Celebrations are meant to be thoughtful and entertaining. Centered on a special event, milestone, or person- celebrations are meant to honor and impress. However, often times they are events which become extremely expensive and almost always, very wasteful. With budgets shrinking and landfills growing these days, why not reconsider how you celebrate both large and small events? Spending less and wasting less are both reasonable goals for any party planner or modern hostess. With simple steps and a little creativity, you can be enjoying your life's celebrations in a whole new way.

Many times when hosting a party endless supplies are purchased, many of which are not even needed nor even get used. Rather than hitting the party supply store, consider using what you all ready have on hand. Skip the printed paper plates and instead opt to use your own dishes. That is what they are for after all- to be used. Small costs (like paper goods) can add up quickly, so take a tour through your own kitchen (or even friends) and see what you can use. This will save you money; guaranteed. Also, if paper or plastic table cloths are your standard table cover, invest in a few linen table cloths. Not only do linens look nicer, they can be reused over and over which will save your money in the long run. Purchasing solid colors like white or ivory will allow you to reuse them for many occasions.

Besides being budget friendly, ditching the party supply store will dramatically cut back on the waste your party creates. With a more conscious approach to entertaining, you are making a big impact on the environment. Small details can be changed that will not only help you reduce waste, will also probably end up impressing guests more. For example, forgo the traditional latex balloons for your party décor and transform household items into party decorations. Gather different sized frames and display photos of the guest of honor. For a themed party like Halloween, you could display photos of children in their costumes from years past. Another idea is to gather mismatch vases or glass jars and use flowers as party décor instead of paper centerpieces and table top confetti. Group blooms into vases and place the vases in a tight group throughout your party area. You can use flowers to decorate as centerpieces, buffet tables, entrance ways, and even for a special touch in the guest restroom.

With small changes, your entertaining style can not only be more cost-effective but also more environmentally friendly. The bonus is that by avoided budget busters and wasteful products, your event will by default have a more personal and thoughtful feel to it. These small touches will add a sense of style to your events that others will surely be impressed by. It does not take a lot of effort to be a modern, economically savvy, and earth friendly party hostess.