THROW A PARTY ON A BUDGET!

Hosting a bash doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg – you can still be the “hostess with the mostest” thanks to these genius tips

It’s easy to get carried I away with pricey food, DJS and booze, but money-saving website Topcashback’s Natasha Rachel Smith and Conker Events’ Jessica Helyar know the tricks to make sure you’re savvy about your celebrations!

BE PREPARED

“Set a budget early on, with a breakdown of what you want to spend and a list of what’s essential,” says Jessica. “Then you can decide what to cut back on and where to splash out.”

DITCH THE DJ

“Use apps to create playlists so you don’t have to fork out for DJS,” says Natasha. “Or try ready-made playlists from Spotify or Google Play if you’re already a member, or use Youtube for free.”

DECORATE FOR LESS

“Buy plain balloons and dip the bottoms in glue, then glitter,” says Natasha. “It’s cheap and easy and takes your decorations to the next level.” Jessica adds: “Use ebay and Freecycle to get cheap fairy lights and bunting.”

CREATE A PHOTO BOOTH

Rather than paying for a photographer, get guests to capture your event. “Use free apps like Cluster, where everyone can share photos,” says Natasha. “You can also create your own photo booth with the Pocketbooth app (49p).”

MAKE IT BYOB

Get guests to bring a bottle. Or if you’d rather provide booze, track down bargain fizz. “Aldi has won awards for its Champers,” says Natasha.

KEEP ENTERTAINMENT CHEAP

You can find performers for less! “Actors use Workingcast. co.uk to find part-time work,” says Jessica. “Find children’s entertainers there rather than going through a company!”

FIND A UNIQUE VENUE

If your home is out of bounds, there are plenty of event spaces that don’t cost a small fortune. “Appearhere.co.uk has great deals on quirky venues,” says Jessica. Otherwise, ring around local pubs and community halls and haggle for a bargain!