How to Throw a Party on a Budget
A brilliant party is about the atmosphere, not the price tag. With a plan and a little patience for the sales, you can throw something everyone remembers and still keep well within budget. Here is how to work out what to spend where, so the money lands on the bits guests actually notice.
Partyrama has packed over 3 million orders, and the same tricks come up again and again: buy the everyday bits cheap, spend on one or two hero touches, and let the clearance shelf do the heavy lifting.
Set a budget and split it
Before you buy a single thing, decide a total and break it down. A simple split that works for most home parties:
- Food and drink: about 40% of the budget. This is what people remember most.
- Tableware and party bags: around 20%. Plates, cups, napkins and take-home bags for the kids.
- Decorations: around 25%. Balloons, banners and one feature backdrop.
- Extras and games: the last 15%. A piñata, a few prizes, candles for the cake.
Write it down and total as you shop. It is far easier to trade one thing for another when you can see the whole picture.
Where to save and where to splurge
Guests notice the cake, the backdrop behind it and whatever the birthday child holds up for photos. They do not notice whether the napkins were 99p or £3. So keep the everyday items plain and cheap, then put a little money into one or two hero pieces:
- Save on plain tableware, standard latex balloons, party bag fillers and disposable cups.
- Splurge on one feature: a giant number balloon, a scene-setter backdrop, or a really good cake.
Let the clearance shelf do the work
The single biggest saving is timing. Buy evergreen bits (plain plates, balloons, candles, bag fillers) from clearance whenever you spot them, not the week of the party when you pay full price under pressure. Group your order too: free UK mainland delivery kicks in over £40, so one bigger shop beats three small ones with postage on each.
Frequently asked questions
What is a realistic budget for a kids party?
It depends on how many guests you have and what you include. Buying tableware and fillers from the sale can bring the cost down a fair bit.
How do I cut costs without it looking cheap?
Stick to one tight colour scheme so plain, inexpensive items look coordinated rather than random, and put your saving into a single standout piece. A coherent look always reads as more effort than it cost.
Is it worth buying in bulk?
For non-perishables, yes. Plates, cups and candles keep for years and latex balloons for about a year if stored cool and dark, so buying a value pack or a clearance multipack now saves you paying full price next time.
Start with the Party Supplies Sale, then stock up on plain colour party supplies, balloons and party bag fillers.