Planning a July 4 Party:How to Create Memories on a Budget

Party invitations, decorations, entertainment, and food are all
essential to a traditional Independence Day celebration. While visions
of stationery stores, caterers, and a band come to mind, the sound
ka-ching resonates through them all. Fortunately you can have a great
time with friends and family while spending much less than you imagine.
Here are some ideas to get you started:

Invitations
1. Record yourself and maybe a friend or two, singing an off-key
made-up tune inviting your friends. If you aren't opera star material,
and you don't mind laughing at yourself, this will make the invitation
all the more fun. Send these audio clips out in emails, sort of a
singing telegram in cyberspace.

2. Use your color printer to print the invitation, roll it up with the
print side out, and slide it into a clear water bottle. Size the paper
so it will release and become readable one it's inside. Tighten down
the lid, fix a stick label to the bottle and send it through the mail.
Make a sample and take it to the post office so you can get the proper
postage for these and mail one to yourself so you can see how long it
will take to arrive.

3. Video yourself with a webcam and post the clip to YouTube with a
private setting. Send your friends the YouTube link or Embed the video
into a web page invitation if you are computer savvy.

Decorations:
1. Dig through your Christmas and Valentine's Day decorations for
generic red or white items. Add some blue items from the thrift store
or dollar store and you're there.

2. Check the Dollar Tree. They have seasonal decorations at amazing
prices.

3. Check thrift stores for vases and other items that you can spray
with a $1 can of paint. For example, spray the item white and stick on
stars in red and blue.

Entertainment:
1. A boom box and a stack of your favorite CDs. Or borrow some CDs from
a friend who is a connoisseur.

2. Give a student experience at playing for a live audience. At 15-25,
whether the first chair at a recital or a master's student, students
need places to play and the fee would be minimal compared to a
professional.

3. Barter with a friend who plays. If she'll play for your party and
you'll help set up for hers.

Food
1. Spend time creating a beautiful table arrangement with items you
have or from the list above, then keep the food simple: veggie trays,
cheese and crackers, chips and dip.

2. Ask key people to bring their best dish. "I love your cheesecake,
Aunt Jo. Would you mind bringing one to the party?" Just 2-3 of these
contributions can make all the difference. And Aunt Jo will be
flattered, too.

3. Eliminate alcohol, lightly spike the punch, or make the event BYOB.

4. Watch coupons and sales. Combine the 2 and catch great deals. Begin
in April and save those jars of dip and cans of nuts for your party.

With a little imagination you can host a party and hardly feel it in
your pocketbook. After all, the memories comes from the jokes, the
laughs, the fun. And those are all free.

For more than 40 pages of ideas, check out "Summer Party Ideas and Plans Collection" by party experts Phyllis Cambria and Patty Sachs here.