Not Made Of Money

Save Money – A Personal Finance Blog By A Husband And Wife

July 4th Celebrations on a Budget

June 22nd, 2009 · 2 Comments

No holiday is as well-suited to summer fun as the Fourth of July. Good food, fireworks, and warm weather make it the perfect summer holiday. It is not always, however, the most affordable celebration. Buying food, planning entertainment, and decorating your home can be expensive.

If you’re planning a Fourth of July party for your friends and family this summer, rest assured that you don’t have to spend a fortune. Check out these ways to keep your celebrations in line with the rest of your budget.

Plan potluck menus. There’s no reason why you should shoulder all of the burden of feeding a large group. Arrange a family potluck or neighborhood celebration instead that encourages everyone to bring some type of food or drink. This will allow you to focus your budget on some of the other aspects of your party.

Have lots of water available. Outdoor parties are tons of fun, but you have to make sure that you keep your partygoers properly hydrated. Fill a large drink cooler with ice water and keep it handy. Remind kids to drink from it often, too. Water is cheap, but a trip to the emergency room isn’t.

Pool entertainment resources. Does your brother have a volleyball net? Ask him to bring it along for the day. Gathering an assortment of water guns will elicit cries of joy from all of the kids. Borrow what you need for entertainment rather than buying it.

Use twinkle lights for décor. Some of my favorite outdoor décor are inexpensive lights strung around the porch. If you have plain white Christmas lights, you can even use those. Wind them around banisters or trees to give you backyard an ethereal glow.

Check out area fireworks displays. Shooting off your own fireworks can be expensive and dangerous if you’ve got a lot of kids running around. Why not car pool your party to a neighborhood display instead? If you’re not sure where to start your search, call your area’s parks and recreation department to find out if they are sponsoring a display.

Related Posts Related Websites

Tags: Saving Money

2 responses so far ↓

  • 1 Free Energy Saving Tips // Jun 22, 2009 at 1:25 pm

    Don’t forget to put your drinks in coolers with easy access outdoors rather than in the fridge! It saves a trip, saves on air conditioning and refrigeration.

    Also, if you’ll be outdoors, consider turning the thermostat on the A/C unit up in your house when its unoccupied. No sense in cooling your home if there’s no one in it.

  • 2 fern // Jun 22, 2009 at 3:36 pm

    I would add that non-public displays of fireworks are also illegal in most states, with the exception of “sizzlers.”

Leave a Comment