No matter what time of year it is, there’s a good chance your company can buy a holiday party. Unfortunately, there are a lot of things that can go wrong when you’re planning a holiday party, and with your workplace budget measured in the tens of thousands, it can be easy to get overwhelmed.
Here’s How to Spend the Workplace Party Budget Wisely:
Make use of spreadsheets.
Spreadsheets can make an enormous difference in the way you spend your workplace budget. Whether you’re planning out your entire company party or just buying drinks and appetizers for a few coworkers, an Excel spreadsheet can keep your money in check and make it easier to make informed decisions.
Talk over with coworkers.
It shouldn’t be a surprise that you won’t have time to talk with your coworkers when you’re in the middle of a work conference call. That’s why it’s important to know how to spend your conference call budget wisely and make the most of your time with coworkers. While it is tempting to go for the more expensive options for work party entertainment, the truth is that most of what you’ll be spending will probably be happy hour drinks and appetizers. Planning your budget allows you to avoid certain expenses and maximize your money.
Know the budget’s goals.
Planning the perfect budget for a workplace party can be a daunting task for businesses owners. It’s easy to see why: party budgets can cost thousands of dollars and take months to finalize. Even worse is the mood of the party, which could determine how much you spend. But nagging doubts and concerns can also get in the way. Is your business in a competitive market? Are there unpredictable expenses? How will your business fare in the long run? So, there’s no time to get everything in order like the present. The holidays are upon us, and that means a lot of good times on the job for your friends and co-workers. But how you spend your budget this season can make or break whether you’re able to enjoy the celebration with your coworkers. The trick is to plan ahead and know the number one rule of holiday spending: Know the budget’s goals.
Establish a plan.
As the end of the year approaches, many companies are already thinking about their next year’s budget. When it comes to spending your workplace party budget wisely, you have to be strategic and adaptable. This means that you have to know the true value of events and not just the monetary value. The reality is that the most effective way to spend your budget is not on the event itself but on the people you associate with during the event.
Seek help.
As the end of the year approaches, many of us are gearing up for an annual tradition: the office party. It’s a lot of fun and can be as confusing as it is joyous, but figuring out how to spend your office party budget wisely can be a challenge if you are not super confident in your ability to plan parties. That is why it is important to ask for help from those with a little more experience than you. You don’t have to go crazy when enjoying the festive spirit but it is important to get your spending right—and the host or hostess of the event has some important decisions to make about the budget for drinks, food, entertainment, and more. The good news is that these things can be budgeted for well ahead of time.
A party can be a great way to bring employees together and give them a chance to unwind, relax and bond with coworkers. That being said, the cost of bringing a group to the office can be a significant drain on your company’s bottom line. That’s why finding smart ways to spread the cost of the event is important.
