I've been tapped to be my buddy's best man. I want to do right by him, but I'm financially strapped. How do I give a killer bachelor party on the cheap?

ANSWER:

A bachelor party is all about celebrating your friend, which doesn’t need to cost a lot of money. Gather your buddies, watch a game, throw the football and have a barbeque. But don’t stay inside your place -- it will look obvious that you are scrimping. Even if it’s just your backyard, move the party to another venue.

Of course it’s better to throw the party a little farther away from your pad than right behind it. Try to combine the food and drinking with activities like bowling, pool, golf, etc. Most places are open and not busy on Sunday afternoons or evenings, so you may be able to get a discount package and save money that way. Use the Web to find specials. Ten is the minimum number of guests you want to invite; most places won’t give you special deals for fewer people.

The good news is that as best man, you are not on the hook for the whole tab! Etiquette rules call for the best man to pay for the groom, and the rest of the guests to split the bill. Skip the strippers -- you don’t need them. In addition to saving even more bucks, your buddy’s fiancee will thank you and praise your enlightened outlook to her bridesmaids.

Comments