Your hen/stag do budget will make or break your weekend. If you budget too high people will drop out, if you budget too low some people may not want to stay in bunk accommodation in Slough!
If you want to make sure you don’t overspend before and during your weekend I have put together some general hen/stag budgeting tips…
Planning a Hen/Stag Do Budget
Ask First
Speak to the stag or hen and all their friends to find out exactly what everyone’s expectations are and, more importantly, what budget they have in mind for the weekend. Getting the hen/stag do budget right at the beginning will save you a lot of hassle later on. After all, you don’t want to book a hen or stag weekend no one wants to go on.
Beware of False Economy
Booking the cheapest hen/stag package you can find can work out as a serious false economy. For example, you could end up in a hotel six miles from the city centre, which will cost you far more in taxi fares than booking a hotel in the centre.
Shopping around to get the best package is all very well, but the key element to price comparison is it should be like for like.
Book a Daytime Activity
Try and make sure you book something to do during the day. The last thing you want is everyone overspending on booze, peaking and skint by 7pm. I recommend an activity or two that would cost around the same as six to 10 drinks.
Include Food
Try and include at least one meal into the hen/stag budget for the weekend, as this will help people budget their spending money.
Don’t Be Too Elaborate
Don’t splash too much cash on fancy dress costumes. You could get a mask made for everyone in the group with the stag or hen’s face on it and hit the town as a group of clones. The great thing about a mask is you can stick it in your pocket and get into bars and nightclubs with no entry problems.
Budgeting Whilst On Your Hen/Stag Do
Have a Kitty
First and foremost, organise a kitty so everyone spends the same amount of money. I went on a stag do where everyone put money into an old ladies purse. Everyone in the group had a go at looking after the kitty and had the shame of getting out the purse every time a round was ordered. This kept the group together, buying food, drinks and transport out of the kitty, and no one ducked out from buying a round.
Also, don’t just allow for drinks in the kitty. Include everything — the food, transport, entry fees etc.
Don’t Skip Breakfast
Before you go to bed find out what time your hotel serves breakfast and then try and make sure you get up for it so you’re not staving later on.
Car Share
If you are using your own transport to get to the hotel or activities, keep your fuel and parking costs down by sharing cars. You can then just split the costs between those in each car.
My biggest tip out of all of the above is the kitty. It stops you spending extravagant amounts of dosh and gives everyone the same budget.
Guest post by Marco Walker of Designaventure
Image from Pixabay
