Money-saving ideas every party planner should know

Put your guests in a festive mood with these decorating and lighting tips.

• Look at your social diary and plan ahead — having a stock of cheaply sourced party goodies and decorations will spare you from expensive last-minute shopping.
• Most stores, from large department stores to corner gift shops, stock seasonal items and decorations and have post-holiday sales at highly reduced prices. Halloween, Christmas and Easter decorations can be purchased for the following year.
• Prices at gift and knick-knack shops can be more reasonable than at specialized party stores. Scour card shops for balloons, banners and celebration confetti.
• Craft and fabric stores often have all sorts of party decor. Look for sales and cheaply priced bargain bins.
• Dollar stores have the best prices, though the goods are generally of lower quality. They carry everything from decorations and candles to paper plates and napkins.

• Use party lights and a selection of taper-style and column candles to give a party atmosphere at minimum expense.
• Swap plain light bulbs for coloured ones for about $2 each. Warm colours give a flattering soft glow to a room, while cool colours can help conjure up a mood for themed occasions such as a Halloween party.
• Start snapping up strings of indoor/outdoor Christmas lights during post-festive sales. These tiny lights add instant enchantment to any party scene, indoors or out. And unlike candles, they can be left unattended.
• Home decor stores sell packs of tea light candles for as low as $3.50. A pack of 50 tall white candles can cost between $8 and $20, depending on the height. You can find packs of tapered candles in dollar stores, and pillar candles as well, all at a relatively low cost.
• If you have leftover single candles in a variety of shades, place them in a matching pair of candelabras on the dining room table or mantelpiece for a colourful display. You can buy cheap candelabras from second-hand and charity stores.
• To save even more money on candles, store them in a sealed box in the fridge and light them when cold. They will burn more slowly and drip less.
• If you are throwing an evening party, place tea lights in old mason jars and use wire to hang them in trees or along a fence.

Throwing the perfect party can be stressful, but with these simple solutions, you won't have to worry about going over your budget.