your party gets off to a great start. Charades is always a fun game to play, but make sure that each person has a partner! Playing cards is a great way to entertain as well. I’m not really up on games but there is a great website with a bunch of fun icebreaker games for everyone to enjoy: http://www.divinedinnerparty.com/icebreaker-games-for-small-groups.html

Another site I find to be useful is Evite® @ www.evite.com. They have plenty of ideas to help get you started. Anything from invitations and party snacks to party supplies! I highly recommend this site!

Photo Credit: Orphanjones

Do you have any ideas for a frugal party?

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Over the years of throwing parties, I have found that my Pico de Gallo recipe is liked by everyone and best of all it is quick, easy, and cheap. It serves 6-8 people.

8 firm roma tomatoes cored, seeded, and coarsely chopped

½ white onion, coarsely chopped

½ red onion, coarsely chopped

½ jalapeno, finely chopped

4 cloves of garlic, finely chopped

1 lime, juiced

Handful of cilantro

Salt and Pepper

Mix ingredients together and season to taste with the salt and pepper.  Let it sit in the refrigerator for 15-20 minutes before serving to let the juices marinate.

Serve with tortilla chips.

Photo Credit: fancycwabs

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