This article, entitled Throw An Inexpensive But Fabulous Baby Shower! comes from partner site 719woman.com.

Being asked to throw a baby (or bridal) shower is an honor because your friend or family member trusts you enough to do a fabulous job and help make their day memorable…but it can be expensive.

I recently co-hosted a baby shower for my friend Sarah. Her mom Wanda and I were able to do it in an inexpensive but really cute way. Here are some ideas you can use for a shower you might be throwing, and a lot of these ideas, even though for a baby shower, could be used for a wedding shower or even a birthday party. A lot of the items I used for decorating were things I already had, picked up at Goodwill (Sarah doesn’t mind Goodwill and bought a lot of her maternity clothes from there) or were bought from the Dollar Tree.

• Decorations:
  Set up a "statement" table you decorate with items that match the theme of the party. You can use children's items from around the house or those borrowed from friends or party attendees. Top it off with a framed photo of the guest of honor's latest ultrasound picture!


• Food:
  Keep the food simple. A spread of homemade mini sandwiches, deviled eggs, fruit and chips will be both inexpensive and cover the dietary and nutritional needs of your guests. Head to the dollar store for the paper plates, napkins and disposable flatware.


• The Cake:
  Before you order an expensive cake from a bakery, why not try to make your own cake pops? Cake Pop pans aren't very expensive and can be used with a boxed cake mix and canned frosting. Dress them up by rolling them in sprinkles or food-colored sugar. Chances are, your female guests will prefer the smaller portion.


• Party Prizes:
  While you're at the dollar store, pick up "gifties" like note cards and lotions to give out as prizes for the party games.

Hopefully this will give you some ideas for a party or shower you might be hosting in the future. Using what you already have in a different way (like the football dish), and picking up paper products and little decorations from a dollar store can really help you save money. And of course, if you’re a thrift store shopper…well, that can help you save even more.