How to budget for an event

When you sit down to plan an event there are many things that need to be paid for. It might be tempting to just start buying but you should always have a budget and try and stick to it. Here are some steps to make sure you are planning a great event on a budget.

Identify your event strategy - Start with the basics. What type of event are you having and what is the budget for the event? These are the basics to cover. Evaluate past events, research, and understand what things cost. Finally, make sure you have a list of must-haves for the event.

Estimate your costs - Get estimates from vendors and lock them in if they meet your expectations and budget. This will help you stay on top of spending.

Finalize your budget - Once your vendors are picked, a location is decided, and other providers are planned you will be able to put together your final budget. As soon as you've got all those numbers in place, you'll want to make sure you stay in the green while you pick up last-minute items. Make sure to have a contingency fund for unexpected things.

Post-event - After the event, you should make sure all vendors are paid. You should also ensure everything you spent is accounted for. Once you've got all the numbers together you can see what costs mattered and what things didn't for future events.