How to Plan A Baby Shower On A Small Budget

Planning a baby shower can be fun, exciting, and stressful. It can also run into a lot of money if not planned properly. You want to throw a great baby shower, but have to do it on a tight budget. It can be done.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Make sure you plan you baby shower. You need to know how many people will be attending, when it will be, and a theme. The theme s very important, you do not want to purchase a lot of items that you will not be using for the shower. You will only purchase items that will go with your theme, not because the item is cute.

2. Remember that your invitations are important. I would not suggest paying for expensive printing. You can make great printable invitation online. Just use free clip art to decorate you invitations to your preference. There are also more people using evites. Evites are very acceptable, and free.

3. Have the party at someones home. Whether it is yours, or someone else's. You should not have to pay for a location. When you are at a home, you also have the convenience of a kitchen.

4. Buy bulk items for party favors. You can purchase basic items in bulk, and make small favors for your guests. Doing this, you can also make the gifts more personal. I like using cheap baby bottles, and put candies or other items inside. You can then decorate with ribbons or stickers.

5. Shop at your local dollar stores for the best prices on favors, decorations, and snacks. You may also shop at discount retailers, or even a thrift store. All of these places have items that you may use for your baby shower, at low prices.

6. Reduce your food costs. You can reduce this cost in many ways. You should not buy store made platters, be creative and make these yourself. Buy bulk foods and low priced plastic platters, then put a few things on the platters in a creative way. You can decorate these with small baby items, to make it fit the theme.

7. Ask people that will be attending if they would like to contribute anything. Most will be thrilled to give a little to the baby shower. Be sure to get a list of items your guests will be bringing, so you will not have duplicate items.

8. Accept offers from friends and family for any assistance. Some guests would be happy to help with decorations, cake, favors, and more. If they ask, accept. If they don't offer, ask. It will save you a lot of money, and even more time.

9. Keep your drinks simple. Serve tea, lemonade, or liter sodas. These items are lower in price, and you will be able to use what is not consumed at the party. To add a baby shower theme, use baby bottles, or sippy cups to serve the drinks.

10. Decorate with crape paper, and balloons. Balloons are much less expensive than flowers. Use gifts as center pieces to the table. Everyone will bring nicely packaged gifts, and this is a great way to display them. You can also use scraps of paper to wrap small empty boxes and use them to decorate around your home.
    
    Baby showers can be fun, and less expensive than you think. Shop around, make items yourself, and accept help from others. Buy your products in bulk to use. Make other items that can be used after the party. Relax and enjoy the baby shower, you have put a lot of work into it.

[ssweeks6]

on 9/14/2009 Are you expecting or just planning for one in the near future?
Great ideas