How to Throw an Office Party Without Going Broke

Even those of us who like our jobs probably wouldn't be there if we didn't need the money. We get up in the morning and go to the office so that we can earn a paycheck.

But isn't it funny how sometimes it feels like it costs so much to go to work that you might as well just stay home? Of course, there are the obvious expenses: transportation, work clothes, and daycare for those with children. But office life comes often comes with a culture of nickel and diming that we don't even realize is happening, until we start wondering where all our money went.

I work in a large department. It seems like every time I turn around, someone is leaving, getting married, having a baby or celebrating a birthday. Few and far between are the months where there isn't at least one birthday lunch, office bridal or baby shower, or farewell party. On top of that, it seems that my co-workers with children are always coming in with some sort of fundraiser. I've bought enough cookies and pizza kits in the last year that I sometimes wonder why I even need to go grocery shopping.

The reality for those of us living pretty much paycheck to paycheck is that the social expectations of office life can be stressful and draining. You don't want to be the office scrooge - the one who avoids parties and says you can't buy Girl Scout cookies while staring at the adorable framed family photo that your colleague has sitting on his desk. But at the same time, you want to make sure you have enough left over to feed your own family and participate in out-of-work social events.

There are things you can do, both individually and as a group of co-workers, to avoid being the Office Scrooge without depleting your bank account.

1. Start a Group "Party Account."

Some companies actually have funds devoted to celebrations. When someone retires or moves on, the company pays for food, drinks and good times.

But in many smaller or non-profit organizations, that's just not the case. When there's a celebration to be thrown together, it is the employees who foot the bill.

When this is the case, someone else's good news doesn't just mean you have to go buy a present. You probably also have to buy and prepare food for a potluck luncheon or contribute to a catering fund.

If this is the case in your office, suggest that your work group start a "party fund." Agree on a monthly contribution for the fund. It can be a very small amount, even just two or three bucks a months. With a decent-sized group of co-workers, it will add up over time. Then when one of those times hit where you've got a birthday lunch, a farewell party and a wedding shower all in the same month, you won't find yourself forking out cash to contribute towards each party. Much of the cash your office needs to actually pull the celebrations together will already be on hand.

2. Suggest Setting Limits on Spending.

Employees shouldn't have to feel put on the spot or embarrassed because they can't afford extravagant gifts for co-workers.

Suggest that your office set reasonable spending limits for showers and farewell party gifts. Don't feel bad or embarrassed about being the one to bring up the idea. I can almost guarantee that there are several others in your department who are feeling stressed and strapped by the office party overload. They'll appreciate your honesty.

Once limits are set, stick to them. If you're particularly close friends with a colleague who is leaving, getting married, or having a baby, you might be inclined to go above and beyond. That's fine. Just do so with a gift you give them when you get together on personal time, and stick to the limits during office affairs. Otherwise, you'll start the ball rolling and soon the spending limits will be a thing of the past.

3. Give Group Gifts.

Spending limits can be restrictive. You might feel like $10 or $20 just isn't enough to buy the right gift for someone who is getting married, having a baby or moving on to a new work adventure.

It doesn't have to be. Instead of stretching the limit or trying to find the perfect gift within the budget, combine your resources with other co-workers. Give a group gift. The recipient would probably rather receive one gift she can really use from four or five of you than several separate useless trinkets.

Giving group gifts also allows you to divvy up shopping and wrapping responsibilities. Instead of running to the mall after work every time there's an office gift to give, you and your colleagues can take turns. If there's one thing we have even less of than money, it's time. This buys you a little more of it.

4. Keep it Simple.

Every affair doesn't have to be a big deal.

Birthdays happen every year. Do we really need a big fuss in the office each time they roll around? Many people would rather overlook them anyway.

Farewell parties can be simple too. People assume that employees who have accepted new jobs and are moving on want all sorts of attention. The reality is, the employee who is leaving is probably quite stressed and busy, between finishing up loose ends at your company and preparing for her new job. She might be happier with a quiet off-site lunch than a party where she's expected to give a big speech.

When birthdays, farewells and other events roll around, don't always assume you have to decorate the office or conference room, cater some elegant affair, and coerce the boss into giving a talk on the wonders of the employee in question. Instead, suggest a simple off-site lunch, dinner or happy hour at a reasonably priced restaurant. Everyone who goes pays for their own dinner and drinks, and chips in a few bucks to feed the guest of honor. It's low-stress, simple, easy and fun, and everyone gets to socialize outside of the office instead of lugging in crock pots and bags of ice.

5. Don't Feel Like You Have to go to Everything

In some office cultures, the whole party thing just spins out of control. Everyone goes to everything. Employees feel they have to show up for celebrations for someone they might see in meetings once or twice a year.

When a celebration is for someone in your department or someone you work with frequently from another area, you should make an appearance at their event. But when you really don't interact much with a person, you shouldn't feel too obligated to spend time or money on their going away party or baby shower.

Chances are that your office will need someone to keep things running while everyone else is attending the affair. Don't be afraid to volunteer to be that person now and then. No one should look down on you for offering to work while everyone else is having fun.

6. Show You Care in Other Ways

When you really admire and respect a co-worker, you want to take advantage of their special time as a way to let them know how you feel. But if you're really going to miss the girl who's leaving, you can let her know without breaking the bank.

So, maybe your gift isn't the one that stands out above all the others. Show your appreciation in other ways. After the party, be the one who offers to help her lug all her presents to the car. Offer to help her pack up her office or attend to any last-minute work details as she's preparing to move on.

We all like presents. But gifts of assistance and support are often remembered long after we've put the trinkets in a closet and forgotten about them.

7. Be Considerate With Your Fundraisers

If you're a parent, you're probably going to find yourself bringing school or club fundraisers to the office in an attempt to boost sales for your kid. At the same time, you're probably counting pennies to make contributions to your co-worker's kids fundraisers. It can be a vicious cycle.

Be considerate in how you go about fundraising. Don't put co-workers on the spot or make them feel bad if they can't contribute.

I have one co-worker who brings in fundraisers for his daughter a few times a year. Instead of going around asking everyone if they want to participate, he puts a sign on his office door, something simple like "Girl Scout Cookies Here!" He then puts the sign-up sheet in an envelope and tapes it to the door under the sign. We can grab the sheet and put in an order if we want, or ignore it if we can't or don't want to.

I always buy cookies from him, even when I'm dieting and really don't want them in the house. It's my way of showing appreciation for not putting those who are financially strapped on the spot.

8. Don't Be Afraid to Say No

Just as you don't have to go to every single office party, you don't need to contribute to each fundraiser that floats across your desk.

When you're strapped, don't be afraid to say "thanks but no thanks" to your co-workers. If it makes you feel better, distribute your wealth. If you bought cookies from Joe's daughter's Girl Scout troop in the spring and didn't have anything left over for Lynn's son's pizza kit school sale, say no to Joe and yes to Lynn the next time around.

We've got enough stress in our workplaces as it is. Celebrations and fundraisers should be fun. With a bit of planning and an office-wide atmosphere that is considerate to those who don't have much money to spare, office events can make our work lives more interesting and help build team environments instead of depleting our bank accounts and increasing our anxiety.