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Inexpensive Fourth of July party

How many say they would like to have a Fourth of July party but would like to keep the budget tight. Some not expensive red. blue and white decorations, food and beverages is all it takes to throw a party.

Create a fun, festive and inexpensive Fourth of July party

Independence Day is probably the easiest Holiday to decorate for, especially if you’re on a tight budget. Who wouldn’t mind saving a bit of moolah right now?

Food ideas

  1. White corn on the cob served in a red or blue glass bowl.
  2. Blue tortilla chips served with red salsa and sour cream.
  3. Sliced red tomatoes served with slices of mozzarella.
  4. Red pepper slices served with a blue cheese dip on the side.
  5. Blue Jell-O with raspberries and topped with whipped cream.
  6. Star shaped sugar cookies with white frosting and red and blue sprinkles.
  7. A large clear, glass bowl of mixed blueberries and strawberries accompanied by a bowl of whipped cream.

Beverages

Sweet Summer Tea (I know it’s not red, white and blue, but it’s so American)

Red, white and blue freeze - Mix together 1 cup whipping cream, ½ cup frozen blueberries, 1 tsp. lemon juice, and sugar to taste in a blender. Top with a few strawberries.

Fourth of July punch - Blend together 6 cups of orange juice, 20 oz. frozen strawberries in syrup and 2 cups cranberry juice cocktail. Add 3 cups ginger ale at serving time. Makes 18 servings

A little extra

Now for some other ways to make your Fourth of July party sparkle... pun intended ?

  • Stick some lit sparklers in a dish when serving it.
  • Watch a movie like the National Treasure or some other movie that portrays the beginning of our nation.
  • Have patriotic songs playing in the background, like the National Anthem, America the Beautiful and so on.
  • Dress in red, white and blue.
  • Wear some of those funny star shaped sunglasses.
  • Decorate a door or window with Uncle Sam.
  • Be sure to hang an American flag if you have one

Making the Fourth of July festive on a tight budget

No need to skip the Fourth of July because you are on a tight budget. There are many things you can do, food and decoration, to make the day sparkle without making a hole in your pocket.

There are so many things you can do and food you can make that doesn’t have to cost that much, but will make your Fourth of July sparkle as if you spent a fortune! Below are some decorating ideas, food ideas and other inexpensive things you can do!

More festive, yet inexpensive, ideas for food

Chicken: You can usually buy chicken on sale really cheap. So, before the 4th is upon us, be checking your local store’s weekly sales paper for chicken on sale, then stock up. You can make great bbq chicken on the grill.

Corn on the Cob: Summertime is the best time to get inexpensive corn on the cob. You can grill it in their husks right along with the bbq chicken!

Watermelon: Watermelon is one of the least expensive foods for the amount you get and it is red. You can make watermelon salads, fruit bowls and other yummy side dishes that will fill your family and guests up!

Celebrate!

Other things you can do inexpensively to celebrate our nation’s independence are:

  • Have a backyard party and have everyone bring a dish to pass.
  • Add sparklers to your burgers when serving them.
  • Don’t pass up invites to friends or family who are having backyard parties and take a dish to pass.
  • Don’t feel like you have to go all out with decorations. Simply using red, white and blue paper plates, cups and napkins will give your home a patriotic feel.
  • Use a vase you already have and fill it with flags from the dollar store. Give one to guests as they arrive too.

Celebrating the Fourth of July shouldn’t cost a fortune, especially in a recession! Using simple tips like the ones above will help you stick to your budget AND enjoy a festive Independence Day!

Decorating ideas

Red, white and blue decorations and patriotic decorations come out before Memorial Day, so you should be able to find an abundance at your local dollar store.

You can usually find red, white or blue paper table clothes this time of year at fairly reasonable prices. Using blue for the table cloth, add white napkins and red paper plates for a festive red, white and blue table. Blue plastic wear on the white napkins and red plastic cups add a nice touch.

Make a centerpiece using a blue vase of red and white carnations, then add some flags. Give the flags to your guests after your meal is served.

Homemade 4th of July decorations are easy to make and you probably have some or most of the supplies you’ll need already on hand.

Here are some inexpensive things you can make using items you have on hand:

Craft stick flags

Paint 5 sticks red and 4 white (per number of flags you want to make). Let dry

Glue the painted sticks together in an alternating pattern by gluing them to one craft stick on the right side and two broken craft sticks in the middle and on the left side.

Cut a small square of blue construction paper and color white stars using a white gel pen.

When the glue has set, turn the flag over. Glue on the square of blue construction paper and glue another craft stick to the long craft stick on the back. Let the glue set.

Stars on a string

Cut out large stars using red, white and blue construction paper. Decorate as desired. Fold over one tip of each star and staple or glue to desired length of red or blue string. You can use these to decorate your base camp!


Celebrate the Fourth of July

Finger foods for special days

Cool salads for special days

Fun, festive foods for a patriotic day