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Saving Money

5 Ways To Save Money On A Graduation Party

April 28, 2017
By Brock Kernin
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saving money on graduation parties, graduation party tips, frugal graduation party

The end of the school year is approaching quickly, which means graduation party planning for my son is in high gear. Inviting a large number of friends and family to our home to help us celebrate this milestone in our son’s life can be expensive, so my wife and I sat down and came up with a list of ways we can save money on the cost of graduation parties.

Bread Thrift Store

Ham and turkey buns are a staple of graduation receptions, and buying a large number of buns can add up quickly. There are bread thrift shops in some areas that sell baked goods that are near their expiration dates. If you buy your buns near the day of the party you can cut your bill for the buns in half.

Styrofoam Plates

Many people look for graduation themed or colored plates. Buying a huge stack of plain white styrofoam plates gives you the functionality you need (holding food) at a fraction of the cost of buying themed or colored plates from a party supply store.

Cut Down On The Cake

Graduation cake is a common item, but in reality less than half of your guests will serve themselves a piece. Keep that in mind when calculating how much cake you need. Find additional savings by getting a simple sheet cake with writing on it from a club store like Sam’s Club or Costco.

Soda

You might be tempted to get a keg of rootbeer, or buy 2-liter bottles of soda thinking it’s going to save money. Recent analysis right here on CleverDude shows that canned soda is the cheapest route to go when buying soda.

Buy Generic

Buy generic or store brand products for other high popularity graduation party items. Things like chips and nuts get put into serving bowls anyway, so your guests won’t even know what kind they are.

It’s fun to have friends and family over to help celebrate a child’s graduation. It’s a lot of work, and can be expensive. With these tips, you can have all the fun but leave a little more of your cash in your wallet.

How about you, Clever Friends, do you have any other graduation party money saving tips?

More great articles for you to read:

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Saving on water utilities for pool owners
Which is Cheaper: Keg or Canned Beer?

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Image of Clever Dude writer Brock Kernin.

About Brock Kernin

Brock Kernin is a software engineer and personal finance writer who paid off more than $100,000 in credit card debt through disciplined budgeting and debt-management strategies. Drawing on that experience, his BA degree and years of practical writing, he contributes clear, actionable money guidance to CleverDude focused on everyday financial decisions, frugal living, and long-term stability.

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Comments

  1. Money Beagle says

    May 1, 2017 at 1:12 pm

    Paper plates will give you the same benefit and are a lot more environmentally friendly.

    Reply

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