Saving money and celebrating Cinco de Mayo (at the same time!)

If you’re in the mood to celebrate, and have some fun, this is the perfect week to do so as Cinco de Mayo is only a few days away!

Cinco de Mayo (which means “May 5th” in Spanish) is on Sunday this year, and it’s a great chance to enjoy some Mexican food, the Mexican culture and probably a few margaritas! This being said, there are many people who celebrate this day without knowing what they’re actually celebrating…

Contrary to popular belief, it is not Mexico’s independence day – Mexican independence is celebrated on September 16th. Cinco de Mayo commemorates the Mexican army’s unlikely victory over the French forces of Napoleon III on May 5th, 1862, at the Battle of Puebla.

Now you know the history of the holiday, it’s time to celebrate! Don’t panic, this doesn’t mean spending loads of money on your party plans – there are plenty of ways you can join in the fun whilst saving money at the same time. Take a look at a few ideas for things you can do to celebrate Cinco de Mayo that won’t cost a fortune…

Enjoy some Mexican food – chicken fajitas, black bean burritos, Mexican flan, enchiladas, guacamole; the list goes on and on! Mexican cuisine is great fun to cook and perfect for parties and family gatherings. You’ll find lots of recipes online and nothing will get you more in the Cinco de Mayo spirit than Mexican food! None of the ingredients are massively expensive, and you could all chip in to keep the price down.

Make margaritas – all your need for this Mexican drink is some Tequila, Cointreau, lime juice and crushed ice. Remember that this drink is for adults only so keep the kids away – you could always create a non-alcoholic version for the children so they don’t feel left out!

Play some Mexican music – whether it’s just going to be you and your family at home on May 5th, or you’re having a big party, playing some Mexican music is the perfect way to help celebrate the day and it won’t cost you anything! Of course, a live mariachi band would be fabulous but if you’ve got a budget to stick to you can just Google “top billboard songs in Mexico/Spanish” and let the party begin.

Dress up – this doesn’t mean you have go out and buy a brand new outfit for the day! You can wear something that’s already in your wardrobe but just choose something that matches one (or all!) of the colors of the Mexican flag – green, white and red. If you head to a fancy dress shop you’re more than likely to find a sombrero that won’t cost much money!

Decorate – all you need is a Mexican flag draped over your doorway and the celebrations can begin! Decorate your home in green, white and red to get in the Mexican spirit. Having a piñata to help celebrate Cinco de Mayo is always great fun and you can easily make one at home so you won’t have to go over budget.

Whatever you decide to do to celebrate on Sunday, we hope you have a great time!