Tips For Hosting a Labor Day Party on a Budget

Labor Day is a federal holiday in the United States that is observed on the first Monday in September. In 1882, the Central Labor Union on New York City proposed a day off for the working citizens, a "workingmen's holiday". The Central Labor Union celebrated the very first Labor Day on Tuesday, September 5, 1882 in New York City. The following year, they celebrated it again on September 5, 1883. The very first state to create the Labor Day holiday by legislative enactment was Oregon followed by Colorado, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York. By 1984 there were twenty-three other states that followed and on June 28, 1894, Congress made Labor Day a federal holiday and passed an act making the first Monday in September of each year a legal holiday in the District of Columbia and the territories.

Today, every first Monday in September people are still celebrating Labor Day and planning Labor Day parties with their family, friends, acquaintances, and co-workers. With our economy these days, many people are planning their Labor Day parties on a budget. Many people are in the same boat, so you don't have to spend that extra money on your credit cards for an extravagant party, people understand and it is all over the news. Labor Day is a "working men and women's holiday", don't spend all your hard working money on extravagant items, people will be grateful just to come to your party and celebrate the day with other people. Here are some tips to plan your Labor Day Party on a budget.

Hosting a Labor Day Party on a Budget Tip #1: Have your Party at Home

Having your party outside of your home at a facility such as a park, they sometimes charge rental fees and parking fees on top of all the food you will have to bring. This is also a lot of extra work to transport everything you need. Depending on how far away the location is, you may be using a lot of gas to drive there.

Hosting a Labor Day Party on a Budget Tip #2: Make your Own Invitations

Making your own invitation will save you some extra money. Multimedia Design by Sandy offers free stationary for you to print out. You can hand deliver them to any family or friends that you frequently see to save on postage. If you prefer to email your invitation you would be even saving more on the paper and ink and it is completely free. Bender Place has wonderful patriotic templates that you can use for non-commercial use for free and you can download the template into your Outlook Express and send a beautiful patriotic invitation for your Labor Day party. If you have yahoo classic, you can switch over to the new yahoo and they now have some fun stationary templates.

Multimedia Design by Sandy: http://multimediadesignbysandy.com/patriotic_st.htm

Bender Place: http://www.benderplace.com/patriotic_themes.htm

Hosting a Labor Day Party on a Budget Tip #3: Blankets on the Grass

Instead of renting tables and chairs for your party, try and set your backyard to look like a picnic area. Set up blankets in your backyard on the grass area for everyone to eat. Set up some lawn chairs around for those people who have difficulty getting low to the ground and getting back up again such as the elderly and pregnant woman.

Hosting a Labor Day Party on a Budget Tip #4: Make Hot Dogs and Hamburgers instead of Steak

Instead of Steak, make hot dogs and hamburgers. I know we love to please are guests and make the best possible foods, but hot dogs and hamburgers are just as good. Everyone is on a budget these days and you should not feel guilty about giving your guests hamburgers and hot dogs instead of steak. They probably won't even notice and will be happy just spending the time to celebrate the Labor Day holiday.

Hosting a Labor Day Party on a Budget Tip #5: Have your Guests bring Chips and Dip, Fruit, Side Dishes and Desserts

On the invitation, you can add: "Please bring chips and dip, fruit, a side dish or dessert, let the host know when you r.s.v.p., what to bring". Make a list, and when your guests call, call give them a few choices of what you need and what is left on your list. This will really help you financially and all you have to do is buy the hamburgers, hot dogs and purchase condiments such as mayonnaise, mustard, ketchup, lettuce, onion, tomatoes and pickles. You will also need to purchase drink unless you put "BYOB" on your invitations.

Hosting a Labor Day Party on a Budget Tip #6: Find Labor Day Deals on Soda or buy Generic

Check out your local grocery stores. Labor Day weekend is a great weekend to get deals on different soda brands as well as pink lemonade and fruit punch in cans. Even the local ads will have coupons so you will need to search and seek. There are a lot of great sales on Labor Day weekend. Sometimes they are just as inexpensive as the generic brands, but if you don't find any great coupons, buy the generic.

Hosting a Labor Day Party on a Budget Tip #7: Make Your Own Ice

Instead of buying ice, try making ice ahead of time and store it in your freezer. Make enough for the drinks as well as the cooler to keep the drinks cold. Make as much as you have room for in your freezer for your beverages. If you do this ahead of time, you will save some money and you will need to purchase less ice or none at all.

Hosting a Labor Day Party on a Budget Tip #8: BYOB

You can also have your guest Bring their own beverages. Many people do this and it would sure save you a lot of money. Of course, you can have drinks on hand for yourself and many extra, but you would be surprised how many people bring extra drinks and many even bring their own cooler with ice.

A Labor Day party wouldn't be fun without some games and maybe some free printables for the party. There are some great sites on Associated Content. Melissa Ann Collison and Mimi Bullock have some wonderful game ideas. Carl Benejamin has great Labor Day trivia questions that you can ask your guests and for the kids, Aly Adair has information on free printable for their Labor Day fun. No matter what, just know that everyone is on a budget these days and you are entitled to have a Labor Day party on the cheap side and still have a blast!

Sources and Resources:

http://www.dol.gov/opa/aboutdol/laborday.htm

Personal Experience

Melissa Ann Collison
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2017314/fun_outdoor_games_to_play_for_labor.html?cat=25

Mimi Bullock
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1962456/traditional_labor_day_games.html?cat=7

Carl Benejamin
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1914594/trivia_questions_for_your_labor_day.html?cat=74

Aly Adair
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1831933/labor_day_free_coloring_pages_printables.html?cat=4