Planning and Hosting a Memorable (Yet Frugal) 4th of July Bash

While it is hard to believe that summer is here and that Independence Day is just around the corner, the time to crack out the fireworks is looming ahead. With the economy in a continued state of decline, folks are entertaining less. This is unfortunate, because it can be a lot of fun to host a 4th of July bash for friends and family, and it doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. The tips that follow will help you to throw a fun Fourth of July get-together that even the Founding Fathers would find fitting!

Plan Well in Advance

Frugal planning should begin well in advance of your Fourth of July get-together. Determine the number of guests that you want to invite, and where you will host your party (inside or outside). Work out the details of what you would like to do, what kind of food you want to serve, and so on.

Take Advantage of What You Already Have

Do you have a pool in the backyard? Then you’re set to host a 4th of July pool party! Recently installed a fire pit out back? Then a Weiner and marshmallow roast is a natural choice. By taking advantage of things that you already have, you can really reduce the cost of your party.

Shop at the “Dollar” Stores for Supplies

If your neighborhood doesn’t have a dollar-only store, you’re really missing out. These stores go by different names but the premise is the same – everything is just one dollar! You will find everything from patriotic themed decorations (like table cloths, plates, and so on) to napkins and streamers, sparklers and more, and you will not have to crack open your piggy bank to make it all happen.

Host Pot Luck

Another great and frugal way to get together with the ones you love without taking out a second mortgage on your home to pay for it is to ask everyone to pitch in. In the old days, pot luck get-togethers were all the rage and they still are in many sections of the country. How it works: ask each guest to bring their favorite dish. For example, maybe you will buy all the franks and buns, and guests will bring potato salad, baked beans, watermelon, a Jell-o mold, or whatever. That way, you are not burdened with the entire cost of the food or taxed with the time it takes to prepare everything. It is a win-win situation for everyone.

Have Everyone Pitch in on Fireworks

While it is illegal in some parts of the country to set off fireworks, if it is legal in your area, ask all the guests to bring some along. Fireworks can be expensive, but you can arrange a nice show if everyone is pitching in on the cost of the fireworks, or bringing their own to donate for everyone to see. Another option is moving your party to a local park where the local government hosts a fireworks show. Admission to these shows is typically free and they can be a fun way to round out an evening in celebration of our country’s independence.
By Alyssa Davis

Creative home decor is what we are all about at Metal-Wall-Art.com and our staff writer, Alyssa Davis, is an expert in designing it with metallic wall sculptures and outdoor western metal art.

July Fourth, Independence Day, is a day to celebrate being an American for those both born here or those who emigrated for the promise of a better life. Don’t let this Fourth of July pass by without a proper celebration.

Sarah on “Planning Ahead”

“If you wake up on the morning of the Fourth wondering what you’re going to do, it’s probably not going to be too memorable. Take a few minutes this week to plan out some activities that will make the day feel special. If you’re stumped for ideas, break down the day into four parts: a special Fourth of July breakfast event (often a parade), a lunchtime or afternoon event, dinner, and fireworks. Our favorite tradition is to start the day with a flag pancake breakfast, where blueberries and bacon serve as the stars and stripes on the square ‘flag’ pancakes, then take in a small town parade, then have an afternoon barbeque with good friends we don’t get to see too often, and finally top off the day with fireworks – sometimes a big show, and sometimes a little one – no matter the size, fireworks are always a treat.”

Alicia on “Lightening Your Load”

“You don’t have to do all the planning yourself. The day will be a lot more fun if everyone gets to put their special stamp on it. Call a good friend if you are single and plan a fun filled day together. Split the day in half – have one person plan the day and the other plan the late afternoon and evening. If you’re wrangling a family, don’t be shy in asking them to help map out the day. Give each family member one part of the day to plan something fun. It’s always neat to see what others come up with.”

Here are a few ideas for planning a memorable Independence Day.

1. Read the Declaration of Independence Aloud After Dinner

Whether you’re celebrating alone or with lots of friends and family, take ten minutes after your dinner (but before the fireworks) on the Fourth to read the Declaration of Independence aloud. You’ll appreciate it more if you read it out loud rather than silently. It is short, to the point, and elegant, so it’s not a difficult assignment. It is an incredible reminder of the powerful ideals that shape this country, and is a wonderful way to reaffirm your American citizenship.

2. Do Something Quintessentially American

Find a rodeo nearby and attend. Visit an amusement or water park. Check out a parade big enough to feature at least a few fire trucks and marching bands. Have a root beer float. Play a game of touch football, horseshoes, or badminton. The beauty of looking for something quintessentially American to do is – almost anything goes. Americans are masters at assimilating and absorbing aspects of other cultures and making them our own.

3. Host a Pot Luck Barbeque for the Neighborhood Before the Fireworks

Hosting a barbeque with neighbors and good friends is an excellent way to celebrate the Fourth. Make it a pot luck with instructions for everyone to bring their signature Fourth of July side dish, desert or drink. That way, you won’t be slaving in the kitchen all day or spending a fortune to feed everyone.

When you hear the word “organize,” what is the first thing that comes to mind? Closets? Filing cabinets? Toys? Bills?

