How to Save Money on Cinco De Mayo Party Supplies

Cinco de Mayo is a holiday celebrated in the USA and Mexico. It includes festive parties, games, dancing, and food. There are no official foods or activities associated with Cinco de Mayo, but traditional Mexican and "Tex-Mex" dishes are popular, such as tacos, burritos, and enchiladas. Beer is often served, including the popular Corona brand. Traditional colorful Mexican dresses, suits, and hats may be worn, and in Mexico, dancers and Mariachi bands perform in the streets for reveling party-goers. Laughing children break open piñatas for the candy hidden inside.

Cinco de Mayo parties are tons of fun, but all the decorations and foodstuffs can be expensive. How can you have a great Cinco de Mayo fiesta without breaking the bank? Here are ten ways to save money on Cinco de Mayo party supplies:

1 Choose an Inexpensive Menu
Any dish with Mexican or Tex-Mex flair is perfect for Cinco de Mayo, and many of these foods are also very cheap. Stay away from dishes with expensive meats like ground chuck or steak. Cheap ground beef, fish, and chicken are more than adequate. Flour or corn tortillas, tortilla chips, beans, rice, salsa, and inexpensive cheeses provide you with plenty of options for a variety of festive dishes.

2 Limit Use of Decorations
It will be a little boring, but if you're really tight on cash, forego the use of decorations, and focus on the food. Cinco de Mayo is about community. Food and community go together like a hand and glove, so it should be the primary focus for a party planner on a tight budget. If you simply must have decorations, a few inexpensive paper center pieces or wall ornaments from a dollar store will do just fine.

3 Buy Food in Bulk
Food is always cheaper when bought in bulk. If you're having a big party, or if you eat this type of food on a regular basis, this may be a good option for you. Large containers of tortilla chips, salsa, rice, and beans can be purchased for pennies on the dollar at places like Sams, Wal-mart, Costco, or in the International Foods section of most super markets.

4 Get Party Goods from a Wholesaler
If you expect at least 25 party guests, you can save a lot of money this way. There are many wholesale websites like BulkPartySupplies.com that sell bulk Cinco de Mayo party supplies to the public, as low as 96 cents per piece. You can find everything from sombreros to piñatas and piñata filler. For kids, I recommend Maracas at

5 Stock Up When Things Are on Sale
In the weeks leading up to Cinco de Mayo, watch your mailbox for circulars from local grocery stores. Visit your favorite stores each week and check out their sales flyers for deals on supplies you need for your party. Supermarkets and other businesses often run great sales before big holidays and events. Since Cinco de Mayo is a holiday centered on food and drink, there are always deals on things like tortilla chips and refried beans for weeks prior. Scan those circulars, clip those coupons, and stock up on cheap Cinco de Mayo party supplies.

6 Have Your Party Guests Split the Bill
If your guests are mostly family members or close friends, ask them to split the bill with you. Find out how much all the food, drinks, party favors and decorations will cost, and ask them to pitch in. The financial burden for a large or elaborate party is greatly lessened when everyone shares in it. If you can't get your party guests to go for this idea, try demanding that they bring their own alcohol, since Margarita ingredients and beer can be quite pricey.

7 Have a "Bring a Dish" Party
This celebration is about community, so why not have each guest or family bring a dish, party favors, drinks, or decorations? A fun idea for any size Cinco de Mayo fiesta, your guests will love tasting each other's culinary creations and decorating the room together. This is probably the best and least expensive way to have an awesome party on this special day, since everyone pitches in.

It's easy to do, too. After you decide whom to invite to your get-together, send out invitations with a list of things you'll need. Ask your guests to RSVP with what they intend to bring. Make sure you have extra chips, salsa, beverages, and paper goods in case someone forgets to contribute or extra guests show up.

As your partygoers arrive, direct them to the table where they drop off their donation, and you're all set.

8 Use Handmade Decorations
Since the first Cinco de Mayo took place in the late 1800's, it's highly likely that they used handmade decorations. If you're good at craftwork, why don't you give it a go? Handmade decorations add charm to any party, and often cost much less than what you would buy at the store. Here are links to a few decoration ideas:

An easy-to-make flowering cacti table decoration at MakingFriends.com.
Ebay
Ebay.com is a great way to get awesome deals on almost anything you need for a party. As Cinco de Mayo draws closer, the sellers on Ebay put holiday-related items up for sale or auction, and you can grab them for super-cheap! Ebay is a good site for bulk purchases and for getting expensive items for a very low price. Simply type "Cinco de Mayo" (without quotes) in the search box to see all the great deals available.

Armed with these ten ways to have a great Cinco de Mayo party for cheap, you can make the most of celebrating this great holiday. You'll have fun this year with a super fiesta that didn't break the bank.