The Christmas season is upon us, which means it is time to start planning this year’s Office Christmas Party! But there is a catch — you’re on a tight budget! Luckily, a fun celebration can be done without spending a whole lot. A little creativity and some good planning goes a long way, and you will be able to plan an amazing office celebration and bring in some holiday cheer without draining company resources.
The first thing to do is figure out exactly how much money you can spend. From there, you can start making reasonable choices on where to spend money. One mistake a lot of people make is trying to do everything, and in the end end up with a decent (but not great) experience. Instead, focus on a few things and do them really well while keeping the other things simple.People will often also take time out of their work day to assist with potlucks to bring a dish to share to an office party, it isn’t common for bigger teams to do. Most attendees can be expected to buy their drinks and are not taken a cash bar but have it set up for after the first couple of welcome drinks are served.
You don’t have to spend a lot on entertainment at a party. Instead of hiring a DJ, have a guest create a customised Spotify playlist. You can save money, and someone else get to have a little fun. You can also have activities and games that are free. A Secret Santa with a low price limit includes everyone and adds a little fun. Quiz nights can be a lot of fun and entertaining, and they are free outside your time to prepare. You can put together a little photo booth area with props from cards and craft supplies for people to take silly pictures.
You can also be strategic with timing to stretch your budget farther. Things like venues and catering become super expensive during peak times like Friday and Saturday nights. Thursday evenings or a long Friday lunch are great cheaper alternatives and just as fun. Afternoon parties are great because people can leave at a reasonable time and don’t have to feel like they have to stick around for the whole thing.
Atmosphere can be created quite easily with the right decorations. Decorations can be purchased cheaply, handmade, or even borrowed. Christmas decorations can be found quite easily in second-hand or charity shops and things like pine branches and holly can be free and still look great. Spending time with your coworkers while decorating an event space can be a great way to build excitement and share in the responsibility.
Consider what your coworkers would enjoy the most. More often than not, a relaxed and informal atmosphere is what is most enjoyable. People love getting the chance to chat, laugh, and simply appreciate one another outside the often stressful work environment. There’s no need to spend a fortune or go over the top with things like ice sculptures or champagne fountains. Simply good company, some holiday music, and enough food to go around is more than enough to create a fun environment.
Atmosphere is heavily influenced by music. Create a shared playlist with your coworkers where everyone can contribute their favorite Christmas songs. This makes sure everyone can enjoy the music, especially if there’s variation. It’s free and there’s an option to play it loud. If you want a more original atmosphere, hire an entertainer, like an instrumentalist, or a vocalist. There is often a lot of hidden talent in the office just waiting to be showcased.
For teams with remote workers, it might be best to take a hybrid approach. Set up a video call and have their colleagues invite them to a portion of the celebration. Send remote workers a little hamper gift before the event so they feel a part of it. It’s the little things that remote workers will appreciate and it shows that they were thought of and included.
Sometimes the little things can make a much bigger impact than spending a lot of money. A little personalisation, like name tags, a handwritten note of thanks from management, or a few little chocolates adorning each place setting show a lot of thought without costing a lot of extra money. These things mean a lot more than bigger costs for more boilerplate additions.
Feeling valued and being brought together are the biggest common threads to successful office parties. Settle a budget of fifty pounds or five hundred, and make it your priority to have a positive atmosphere where colleagues can relax and be together to celebrate the end of the year. Just because your budget might be tight, it doesn’t mean the party has to feel that way.
