How to host a great Halloween party without breaking the bank

Man, did you notice that Halloween’s just around the corner? Time to plan a cool Halloween party, but your bank account’s about as thin as Donald Trump’s election promises? No worries, friend – hosting a party doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg, and here are some great ways to save when you’re bringing the party to your apartment.

Start with a budget

It’s easy to buy too much food and supplies when you don’t make a budget, so always make a list and stick to it. The best way to not spend more money than you have, is by figuring out exactly what your budget is in the first place, then deciding based on that. It’s easy to get overwhelmed and buy things willy nilly only to see all the bags of chips and fruit bowls that went uneaten. Be smart and think about exactly what you need first!

Shop on sale and fill up that pantry

Everyone has guests every now and then, so it helps to have a fully stocked pantry you can simply pull from instead of buying everything in a rush the night before. If you’re able to take from food you already own, you can easily save on costs – especially if all the food you’re using came from sales and bulk deals. You can make a surprising amount of great party foods with easy-to-find staples that go on sale all the time.

Speaking of staples…

Rice and bean bowls, pasta bowls, salsa and nachos – all these foods are cheap and easy to make, as well as to stretch. When your crush’s surprise +1 shows up and you’ve got extra mouths to feed, making extra rice costs a dollar or two. A few people didn’t show? You’ll have leftovers that will keep for a long time and give you meals for work! It’s best to think about parties in terms of how you can manage yourself afterwards, when everyone is gone and the party is long over.

Buy used decor online

You’re not the only one throwing a Halloween party these days, and chances are some Torontonians are looking to replace last year’s Halloween decor with a new set for 2016. Check out sites like Craigslist or Kijiji and score some slightly used decorations that’ll look great at your place for an awesome price.

It doesn’t take much to have a successful house party, and it takes even less to be smart and thrifty about it. By planning beforehand, any party can be an easy way to entertain your friends and cheap enough that you’ll never feel bad about it.

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Born on the Prairies, Erin Cardone grew up knowing there was more to life than canola fields and AAA Alberta Angus. So she escaped, living in Europe and Australia, white-knuckling it through plates of calf brains and raw horse meat, and learning languages she can't remember anymore. After a stint as a jaded, skeptical journalist, she changed tack and began writing rather awesome blogs and showing businesses that advertising is dead, so long live social media, with her businesses Legendary Social Media. She now splits her time between various Canadian cities, Costa Rica and wherever else the wind blows.

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