Several months ago,
Pam Howard of
Excelsior was
considering hiring
an event planner for
her daughter's high
school graduation.
For about $500, she
could have handed
over the hassle of
selecting and
sending the
invitations, buying
the food, renting
the tent.
"But I really enjoy
entertaining and I
knew I could do it
on my own for a lot
less," Howard said.
As with any parent
who is planning a
party amid economic
uncertainty, she
decided to simplify.
Most Midwestern
families spend about
$1,200 on a
graduation party,
including $700 on
food, said Ginger
Venable, who
co-wrote "Graduation
Parties! Everything
You Need to Know
from Start to
Finish."
So far, Venable, who
lives in Eden
Prairie, has heard
from only a couple
of readers on her
website
GraduationParty.com
that indicate
they're cutting
back. A few of them
say they're on a
tight budget, but
it's still a
once-in-a-lifetime
event. "They don't
want to skimp too
much on the big day,
but they're trying
to be sensible."
Putting a lid on the
extravagance means
the carnival rides,
live bands, valet
parking and catered
meals won't make the
cut this year, but
parents can still
make it special
without spending a
lot of money. Howard
plans to spend about
$500. In the
Midwest, grad party
budgets range from
$500 to $6,000,
according to
GraduationParty.com.
One idea for keeping
costs down is a
group party --
something that
pleases both parents
and grads. Jan
Michaletz of Edina
says that after
hosting three grad
parties, and on the
eve of her fourth,
she has learned how
to save.
This year she's
having a group party
for the entire
trombone section of
the Edina High
School concert band
(10 kids, nine
families, one with
twins). "The kids
have a great deal of
crossover in their
guest lists, so we
decided to feed
those people once
instead of nine
times," Michaletz
said.
For the invitation,
a photo was taken of
the group to use as
a cheap postcard at
Vistaprint.com.
Invites were handed
out in the hallways
or mailed; although,
like many parents,
Michaletz said there
is no controlling
the numbers invited
on Facebook.
As a veteran,
Michaletz said too
many first-timers
make the mistake of
ordering too much
food. For the
low-key party she'll
hold later for
relatives, she even
skips the cake.
Parents and experts
suggest the
following tips for
saving money.
• Do one unique
thing instead of
three or four.
Examples: rent a
cotton candy
machine, a keg
filled with root
beer, a Moonbounce
inflatable or a
fortune teller.
• Make the food
interactive to get
people mingling.
Make pizza crusts in
advance, provide
several toppings,
let people make
their own and then
grill. Fajitas and
tacos also work
well.
• Choose a
late-morning or
midafternoon start
time to minimize
food costs. Then
serve light brunch
items in the morning
or snacks from 2 to
5 p.m. Regardless of
time, ask relatives
to help by bringing
a tray of bars.
• Choose the date
carefully. The
Saturday following
graduation is such a
popular party time
that guests may stay
only a short while
before heading to
the next party. Buy
refreshments
accordingly.
• Ask friends to
help out. Howard
said that she asked
the parents of
juniors to help out
and promised to
return the favor
next year when they
graduate.
• Buy flowers from
Sam's Club or
Costco. Some flowers
can be preordered if
you're requesting
specific colors. Two
dozen roses cost
less than $15. For
even less, cut
flowers or greens
from your garden or
ask if a neighbor
would contribute
some cuttings.
• Try the category
killers for low
prices. Sam's or
Costco for plastic
and paper products,
deli trays and
cakes, Best Maid
Cookie outlet
(612-722-5035) for
cases of 240 cookies
for $30 to $43 per
case, and Party City
for helium-filled
balloons for 89
cents (latex) to
$2.99 each. Latex
balloons last about
10 hours; mylar
about 48 hours.
Graduation themes
often sell out.
Order ahead.
John Ewoldt •
612-673-7633 or
jewoldt@startribune.com.
His articles are
online at
www.startribune.com/dollars.
