Cinco de Mayo is practically here, which means if you haven’t started planning for your party yet then you may be in big trouble. Luckily, there’s a few ways to turn a last minute party into a major money saving event. With a few adjustments and budget cuts, you should be able to transform your party into something spectacular without hours of planning and shopping. So, check out these ten tips to see if you can manage to get your party in order before May 5th arrives. You are certain to be thrilled with the results of your last minute celebration.

1. Playlists
Music can be one of the most important aspects of a party, especially if you are celebrating a certain culture, like you are with Cinco de Mayo. Many people go out of their way to hire a band for these types of parties, because it allows them to hear authentic music from professionals. There’s a lot more options than splurging for a band though. As time passes, more and more playlists find their way onto our favorite streaming programs. In fact, in recent years, there have been playlists dedicated purely to celebrating Cinco de Mayo. Most of the playlists are free to use and will give you access to traditional music as well as modern jams. You can even build your own ultimate playlist from the playlists that you find, so you’ll have an entirely unique experience to enjoy.

2. Think Colorful
When it comes to Cinco de Mayo, many people actually gravitate towards party supplies and decor that are blatantly Mexican. This can be a problem if you want to save money on your party though. Instead of grabbing the items with sombreros and flags, try to go with colors. A lot of people love to use the classic green, white and red which represents the Mexican flag. Whereas, other people love to use bright and vibrant colors that are often found in Mexican culture. No matter what you choose, try to shop for solid items so you can reuse them later. You don’t have to go overboard either, as the decor of the party isn’t what people typically remember.

3. Blend Away
Your blender can be one of the greatest assets when it comes to planning a Cinco de Mayo party in a hurry. One of the first things you should consider making with your blender is a variety of salsas. These are very cheap to make and often you already have the ingredients you need to make them in your refrigerator or garden. You can find a lot of recipes online too, so don’t be afraid to explore a few different items for the party. Once you have the salsa ready to go, clean your blender really well. Now, you can whip up drinks like margaritas and frozen lemonades to keep your guests nice and cool. You may want to look up mixed drinks to see which ones are popular in Mexico or were invented in the country.

4. Taco Bar
Food is one of the best elements to add to a party, especially if you are planning a long party. If you want to come out cheap on this ordeal then a taco bar is probably the best way to go. This will allow you to grab a variety of shells and tortillas, which shouldn’t cost you much at all. You might even want to try making your own from scratch. Toppings for the tacos shouldn’t range very high either especially since a head of lettuce and cabbage should take care of most party goers needs. Of course, the filling for the taco is where you’re going to spend most of your money. However, you can easily buy cheaper meats to make this portion. For instance, a pork loin can be turned into delicious shredded pork tacos in just a few hours with the crock pot. Make sure to shop around though or talk to your local butcher to see if you can get a better deal.

5. DIY Pinata
If you want to add a little more fun to the party, especially for the little ones then a piñata is a must. These can cost you a pretty penny though, especially during this time of the year. However, making your own is actually very inexpensive. All you need is a lot of newspaper, which can actually be found for free if you look at groceries stores or other areas that pass out items like penny savers. You can also use paper from your recycle bin to help stay ecofriendly. Then, you add some glue to water and get to sculpting. One popular design to make is flowers, but you can let your creativity to decide where to go. The exterior of the piñata is usually covered in colorful tissue paper. Once you have your piñata dry, add in candies that you have lying around the house, or pick up a bulk bag.

6. Seasonal Foods
The best way to keep your guests and your budget happy is to shop for foods that are actually in season. Luckily, May gives us a wide range of items to work with that will sit many classic Mexican dishes. One fine example is corn, which can simply be grilled or made into salads or soups. Another great item to add to the party is mangos as these can be turned into delicious desserts or made into drinks that will satisfy all ages. Limes are also in season now, so you can whip up delicious limeade for the kids or margaritas for the adults. Even cactus is in season in May, which means you can grill up some delicious cactus leaves to impress your guests.

7. Digital Invites
Chances are, if you waited this long to plan your party then there is no way you will be able to send out invitations in time. That’s okay though, because it will only save you more money. Instead of buying or printing and shipping out invites, use the technology in your life. Text people to let them know about your big event. You might even start up an event on your social media account and invite people from there. Email is another simple answer to your problem, which is especially great if you’re inviting co-workers. Finally, if you have the extra time, call the people you would like to invite and let them know about your party.

