7 St. Patrick’s Day Party Ideas on a Budget

Winter can be bleak. Short days, long cold nights, and countless snowstorms can take a toll. But come March, there is one emerald green bright spot. St. Patrick’s Day is a fun holiday for all.

There are tricks and treats from mischievous leprechauns that keep kids entertained and plenty of green beer for the adults. March 17 is right around the corner so get your green ready to avoid being pinched by a leprechaun (or your significant other).

If you’re playing host this year and are looking for some St. Patrick’s Day party ideas, we’ve got you covered. These fun festive ideas will have you and your friends feeling the luck of the Irish, all while helping to keep you under budget.

1. Invite Your Friends on the Cheap

The first step to any party is inviting your guests. Depending on the scale of your gathering, a quick text or Facebook group may do the job. If you want to get a little fancier, send an e-invite.

There are a number of websites, like Evite or Minted that have digital invites available at no cost. You’ll be able to spread the word in an adorable design that sets the theme without spending a dime.

2. Make Your Own Outfit

Take inventory of your closet and pull out any green items. To minimize costs, use what you already have to craft a festive outfit for your St. Patrick’s Day party. No one said you have to wear an entirely green outfit for St. Patrick’s Day. You can highlight your day-to-day style with green accents—a scarf, tie, socks, or jewelry.

If, on the other hand, you want to celebrate in an entirely festive outfit for your St. Patrick’s Day party—get crafty and make some clothes on the cheap. You can get t-shirts at craft stores for just a few bucks.

Buy some fabric paint and get inspired to create the green outfit of your St. Patrick’s Day dreams. There are clever, fun, and easy DIY tutorials that will provide inspiration and instruction. You’ll have your own custom made St. Patrick’s Day outfit in no time at all.

3. DIY the Decorations

Don’t stop the crafts with your outfit—crafting can be a great way to decorate your space inexpensively. There are lots of tutorials for crafting decorations to bring some Irish style into your space.

And there are plenty of printables that you can use to liven up your home and fill it with St. Patty’s Day cheer.

4. St. Patty’s Day Party Food on a Budget

When throwing a party on a budget, sometimes offering appetizers, a full meal, dessert, and drinks is just too much. You have a few options for keeping your budget under control while still hosting a night to remember.

One option is to throw your party at an off-hour when people will have already eaten a full meal. If your party starts at 8:30 pm, your guests won’t expect a full meal. This way you can put together a small spread of appetizers and a dessert and your guests won’t be disappointed.

If you do plan on hosting a dinner—keep it simple! You don’t need to go all out with four full courses of fine dining. If you’re having a few friends over, consider a sit-down dinner. If you’re having a larger gathering, try setting up a buffet. That way people can fill their plates with exactly what they want and you don’t have to stress about formally setting the entire table.

Lastly, don’t be afraid to ask people to bring something. Some of the best parties are potlucks. Ask your friends to bring their favorite Irish-inspired dishes or green foods. Need some St. Patrick’s Day party food ideas?

There are a ton of delicious recipes, traditional and otherwise out there. Think cupcakes with green frosting, soda bread, bangers and mash, Irish stout & cheddar cheese fondue, and corned beef and cabbage. Other party staples like spinach and artichoke dip and guacamole fit the bill too!

5. Make It BYOB-ish

As the host, don’t feel like you need to provide every beverage under the sun. Stocking up on liquor, beer, wine, and more can get expensive quickly, so feel free to pare it back. Try having a signature cocktail for guests—one that is delicious and on theme for the event.

Batch cocktails are generally easy for large groups and allow people to serve themselves so you’re not refilling everyone’s glass all evening long. Looking for inspiration? There are so many fun ideas out there—try a green apple sangria or an Irish mule .

Include the cocktail you’ll be offering as part of the event invitation, and let your guests know that they’re welcome to bring a beverage of their choice to drink and share as well. Be sure to have plenty of ice on hand and a cooler or two available to keep any drinks that guests bring cool.

Don’t forget a non-alcoholic option for any kids or other adults who don’t plan on imbibing. Lemonade, water, or seltzer with lime are all great additions to any party.

6. Don’t Forget the Tunes

Set the mood with a fun playlist. These days there are all sorts of cheap solutions for finding the perfect soundtrack to your St. Patrick’s Day party.

There are ready-made playlists available at sites like YouTube and Spotify . You could also put on a Pandora station. Or if you are a more hands-on DJ, set up a playlist ahead of the party with some of your favorite Irish bands.

7. Get a Game Going

A game or activity is a great way to break the ice and get some mingling started. If there are kids in attendance, set up a small pot-of-gold game .

This game is basically a mini-treasure hunt where you hide small gold wrapped candies around the house. Have the kids search for them. If you want to keep with the theme, you can buy little black pots for the kids to fill.

Another game idea? Irish bingo . The rules of the game are the same, only the board has changed. You may be surprised by how much fun everyone has!

Fill Your Pot of Gold with SoFi Checking and Savings

Don’t let your St. Patrick’s Day festivities break the bank. With these fun and easy party ideas, you’ll be ready to throw a good luck charm filled event that won’t cost you a fortune. As you get ready for the event, consider SoFi Checking and Savings®—the checking and savings account that lets you spend, save, and earn all in one product.

With SoFi Checking and Savings, you can easily access your cash and seamlessly track your spending, so you know exactly where your money is going.

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