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You can give the mom-to-be a great baby shower without breaking your budget. Spend your dollars where they'll have the most impact and avoid unnecessary expenses. Fortunately, most guests are more concerned about sharing a special time with friends and family than eating fancy food or receiving expensive party favors.

A reasonable shower budget is $20 per guest as follows:

• $2-5 party ware & decorations
• $3-5 favors
• $2-4 games and prizes
• $5-10 food

However, you can pull-off a fine shower for less by using the following tips:

#1 Pick a simple and inexpensive shower theme. Some party themes are just naturally more expensive, because they require lots of decorations, fancy food, or even entertainment. Other party themes are relatively inexpensive. Check out our Baby Shower Themes and think about which ones would be least expensive for you to pull off.

#2 Have the party at a free or low-cost location, such as home, park, church or community center.

#3 Shop for party supplies at discount stores (WalMart, Kmart, Target, etc.). The selection may be more limited than a party store, but the prices can be much less. Most discount stores carry paper cups, plates, napkins, utensils, balloons, streamers, party favors and candy.

#4 Check our Shower Favors page for low cost favor ideas. Discount stores often have great deals on scented candles, bath soaps, lotions, and stationary. Keep an eye open for low cost packaged sets that you can open and divide up for shower favors.

#5 Buy shower party supply kits. Celebrate Express sell all-inclusive shower kits for many themes that include party ware and decorations, and These can be significantly less expensive than buying supplies separately.

#6 Keep it small. Limit the guest list to 10 or fewer of the mom-to-be's family and friends.

#7 Schedule the party for a time of day when you aren't expected to provide a meal, such as 10 am-Noon, or 2-4 pm. Serve cake and drinks instead of a meal. If you want to have the shower at meal time, make it a potluck.

#8 Get help! Ask friends and family to help with specific tasks. Maybe your aunt can bake a great cake, an artistic friend might be able to design invitations, and the dad-to-be can blow-up and hang balloons (less expensive than helium).