Whatever the event – be it a birthday, Christmas or just a celebration – when it comes to party planning, there is one thing you literally cannot afford to neglect: creating a budget. The idea of creating a budget for your party, and then sticking to it, may seem painfully Scrooge-like and against the entire fun-loving feeling that hosting a party creates; but if you don’t want things to spiral out of control in terms of finances, it’s an essential.

A workable budget applies no matter how big or small the party you are hosting is. Even if it’s just an intimate get together of friends and family, you will find that by listing the things that are needed and setting a price; you can actually keep in control in ways you hadn’t imagined.

To begin setting a budget, write down a list of everything you consider essential to the success of the party. Include things like drinks, entertainment, food and decorations. It’s then time to take to the high street or internet and get rough prices on what you need to fulfill each of the criteria on your list. When doing this, it is better to overestimate and then be left with more money at the end of the process, rather than undervalue things and find yourself short. When you’ve priced each list item, add the total together and work out 10%. This amount is the final part of your budget – a contingency fund, for things you had not necessarily anticipated.

You should then keep the final figure, including the 10%, and work from this as your total budget. You may find you need to spend less in some areas so you can get the best in others, so work off the budget as a total rather than a set amount for each item; the set amounts in the initial planning are just a rough estimate. Stick to your budget, and you’ll be able to enjoy the party without worrying about the financial ramifications!

There’s no doubt about it; party planning can be stressful. In fact, it can be extremely stressful – right up to the point where you’re really not feeling that you’re in the party mood any longer. If you are finding things tough to handle, or you’re planning a bash for a particularly large group, it is worth asking yourself: do I need a professional party planner?

Party planners are there to take your ideas and make them a reality. They take most of the worry of themselves, and you can focus on details you may have overlooked if you had been handling the entire event yourself. Professionals can also offer an experienced eye and give opinions and ideas on things you previously hadn’t thought of, and most party planners will attend the event itself to ensure all runs smoothly – leaving you free to spend time with your guests.

If this is sounding like a dream, that’s because it is – who wouldn’t want all the hassle and worry removed from party planning? However, it is worth remembering that professional planners will come at a price. That price is probably worth paying if you genuinely are finding things too stressful or you’re feeling a little out of your depth, but you can also save some cash by making sure you have plenty of time to plan yourself. Giving yourself time is an essential, and in small-to-medium size events will probably prevent the need for professional input.

It’s all about taste, however, and if you think a professional planner would be of use and there’s space in the budget – you may just find you’ve made the best decision you possibly could.