How to Plan an Office Party on a Budget

Having an office party is a great way to reward and thank employees for work well done. Learning how to plan an office party on a budget will save you and your company time and money.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Food and drinks
• Party games
• Music
• CD player

Select a Venue

1. Hold your office party at the office to save money on renting a room. Ask permission to use a conference room, or clear space in the office itself for partiers. Use festive decorations to transform these business spaces into party places.
2. Take the team out to a favorite local restaurant. For small offices, a large table will often suffice, but if you have a large group or are planning games and entertainment, you'll probably want to rent a party room. The restaurant need not be expensive as long as it is comfortable and the food is good.
3. Have the party in a banquet hall, and get the food, drinks and venue all in one package. Weeknights are generally less expensive to rent than weekends, and you'll find the best deal for your budget by calling a variety of locations.

Choose Food and Drinks

4. Save money on your menu by choosing inexpensive menu items, like chicken and pasta. Catering from a local supermarket is also an economical choice if you are bringing the food in yourself.
5. Lower your food budget by hosting a luncheon instead of a dinner, since lunch plates are less expensive. Or plan on serving only appetizers and hors d'oeuvres instead of a meal. If you are serving dinner, buffets generally are cheaper than plated meals.
6. Skip the cocktails and serve only beer and wine, and you'll save on the cost of a professional bartender as well as the liquor itself. Also make sure to provide non-alcoholic drink choices for those who are driving, underage, or just prefer to abstain.

Plan Entertainment

7. Liven up your office party with music and dancing. A DJ or band is great if you can find an inexpensive option. If not, rent a decent sound system with a CD player, and designate one of the employees as the unofficial DJ for the night. Use your own CDs or have guests bring their favorites.
8. Play some fun party games, which are great for breaking the ice and getting to know coworkers. Games can be trivia-based, association games, scavenger hunts or anything you think the guests would enjoy. Plan creatively, and you can keep guests entertained without spending a lot of money.

Tips & Warnings

• Always take safety into consideration when planning an office party.
• Remove office equipment that could be hazardous or cause accidents, and make sure to designate drivers or have a taxi company's number for guests who have been drinking.

Who Can Help:

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