Having a baby is an exciting time for a family! But when one is on the way, it can be be overwhelming to think of all the things you need to plan for. It’s best if you don’t have to do it all alone.
Of course, the thought of new life coming into the world is worth celebrating with others. Whether you or a friend or relative is expecting a baby, did you know that you can plan an incredible day using cheap baby shower ideas?
Baby showers do not have to be expensive. It is not the money spent that matters, but the intention behind the celebration and the people who attend. So you don’t have to spend so much to organize a memorable baby shower for yourself or your loved one.
Many people shudder at the thought of organizing a baby shower because of the cost. Shudder no more! In this post, we’ll go over some cheap baby shower ideas you can use to cut costs as much as possible. Take a look!
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7 Cheap Baby Shower Ideas to Cut Costs
With these tips, you’ll easily be able to pull off an affordable baby shower.
1. Use all the help you can get
It takes a lot of effort to plan a baby shower. If you have friends and family who are close to the expectant mother, you can get them involved in the planning process. Two heads are always better than one, and various tasks or crafts you would have had to pay for can be done free of charge by your team members.
Also, when it comes to the financial side of things, they can all contribute some funds, which will go a long way to reduce the financial burden on your shoulders.
For instance, if the total budget for the baby shower is $500, a group of five people may split the bill and pitch in $100 each. This is much more reasonable than paying the whole bill yourself!
2. Reduce the number of invited guests
Baby showers are essentially gatherings to eat, drink and be merry, so the more guests you invite, the more mouths there are to feed.
Consider keeping the circle small and intimate among friends and family. One or two dozen guests is a good target! Just don’t cut the list down too small. Remember that inviting more people can also help the new mom collect more items from her baby registry.
3. Use digital invites
Some celebrants send out customized printed invites to guests, which can add to the nice aesthetic you have in mind, but these invites cost a lot.
Cheap baby shower ideas are all about planning a nice event without escalating costs. A digital invite will elicit the same response as a customized invite. People’s decisions on whether or not to attend are usually not based on how attractive the invitation is!
You can use a site like Canva to design free baby shower invitations to send out via email. Or, send them directly using Evite.com.
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4. Use a free venue
The most effective way to cut down on baby shower costs is to use a free venue to host it.
As you already know, rented venues cost money, and adding that to your budget will raise the cost significantly. However, if you use a free venue, you stand to reduce costs by as much as 50% or more.
The best place to host the shower is in the home of the expectant mother, but if her place is not available, you can host it at your place or that of a close friend or relative.
Local parks can be a good option too, if they don’t charge for you to use their picnic tables or pavilions.
5. Use affordable decorations
You don’t have to go extravagant with the decorations. There are minimalist designs that are just as attractive as any.
You can even go online to find decoration ideas that you can easily create DIY-style. If one of the organizers has a flower garden or there’s a local wildflower field, you can easily make the space beautiful and colorful!
The idea is just to make the place welcoming. As long as it creates an atmosphere for memorable moments, you are good to go.
Pick a theme that you know the mother will enjoy, and do your best to make her feel happy and motivated to welcome her baby into the world.
I would also inquire about the availability of decorations from other people’s weddings or baby showers. Currently, we have our own decorations from those events occupying the guest bedroom without any particular purpose.
6. Go light on the food
When it comes to food, you have to be strategic about it, since this is another item that can quickly add up. On the one hand, you want the guests to be well-fed; on the other hand, you want to keep costs low. You need to strike a good balance!
What you should be looking out for are dishes that every guest will enjoy. You may choose to go for light refreshments only instead of serving a full meal.
What you serve at a baby shower should depend on the kinds of foods the majority of the guests are likely to eat, the time of day you’re hosting it, and the number of guests.
You can go online to search for baby shower recipes and do a cost analysis of different cheap recipes so you and your team can decide on a recipe for the event.
After picking a recipe, your group has to decide whether to hire a caterer or prepare the food yourselves. If one of you is an expert cook who can prepare the chosen recipes, that is even better since extra costs will be saved.
Also remember to offer some refreshing beverage options, like lemonade, iced tea, and infused waters. These are all cheap and easy to make yourself!
7. Plan several months ahead
Lastly, it pays to plan the baby shower ahead of time. That way, your group has enough time to put all the items together but by bit.
Opening a contribution fund several weeks before the event will give everyone enough time to pitch in money. It will also give them enough time to gather all the materials needed and to secure a venue.
This is better than 11th-hour arrangements that may end up costing everyone much more.
Final Thoughts
Cheap baby shower ideas are not hard to execute. In fact, baby showers are usually much easier to organize compared to other big group events.
By keeping the number of invited guests small, you cut down on the amount of food and drinks you have to buy, and the need for a big hosting space.
At the end of the day, it is not the money spent that will matter to the mother, but the love and care she will receive from everyone who attends the shower.
Hi, I’m Ashley a freelance writer who’s passionate about personal finance. Ever since I was young, I’ve been fascinated by the power of money and how it can shape our lives. I’ve spent years learning everything I can about budgeting, saving, investing and retirement planning. So if you are looking for tips, advice, or just a little bit of inspiration to help you on your financial journey, you have come to the right place. I am always here to help, and I am excited to share my passion for personal finance with you.