8. Bring Your Own Beer
A lot of guests will expect alcohol, particularly beer, at a Cinco de Mayo party. However, this can be one of the priciest aspects of a party, especially if you’re having a lot of people over. Instead of footing the bill for everyone to drink at the party, add a Bring Your Own Beer clause to your invitation. This will encourage people to bring their favorite beverages to enjoy. If enough people bring something to drink then everyone can share and enjoy a whole new aspect of the party. This is especially great if people bring their favorite Mexican beverages to add to the celebration of Mexican culture.

9. Shop at Dollar Stores
Although decorations aren’t a must-have at your party, they will still add a little extra pizzazz that is sure to keep your guests feeling the fun. One of the best ways to add decor to your party is to head to your local dollar store. You can easily grab streamers, banners and other supplies to make the party fun for a dollar each. If you’re lucky, you may even find Cinco de Mayo specific decorations that will suit your needs. Some stores might even have fun party favors for the kids. If you choose to go this route then you can always box up your decor and use it in the upcoming years, which will get you more worth out of your small investment.

10. Dance
It’s not always easy to keep all of your guests entertained. Of course, one pass time is easy to get everyone on board though. That is, dancing. There’s a wide variety of Mexican dances you can have your guests try out. In fact, you can look for dance lessons for these dances online to get everyone excited about trying out something new. Even those that don’t like to dance will love watching everyone pick up on their new techniques. You can also have everyone dance their typical favorites, which should go well with some of the modern Mexican music you added to your playlist.

Cinco de Mayo can be one of the best times to get together with friends and family to celebrate Mexican culture. However, there are a lot of major expenditures when it comes to the holiday. With these ten tips, you should be able to avoid the high cost of these items, so you can get back to enjoying the fiesta with those you love.

Mother’s Day is almost here, which means sticky breakfasts in bed and homemade gifts that are sure to warm the heart. Although your children’s gifts may make your day extra special, you might want to go the extra mile for yourself on your special day. This doesn’t mean you have to go out and splurge on things that you wouldn’t normally buy for yourself. There’s actually a lot of things you can do to relax on a tight budget. This should help you unwind while ensuring you get to feel the love on Mother’s Day. You never know, taking some extra time for yourself could help you destress and find your inner strength to get through the rest of the year.

1. Go Back to Bed
Motherhood often means you simply don’t get enough sleep on the average day. This can really alter your mood, energy levels and stress levels. In fact, on average, women need at least 20 more minutes of sleep than men do, which means you’re running on even less sleep than you thought. So, you might want to spend some of your Mother’s Day catching up on the sleep you’ve lost. You may want to send the kids away after you’ve eaten their delicious breakfast, or you can take some time for yourself and nap in the middle of the day. You may even decide to do both. This extra sleep will come at a great time too, since you’ve been running strong since the beginning of the children’s school semester.

2. Grab a Coffee
If you have younger kids in the home or a tight schedule then chances are you don’t ever get a chance to go out and get a coffee on your own. Mother’s Day may be the perfect occasion to do so though. Simply dress yourself up and head out while your partner tends to the children for an hour or so. You might even see if you can get some friends to come along to make the experience even more rewarding. It doesn’t matter if you do this on Mother’s Day or in the following week though, so make sure you choose your timing right. The extra coffee jolt can help get you through the day while the time to yourself will refresh your mind.

3. At Home Spa
Going to a day spa can cost a fortune, so you might want to cross it off of your Mother’s Day list if you’re on a tight budget. Instead of going to a professional spa, you can easily utilize your home to get all of your spa needs completed. For instance, you can always ask your partner for a massage as a Mother’s Day treat. This can help bring you closer together and will help your body relax. You can even look up massage techniques online to really work out the muscles and tension in your back. Another option is to run a hot bubble bath for yourself. You might want to play some music through headphones in order to block out all of the sounds around you. For a boost in mood, you can always light scented candles. You might also pull out your nail polish and give yourself a manicure or pedicure to help you feel beautiful.

