Bea Bonte
Housewarming parties are a great way to show off your new home. However, since you are a new homeowner, you’ve likely just spent a large chunk of cash on your down payment – so while you’re excited to host friends and family, you may not have a lot left over to throw a party.
Don’t worry, there are plenty of budget-friendly ways for new homeowners to throw a housewarming party on the cheap. Take a look at these ideas to welcome people to your new home.
Themed Potluck
If you’re trying to save money on food, a potluck is a good way to feed everyone without having to spend a lot of money on food. Get creative with a theme – think taco bar, where everyone brings a topping, or a brunch party where everyone brings their favorite breakfast dish to share.
Wine Sampling Party
For those looking for a classy housewarming party, wine samplings are always a big hit. Have everyone bring a different bottle of wine from different regions of the world and sample or rate them. As a host, you can provide snacks for guests to nibble on as they taste the wines.
Movie Night
For a more laidback approach, a cult classic movie night may be the way to go. Encourage attendees to bring beverages to share. Put out some cheap snacks, such as popcorn and candy, so everyone has something to munch on and que up a favorite movie on Netflix.
Holiday Themed Party
No matter what season you move into your house, there’s most likely a holiday that you can build a party theme around. For example, in October, you can host a Halloween party, where guests are encouraged to dress up. If you move in during the winter, host a Christmas party, where guests are encouraged to wear their favorite ugly sweater. A Mid-winter move might be a great excuse for a Valentine’s Day party with heart shaped decor and plenty of candy hearts.
Other Money-Saving Ideas
- Invitations: In the digital age, you don’t need to go out and purchase custom, paper invitations. You can just send out invites via email, Paperless Post, or create an event on Facebook.
- Playlist: Don’t forget the playlist! Put on a free Spotify or Pandora playlist and you’ll be grooving all night long.
- Decor: Don’t stress over decor – people aren’t expecting to walk into a fully decorated home, or even a fully furnished one. You just moved in, they will understand if you’re still sorting out your style.
- Party Punch: If you’re supplying alcohol for the party, make it last longer by mixing it into a punch with juice or pop.
- Make Food: Instead of purchasing party platters or sharing trays, make the dip yourself and buy crackers separately. Not only will this save money on food, you’ll have a better-tasting dip with fresher ingredients.
At the end of the day, keep in mind: the most important part of the event is not the type of food, amount of drinks or the style of the decor – it is the unforgettable memories you develop and valuable time that you get to spend with those friends and family that you love and who love you.
Have a Great Party!
Now that you have a few ideas to welcome people into your new home, you can throw an unforgettable housewarming party. To keep costs down, get creative – there are plenty of budget-friendly options out there to take advantage of. Have fun breaking in your new home!
