15 Budget Friendly 4th of July Party Ideas

Celebrate Independence Day without breaking your budget!

By: Toby Kuhnke, Editor, CheapThriftyLiving.com

The summertime is a time for entertaining and celebrating with loved ones. One of my personal favorite holidays is the 4th of July. Mosquito bites aside, having a cookout or a dinner party is a great way to make sure you're doing the 4th of July right.

So what do you do for a 4th of July party when you're on a budget? You get creative!

We've all had to make a tight budget stretch for a party we've already committed to throwing. For thrifty homemakers, this is basically a universal experience, so we all have those little tricks up our sleeves for throwing that party without it costing an arm and a leg.

From budget friendly recipes and drink ideas to cheap decorations that look expensive, we've gathered all of our favorite tips and tricks for making your 4th of July one to remember.

Button Flag Tray

Add some patriotic decor to your home with the Button Flag Tray. You can use this 4th of July craft to serve some drinks to your backyard barbecue guests.

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Patriotic DIY Napkin Rings

These homemade holiday decorations transform your table into a festive red, white and blue dream for your summertime gatherings. This super easy craft to make shows your star spangled spirit and also helps the planet.

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4th of July Framed Menu Board

This adorable craft will show you how to make a chalkboard with a bit of 4th of July flair. You will need basic painting supplies, chalkboard paint, and an ornate frame that you can find at a thrift store or around your house.

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Easy Patriotic Rag Wreath

Take a few hours before the Fourth of July to put together this Easy Patriotic Rag Wreath. When you see the results, you won't regret it! One of the best things about this project is that it uses scrap fabric.

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Rocket Candy Bags Patriotic Party Favors

Make darling paper bags shaped like rockets. The kids will love them and they'll love eating the candy inside just as much or even more! This is such an easy party craft to make, and it will make your gathering all the more festive.

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American Flag Cake Recipe

"American Flag Cake made with a homemade vanilla cake recipe, cool whip, and fresh berries is the perfect patriotic dessert for your summer cookout. We love easy Cake Recipes and this recipe is a quick and easy cake recipe you will absolutely love!" - Sabrina Snyder from dinnerthendessert.com

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Red White and Blue Cookies

"I love a good sugar cookie, and these Red White and Blue Cookies are just a twist off of a classic sugar cookie. Truthfully, these cookies are a breeze to make. The only challenge comes from stacking and rolling the dough so that it looks festive once it’s baked." - David Dial from spicedblog.com

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Baked Parmesan Zucchini

This yummy Baked Parmesan Zucchini only takes a few ingredients to make and can be cooked in under half an hour. It's simple, no fuss, and it's even easy to clean up the pan after dinner. It's a side dish dream come true.

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Presidential Apple Pie

This Presidential Apple Pie is so divine and beautifully-crafted, it's fit for the very best. Made classically-delicious with ingredients you already love, and a little added pizzaz where presentation is concerned, this recipe was inspired by an actual white house chef. Fancy that!

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Guacamole Deviled Eggs

These delicious guacamole deviled eggs are the perfect way to bring a little color to your dinner table. They almost look too pretty to eat!

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Fresh Strawberry Lemonade

"Refreshing Strawberry Lemonade is perfect for all your summer entertaining needs. With a handful of ingredients, a little advanced preparation, and five minutes you can have a delicious, cold thirst quencher for those hot summer days!" - Beth Pierce from smalltownwoman.com

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Lemon Elderflower Cocktail

Whether you're getting ready for a special occasion, or simply planning your best brunch ever, you need to try this lemon elderflower cocktail!

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3-Ingredient Italian Spritz Cocktail

Indulge in a simple summer cocktail with this Italian spritz recipe. This recipe substitutes one type of wine for pink lemonade to capture the sweet, refreshing taste of summer.

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Best-Ever White Sangria

Granny Smith and red apples are found in a lot of sangria recipes, but the addition of raspberries, peaches, and mangos gives this recipe a colorful twist (plus a lot of flavor).

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Deluxe Strawberry Frose

You probably know about the frosé (a.k.a. frozen rosé) trend already. Everyone loves this fruity, summery drink. It's full of flavor, looks great in the glass, and is very fun to enjoy!

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