7 Sure Fire Ways to Save Money on a Graduation Party

College graduation parties can be expensive ... so here are some proven ways to cut costs and still throw one heck of a party!

Email Announcements and Invitations - Save Hundreds of Dollars

Printed invitations and postage are expensive. That's whyMajor corporations email invitations to their events. Email saves a considerable amount of money and reaches most people more effectively than snail mail. So email your graduation announcements and invitations. Be creative and use clip art and any available online templates. Try to have a design concept in mind like using the school colors or formatting the invitation like it's a diploma.

Snail Mailing? Print Announcements and Invitations on Your Computer

Use a creative concept such as a diploma or school color theme. You can print the invitation on elegant parchment style paper available at art supply shops, paper specialty stores and office supply retailers. Eliminating an outside printer saves hundreds of dollars more.

Decorate with Plants Rather Than Flowers

Liven up your party decor with potted plants or shrubs you can plant in your garden afterwards, rather than with expensive cut flowers that only last a few days. This saves an incredible amount of money. Check Home Depot or Lowe's for the lowest prices on quality plants.

Serve A Buffet With Inexpensive Crowd Pleasers and Save

A buffet with pasta dishes, salads, appetizers, and light entrees can be impressive and inexpensive. Include dishes like Baked Ziti, Lasagne, Caesar Salad, Cobb Salad, Garden Salad, Deviled Eggs, Swedish Meatballs, Stuffed Mushrooms, Potato Salad, Macaroni Salad, Cheesy Nachos and Salsa, Guacamole and other favorites.

Make It A Pot Luck "Graduate's Favorites" Party

Ask guests to bring a dish they think the graduate would like the most. This almost completely eliminates food costs in a "fun way".

Serve Wine and Beer Rather Than Hard Liquor

Hard Liquor is expense, so just serve wine and beer. Be sure to have several red wines - including a merlot and a cabernet,-, whites preferably a chardonnay and a sauvignon blanc ... and a blush wine like a white zinfandel. Beer should include a good pilsner and a lite beer. Have punch, ice tea and lemonade for kids and non-drinkers.

Hold A Farewell College "Beer Bash" Graduation Party

Crank up the music and have plenty of cold beer, chips and dips, $5 a pie Little Caesar's Pizza. Hey after paying for college ... you're as broke as a college student!

Happy party planning!