Finding affordable cupcake stands is actually pretty easy to do, and many people don't realize this. Instead they run out and spend just as much money on renting a cupcake stand as they would have if they bought it in the first place. There are a lot of different ways to do this, and I hope to cover most of them in this post so you can save money for the other stuff your party needs!
When you can find a vintage cupcake stand you stand to save the most money possible. These are generally found at yard/garage/estate sales, and will only set you back a couple of bucks. The best thing about going with a vintage one is that they look almost the same as the most current styles, and are super cheap!
For new cupcake stands, shopping online is always the best choice. You might be able to find some stands locally, but it's rare to find a large selection, and even more rare to get them cheap! Places like Amazon allow you browse a monster selection, and get them for a fraction of what you would had you shopped in your area. Also, many stands on Amazon will qualify for free shipping, so you don't have to worry about spending the extra cash.
Another easy way to save money is to get a stand that will be reusable. Not having to spend the money again later doesn't help much now, but it obviously will later. To do this, your purchase has to be something that's versatile and somewhat plain. Avoid wire stands since they are designed to hold a specific number of cupcakes. Go with something that has flat tiers that allows you to have different amounts of cupcakes on it to cover all of your needs.
Just because you want cupcakes instead of cake doesn't mean that you have to spend a fortune. Use the tips discussed above and you are well on your way to saving a lot of money on your next party!