Throw a Howling Halloween Bash Without Crying Over the Expenses

Here are some cost cutting ways you can throw a fabulous and fun Halloween party without crying when your credit card bill comes in the mail.

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1. Evite ghosts, ghouls and goblins. While physical invitations can be darling, they can also be expensive. It's not just the expense of the invitation itself either. You also have to consider postage, which seems to increase at the blink of an eye. There are plenty of online websites that offer free invitations that you can send online. These evites are just as adorable as paper invitations, but you're also saving money on invitations-and the environment at the same time.

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2. Pick a theme. Believe it or not choosing a theme for your party can help you to save money. A specific theme helps you to focus your efforts and spending on items that relate to your theme. A theme can be as complex as modeling your party after the HBO series True Blood or as simple as choosing a color theme of purple and black.

3. Use what you have. You can use common household items or craft supplies you already have and turn them into decorations for your Halloween party.

* Use black construction paper and downloadable free templates from the Internet to create bats, ghosts or other Halloween symbols you can hang from the ceiling or porch or hang on the walls.

* Turn your candy and clear jars into apothecary jars. Use brown food coloring to turn water brown and then fill with plastic rats and items that resemble things you'd find in mad scientist lab. For example, a cabbage can be used to look like a brain or a softened red pepper can be made to look like a heart.

* Candelabras adorned with spider webs make great centerpieces. You can also add melting candles or burning candles to help set the scene.

4. Limit food choices. A great party spread doesn't mean that you have to serve a dozen different foods. One or two drink options and 3-4 food options is usually more than enough to please guests. Typically, you'll have plenty of food and probably still have leftovers without going crazy trying to create the perfect menu.

5. Keep it simple. You don't have to turn your entire home into a haunted house when decorating one room is sufficient. Guests will appreciate your efforts and have as much fun at a simple Halloween party as they will at one that costs you thousands of dollars to create. The point is to have fun and mix and mingle with your friends, not to deplete your bank account.

Halloween can be a fun time of the year to throw a party. You can throw a great event without having to spend a lot of money. Keep it simple, use items you have and only buy what you need. You and your guests will have fun and you won't have to recreate the scream from a horror film when your credit card bill comes due.

Throw a Howling Halloween Bash Without Crying Over the Expenses

Kristie Lorette is a freelance copywriter and marketing consultant specializing in helping small businesses and entrepreneurs. Visit http://www.studiokwriting.com to learn more about Kristie and see samples of her work. Kristie also produces The Inky Dot, a weekly e-newsletters that includes writing and marketing tips for businesses. Subscribe to The Inky Dot at http://www.studiokwriting.com

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