“Celebrate we will, because life is short but sweet for certain.”

-Dave Matthews Band

It’s June, the weather is bright and sunny (mostly), and it somehow just seems right to get a bunch of girlfriends together. There doesn’t need to be a reason, it just feels it’s time to brush off whatever is left of our winter cocoons and hang out.

Sometimes we’re reluctant to gather the gals together because the house isn’t clean enough (really–you’re girlfriends will not judge you!), or the garden hasn’t been weeded sufficiently (that’s true for most of us), or you’re on a really tight budget (again, most of us are watching our pennies these days). Don’t let any of those things stop you! Guest blogger GEN TUPAS shares some great ideas for a frugal girls’ night in (GNI).

Even when you are on a tight budget, throwing a house party is very doable. You don’t need to spend a lot of money to throw a memorable party. It is important to focus on your guests’ positive experiences, not how much it costs. Here are ten tips for throwing a frugal party:

Make A List Of What You Already Have

Often when people decide to throw a party, they want to go out and buy all new things. When you are on a tight budget, it’s important to use what you already have. List things like bowls, plates, and silverware.

Borrow Things You Might Need Before Shopping

Even if you don’t already have the right item, a friend might. If you need a large bowl for punch or a giant plate for your specialty nachos, check with a friend before spending your money. Just be sure to invite them!

Make Things Yourself

If you’re serving dinner, think twice before buying expensive decorations. It will be cheaper and more fun to make things yourself. You’ll also have a great conversation starter when you tell a friend exactly how you made that centerpiece that they have been looking at.

Plan Your Budget Before You Ever Go To The Store

Before you head to the store, make sure you know exactly how much you can spend. Once you know your budget, you must stay under it. By knowing what you can spend ahead of time, you won’t get carried away at the store.

Choose A Focus Or A Theme For Your Party

By having a theme planned before you ever go shopping, you will be less tempted to impulsively buy random things. Just remember that certain themes can be a lot cheaper than others. Plan your party’s theme accordingly.

Shop At Bulk Stores For Food And Drinks

When it comes to food and drinks for a large amount of people, you can’t beat bulk shopping stores like Costco. By buying in bulk, you will get a much better deal than you would going to your regular grocery store.

Don’t Forget About The Dollar Store

The dollar store will have a lot of great items like plates, colored napkins, and any other small decorations that you might need. Be sure to only buy the absolute essentials. It’s easy to go overboard when everything around you is only a dollar.

Don’t Rule Out Doing Things Potluck Style

For a party, one of the most expensive items is usually food. You can save a lot of money by having everyone bring their favorite side dish or dessert. Your guests will love showing off their specialty dishes in front of all of their friends.

Good Music And Lighting Go A Long Way

Taking time to pick good music and make sure the lighting is just right can go a long way when it comes to your guests’ experience. Another bonus is that you probably already have music and lighting, so it’s free.

Buy Things That Can Be Used More Than Once

When you do have to purchase items for a party, try to buy things that can be used more than once. If you like to throw a lot of parties, it will be cheaper in the long run to buy reusable plates instead of paper plates.

Now that you are armed with these ten tips, you will be able to throw a memorable party on a tight budget. Keep in mind that it is okay to be frugal, as long as you focus on a memorable experience for your guests. They will definitely be grateful!

GEN TUPAS a freelance writer. She enjoys writing about a variety of topics: love, money, relationship, travel, and personal finance. Her blog, Desk Success Stories, is mostly about her experiences as a freelancer.

By the way, we LOVE guest blogs here at Girlfriendology. Have a great girlfriend story to tell? Want to celebrate your fabulous female friends? SHARE! (And, we also have Girlfriend Gurus – check that out to be featured on Girlfriendology!)

Sign up for our weekly newsletter and get our FREE eBook ‘30 Days / 30 Ways to Be a Better Friend‘ - check it out!

More to check out – Facebook.com/Girlfriendology and @Girlfriendology (Twitter) where we’re connecting with over 50,000 women and Pinterest.com/Girlfriendology where we share visual inspiration and great quotes. (& our Pinterest Marketing site: Pinfriendology.com.) More Girlfriend Friendship Quotes. THANKS to our BIG 2012 sponsor – Biz Stain Fighter. And – Thanks to YOU Girlfriend!