Jubilee parties: have a right royal time – without breaking the bank

theguardian.com:

Whether or not you are a fan of the royal family, there will be no escaping the Queen’s platinum jubilee, with thousands of events – from back garden gatherings to mile-long street parties – taking place from 2 to 5 June.

According to the Co-op, an estimated 39 million adults will be doing something to celebrate.

The supermarket shelves are stacked with themed food and decorations. However, getting into the party spirit doesn’t mean spending a fortune. “It’s still possible to have a jubilee party without breaking the bank, if you can spend some time on the preparations,” says Faith Archer, who blogs about frugal living at Much More With Less.

Instead of the piles of union jack-patterned bunting and red, white and blue balloons available on the high street, charity shop bargains and homemade decorations are good options if you are throwing a jubilee bash on a budget.

When it comes to food and drink, you can team up with your neighbours or a group of friends to keep costs low. Fiona Hawkes, a blogger at Savvy in Somerset, says: “Most people are happy to contribute but it can take a bit of organising to ensure you end up with a good mix of food – no one wants to end up with 10 trifles and no sandwiches.” From party food and fizz to jubilee decorations and barbecue gear, Guardian Money writers and other experts have come up with some tips and deals for all budgets.

The weather will inevitably play a part in determining what we all tuck into over the extended weekend. If it is sunny, people will be firing up the barbecue or putting together a picnic. If it is tipping it down, there could be a lot of indoor tea parties.

The Co-op reckons the nation will celebrate the jubilee with some retro favourites. It predicts Victoria sponges