4. Wine and Painting
One popular activity that many mothers are turning to is wine and painting sessions. There’s a whole lot of these to choose from, so look around in your area to see which businesses are available. Often, the classes are held in coffee or craft shops, to help create an even more relaxing environment. If you have a group of friends to go with you, you may also receive a discount as groups are always favored when it comes to these events. The entire premise of the event is to try out wines while painting a specific painting. By the time you go home at night, you’ll have the same painting as your friends, only it’ll have your special touch. This may not be an event you can go to on Mother’s Day, but there’s certain to be special Mother’s Day events available.

5. Catch Up on Shows
It may sound entirely simple, but taking some time out of your life to catch up on your favorite TV shows can be one of the best ways to celebrate. Usually, it’s hard to get through a show without interruption or without having to change it to something your partner or children want to watch. So, on Mother’s Day, take to the couch or your bed and turn on your favorite shows. You can binge watch with the headphones on or send the family out for the day. This will help you enjoy peace and quiet while boosting your entertainment levels. You’re sure to feel amazing before a season of your favorite show is over. You might want to grab some snacks to make the experience even more worthwhile.

6. Go Out
Mother’s Day is all about you, so you might want to use this time to catch up with your friends. Often, it’s hard to get some time just to hang out with friends without having a playdate or get-together. So, call up the friends you’ve been missing and make time for you all to get together without families to get in the way. You can go dancing, grab brunch or simply go for a jog together. No matter what you choose to do, try to make it like old times when you didn’t have responsibilities to worry about at home. You will feel lively and young again, which is sure to make your Mother’s Day extra enjoyable.

7. Date Night
A lot of the time, motherhood means putting aside your relationship to tend to the children’s needs. So, on Mother’s Day, you may want to take some time to rekindle the romance in your relationship. Try hiring a babysitter and heading out to your favorite restaurant. You might even plan for a date at the restaurant where you first began dating. Make sure you choose where you’re going and what you’re doing though because it is your special day. This can help you relax and remember the way you felt when you first fell in love with your partner. It can also improve your relationship immensely and encourage you to make more time for the two of you, even if it does mean hiring a sitter.

8. Order Out
Most mothers end up cooking most of the time, so you may want to take the night off when it comes to whipping up meals for the family. Of course, you could leave your partner in charge of this duty, but it may mean a good clean up will be in order the following day. Instead of forcing yourself to cook and clean on Mother’s Day, you may want to order from your favorite restaurant. Chances are, most places will be crowded, so ordering out will ensure you get the nice relaxed meal you deserve without having to fight through crowds or stress that one of the children may misbehave. It will also allow you to order something else for the children so you won’t have to listen to complaining if they don’t like your choice in foods. All in all, it’s a win win.

9. Enjoy a Hobby
Between tending to the children, helping with homework, cooking, cleaning and more, there’s a pretty good chance that you have about zero free time at the end of each day. Mother’s Day can actually be the perfect time to get back in touch with one of your hobbies. Try to take some time out of the day to celebrate the things you love. If you’re interested in sewing then work on a project that you want to do, rather than one you need to do for the household. If you love sports then get the whole family in on your favorite. You may find some family members might share your love of the activity. After you enjoy your hobby for a while, try to rework your schedule so you can at least enjoy it once a month. You will feel less stressed if you manage to do this and it will help you feel more confident.

10. Indulge in Dessert
If you’re the type of person who is always on a diet then this treat is especially for you. On Mother’s Day, you should take the time to indulge in your favorite dessert. It doesn’t matter if it is something simple or something incredibly intricate, try to find a way to purchase it or make it so you can have it as your special treat on Mother’s Day. You might want to hint around that you want a specific dessert ahead of time, so your partner can take on the challenge and leave you with less work to do. By having some of your favorite dessert you will feel a lot happier and less stressed. You may even want to hold onto the treat so you can indulge in it a little each day. Of course, you might want to buy a basic dessert for the kids, so you don’t have to share yours!

Mother’s Day is a special time to celebrate your motherhood. Although it is a time for your children and spouse to spoil you, you should take some time to spoil yourself too. This will help you feel more powerful in your role as a mother and will ensure you get some time to relax and enjoy yourself.