It’s your turn to host your family’s 4th of July Extravaganza! Even so, your budget doesn’t have to be extravagant to create a festive place for everyone to gather, neither does the meal. Family, friends and fun is what the day should be about, not how much money you can spend. So with some simple planning and a little creativity, 4th of July can be done on a very limited budget.

Chicken is a great entrée and is usually inexpensive. Watch for sales in your local paper and buy ahead of time and freeze. Simply remove from the freezer, cut them up and place on the grill. Add some barbeque sauce or some of your favorite herbs and spices and you have a great start to a meal fit for a king or queen.

A cheap side dish is corn in the husks. Where we live, corn in the husks is sold at the local farmers market for about $2 for a dozen. Not only can you get it cheap, but it can be thrown on the grill with the chicken in the husks and it’s easy to cook.

How about watermelon for dessert? It is definitely one of the least expensive foods for how many pieces you can get. Mix with other fruits for a fruit salad, or serve by itself and you have a great summer treat!

There is nothing wrong with asking others to contribute a side dish for the day. Ask your favorite aunt to bring her special deviled eggs and you will probably make her day that you thought of her.

Decorations can be easy on a budget as well. White, blue and red decorations are available any time from mid May on, so you should find colored plates, cups, and silverware and table cloths at the dollar store. Buy some small flags and place in vases on the tables as centerpieces and before everyone leaves, let them take one home. That way they will always have something to remember your 4th of July party!

When issuing your invitations, ask everyone to dress in white, blue and red. This will make your backyard look decorated and everyone helped! Think about playing patriotic songs on the stereo for background music to help everyone remember what the day is about. And don’t forget to hang up the American Flag if you have one.

The 4th of July doesn’t have to be expensive to be fun and festive. Relax and enjoy your family and friends and be thankful for the USA!