THE COOL CLUB
We’ve pulled together a guide on how to throw a graduation party on a budget – without compromising on the fun!
If you’re a student set to graduate, you’ll be more than ready for a celebration that does justice to all the hard work you’ve put in over the last few years! But as the academic year draws to a close and the student loan begins to dwindle… we understand that the purse strings might be getting tighter by the minute.
Sharing snacks
Party food
Save money by buying party food that can be shared with the group – simple but tasty snacks like sausage rolls, cheese twists, mini sandwiches and crisps work perfectly for a celebration and won’t break the bank!
Baking homemade goods is also a great way to save money and still make sure your party is stocked with delicious treats.
‘Bring a board’
Ask all your guests to bring a board of their own snacks as a contribution. These can be themed by colour, country, or type of food and are a fun way to cater your party and have everyone chip in! You can even crown the winner of the best board for a bit of added competition on the day.
Homemade cocktails
Save a small fortune by creating your own cocktails at home – we’ve suggested a couple of special recipes that still taste amazing and are easy to make!
Ingredients
X1 handful Polar Cube ice
X 60ml St-Germain elderflower liqueur
X 150ml prosecco
X 7 mint leaves
X 1 lime wheels
Top up: soda water
Garnish: sprig of mint and a lime wheel
Method
- Add mint leaves and 1 lime wheel to a wine glass and muddle gently then fill with polar cube ice.
- Add the St-Germain and the prosecco, then top up with soda water and stir.
- To serve, garnish with a sprig of mint and a lime wheel. Enjoy!
Ingredients
X 2 Super Cubes
X 30ml dark rum
X 30ml espresso
X 25ml tiramisu syrup
Garnish: a piece of dark chocolate
Method
- In a tall glass add the rum, espresso and tiramisu syrup. Mix with a bar spoon to combine.
- Add 2 Super Cubes to a rocks glass and pour the cocktail over the ice.
- To serve, garnish with a piece of dark chocolate. Enjoy your Tiramisu Temptation!
Games and activities
‘Words of Wisdom’
The perfect opportunity for friends and family to share advice and messages for the graduate as they take the next step into their future. You only need a sheet of paper and a pen so ideal for those working on a budget!
Share your words of wisdom, encouragement or advice with the graduate as they start the rest of their lives – a lovely group activity and chance for loved ones to give them something that they can keep and treasure for a long time to come!
Mad Libs
Mad Libs is a simple but hilarious party game where players try to create funny sentences using word cards. A stack of sentence cards will have a blank space for a word, and a second stack of cards will have a list of words on each. One person takes a sentence card, and others choose a word from their card to try and create the best sentence to win. You can create your own DIY version for some personalized results and without spending a penny!
Guess the Baby Grad
A chance for graduates to share their baby photos in a bit of healthy competition! Guests are challenged to match the baby photo to the grad’s name. You can make this harder by adding in photos of other guests or family members so that everyone can join in, or even alter photos to make them appear aged!
For more information on how to throw a party on a budget, you can visit Bonfire Night on a Budget: Our Top Tips and Tricks or How to Throw a Halloween Party on a Budget
For more graduation tips, click here