How about these United States? It might seem far-fetched at first, but this great nation is the direct result of organizational prowess. Our forefathers — from George Washington to John Adams and Thomas Jefferson — saw the potential in a motley group of states and their very independent-minded constituents. They were determined to form a whole from the disparate parts, a whole that was bigger and better than the sum of the individual elements.

And they succeeded because they knew how to organize. They created clear declarations of their intent. They devised a system that would keep power dispersed and out of the hands of tyrants. They set up clear road maps, such as the Bill of Rights, so those independent-minded citizens would know how to navigate the new system with ease.

This Fourth of July, take a few moments to remember their incredible handiwork — and to reflect on the power of organization. If it was capable of altering the course of our country’s history, just think of what a little organization could do for you.

Alicia and Sarah on “Getting Started”:

For most of us mere mortals, the real problem isn’t figuring out the benefits we’d gain from getting organized but figuring out when, where and how to get started. If you’re disorganized, you are likely to stay that way unless you can get momentum working in your favor.

The trick: Do one small thing that you can cross off your list. A series of small steps add up to real progress. Our forefathers weren’t paralyzed by the enormity of the organizational task at hand. They successfully got the power of momentum working for them. They did something, like write an opinion piece, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Here are a few guiding principles for unleashing your own organizational prowess.

#1. Organize to your goals
Being organized is not about being perfect or doing what someone else says you should. It’s about identifying what you really want to accomplish and then putting in place flexible frameworks and systems so that you can handle the inevitable twists and turns with confidence and sanity intact.

#2. Define your priorities
Think about where this country would be today if the Founding Fathers hadn’t put a top priority on achieving independence and organizing a new system of government.

At first glance, it may seem as though everything on your to-do list is an absolute priority. But only a few things really matter in the long run. Set aside five to 10 minutes at the start of the week to review your list and at least mentally identify the four or five tasks that are most important.

#3. Ask for help
This country was not built by a few; everybody played a role. If you have big goals in your own life, chances are you will need others to help you along the way. Learn to ask for help.

Delegating effectively can be a challenge, but it is worth overcoming. Enlisting the help of your “team” — spouse, children, roommates — will make all of you more efficient and happier. Doing everything by yourself demoralizes others because it robs them of the opportunity to add value with their own creative approaches to getting work done.

When you hear the word “organize,” what is the first thing that comes to mind? Closets? Filing Cabinets? Toys? Bills? How about these United States? It might seem far fetched at first, but this great nation is the direct result of organizational prowess.

Our forefathers, from George Washington to John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, had the foresight to see the potential in a motley group of states and their very independently-minded constituents. They were determined to form a whole from the disparate parts; a whole that was bigger and better than the sum of the individual elements. And they succeeded because they knew how to organize. They created clear declarations of their intent. They devised a system that would keep power dispersed and out of the hands of tyrants. They set up clear roadmaps, like the Bill of Rights, so those independently-minded citizens would know how to navigate the new system with ease.

This Fourth of July, take a beat to honor their incredible handiwork. It has served us well for over 230 years. While you’re at it, take a moment to reflect on the power of organization. It can move mountains. If it was capable of altering the course of our country’s history, just think of what a little organization could do for you.

Alicia and Sarah on “Getting Started”

“For most of us mere mortals, the real problem isn’t figuring out the benefits we’d gain from getting organized, but figuring out when, where, and how to get started. The fact of the matter is, if you’re currently in a disorganized state, you are likely to stay there unless you can get momentum working in your favor. The trick: do one small thing that you can cross off of your organizational list. The simple act of completing an organizational task, no matter how small, gets the magic of momentum working for you, not against you! Although you’ve heard it a million times before – it’s true that a series of small steps add up to real progress. Our forefathers weren’t paralyzed by the enormity of the organizational task at hand. They successfully got the power of momentum working for them. They did something, like write an opinion piece, and the rest, as they say, is history.”

Here are a few guiding principles for unleashing your own organizational prowess.

1. Organize to Your Goals

Being organized is not about being perfect or what someone else says you should be doing. It’s about identifying what you really want to accomplish and then putting some flexible frameworks and systems in place so that you can handle the inevitable twists and turns on the path to that goal with confidence and sanity in tact.

2. Define Your Priorities

Think about where this country would be today if the Founding Fathers hadn’t put a top priority on achieving independence and organizing a new system of government. At first glance, it may seem as though everything on your to do list is an absolute priority. But in the long run, only a few things really matter. It’s easy to get lost in the whirlwind, so, set aside five to ten minutes at the start of the week to review your big ‘to-do’ list and at least mentally identify the four or five tasks that are most important.

3. Ask for Help

This country was not built by a few; everybody played a role. If you have big goals in your own life, chances are you will need others to help you along the way. Learn to ask for help. Delegating effectively can be a tough challenge but it is one well worth overcoming. Consider this: enlisting the help of your “team” (spouse, children, roommates), will make all of you more efficient and happier. Doing everything by yourself demoralizes others because it robs them of the opportunity to add value with their own creative approaches to getting work done.