How to Throw a House Party

A great way to have fun in this harsh economic climate and still save money is to throw a house party. There's no need to spend money on club-worthy clothes, over-priced drinks, admission fees, or gas. All you need is a few friends, great music, food and drinks, and your party spirit. So take a look at this house party to do list and let the fun commence.

1. Decide on your theme: One way to do this is to let your music decide the theme of your party. Pick a decade such as the 70's and 80's, the 50's and 60, or the 90's. Try out a musical genre such as rap, rock and heavy metal, or house music. You could even have a costume party. It's all up to you. Be as wild as you choose!

2. Make a guest list: Make a list of who you're going to invite and the select invitations appropriate for the type of party you are choosing. Your invitations should be sent at least 2 weeks in advance to give your guest time to put it in their datebooks. You can also phone your friends, send them email invites, or hookup with them via Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, or another social network.

3. Plan the menu: When it comes to food for a house party keep it simple. You can plan it pot luck style and have everyone bring a dish and an alcoholic beverage or two. Or you can use the time-honored party standby and order a few pizzas. If you are handy in the kitchen you might want to whip up a few tasty dishes to serve, or to save time and effort, purchase some chips and other finger-foods from the grocery store.

4. Hype the party: To get the party started, make sure you invite at least 2 or 3 guests with reputations for getting a little wild. The ones who bring the most drinks and start song requests the moment they walk in the door. They will jump start you party. If you feel the mood to, decorate with streamers, and party lights. Goofy favors like noisemakers arranged on the food table are silly fun once you've had a few drinks. If you own a flat screen, play an action movie, a popular comedy or music videos on it. Just use your imagination and your friends will be begging you to throw another one.