This is most crucial. Most people do make a budget and draw out a list of expenses for the party. However, this shouldn't just be a checklist. you need to arrive at a particular sum of money required to host this party. Do remember that the amount you've worked out should include every expense including candles, ketchup, chocolates, etc. Once you've listed these expenses down, add another 20-25 percent to that cost as contingency. This way you won't feel too bad if the party overshoots the set budget. But under all costs, your party must be organized within this sum (contingency included).

This is one thing we don’t often remember. Leftovers or residues from previous celebrations. This could be decorations, music CDs, disposables, party hats, etc. So do rummage through your closet and loft for any leftovers from a previous gathering. You'll be surprised with just how much of that decoration was stashed away. Only when you have gone through the existing inventory should you go out and buy some more.

If you are only planning a regular dinner party for your friends, make a note of exactly how many are coming and prepare food accordingly. Also, and this is an oft-observed fact, make your dinner buffet style. This way, you don't have to spend dinner-time jostling between your guests serving them. Yes, traditionally, you are supposed to wait on your guests, but on friendly gatherings, or an informal dinner, self serving is the best way to go. Besides, when you keep a buffet, you will find that the portions of food served are adequate for your guest. This way, you don’t make large portions.

 

Another option for a party is to have a potluck. Let's say you want your friends to come over for dinner. Instead of taking on the load of cooking a gourmet meal all by yourself, you can discuss with your friends and each can bring one dish. This way no one person gets bogged down at the kitchen.

Your fancy china is well worth showing off, but if any of your guests in the party has children, then it makes more economic sense to buy disposable cups, plates and spoons. This way, you don't have to always keep a watchful eye on your china. Besides, disposables will save you washing dishes (possibly the worst part of the after-party clean-up). Here too, look around if you have any disposables left from your child's birthday party. This could save you the bother of buying extra.  

Do not hesitate to ask around for things you might need. In case you figure you're running out of resources sooner than you thought, ask a couple of friends to bring along a few food dishes."

Whatever the occasion, when you invite people over to your house, you're always looking to make your place as chic as possible. If it is a festive dinner, you could add some extra lighting in your living room, perhaps a fancy lamp packed away in your loft or you could have some mood lighting with candles. The other simple solution to have some interesting lighting in your house is to cover your bulbs and tubes with a coloured cellophane paper. If you're hosting a birthday party you can use electric lights inside the house, probably make a 'Happy birthday' with the lights (if they are long enough). The idea is to use resources already available with you.

For birthdays, the simplest way to make it fun is to blow a lot of balloons and instead of tying them to the top of your ceiling, just let them loose around the room, because let's face it, your kids would like that better anyway and besides, this will ease all your decorating troubles. The other option is confetti and streamers. These are all very inexpensive add-ons that you can use aplenty to make your party more festive.

The trick to a good party is to get innovative on the drinks. If you're calling friends over for dinner, instead of just lining up the alcohol and letting people have their regular neat, or on the rocks drinks (which can empty the bottles pretty quickly) look up some interesting cocktails and serve them. Cocktails like Mojito, Bloody Mary are dead simple. Of course, the simplest is to throw all of them together and make a bowl of punch.

Last but not the least, for all scenarios have a back-up. For instance, keep some take-away numbers handy for the off chance that the meal cooked will not suffice or that there's a recipe mishap. Also, keep extra bottles of water in the refrigerator and always stock up on ice cubes. If the party will go on too late to disturb your neighbor for ice cubes, borrow the ice-cube tray so you have extra cubes. Similarly, keep some munchies handy. In fact, you should keep chips, dips, etc when you're entertaining – saves you the bother of preparing elaborate starters.

There you go, your party is organised. Happy entertaining!