This is the continuation of my blog post about throwing the most fantastic big birthday party on a small budget. This is how I did it!
Throw a Big Birthday Party on a Small Budget
I was able to throw my husband’s 50th birthday party for 25 people in a pretty venue for just $500!
For Tip 1 on how to get the Venue, Music, and Flowers for Less, go here.
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Tip 2. Food and Birthday Cake
Food:
My trick for this party: order affordable, catered food, and pick it up yourself.
Since my husband’s family is very big, everyone usually makes a point to chip in when we get together, yet for this event I didn’t want anyone — including me — to have to cook or do much.
I wanted to offer catered food, and it had to be affordable and yummy.
The first place that came to mind was Panera Bread. We love their food because it tastes great and is made with quality ingredients.
Sure, I would’ve loved to offer a three-course meal with a warm entree, but that just wasn’t in the budget.
So I ordered a mix of 20 sandwiches — which came with potato chips, baguette, and pickles — plus an order of mac and cheese for the kids, and coffee and tea, which comes with cups and sugar, etc.
That was plenty of food for 25 people, considering that not everyone eats a whole sandwich, and we had so much other food.
I also bought salad, cheese, bottled water, lemonade, milk, juice, and several desserts from Trader Joe’s.
Don’t have a Panera Bread nearby? I bet you have local places that cater yummy food.
Find special deals for catered food in your local coupon pack you get in the mail.
One of my sister-in-laws picked up the Panera Bread food on the way to the party so I’d have time to decorate the room.
Birthday Cake:
My sister-in-law Ruth usually makes the birthday cakes for everyone, and she was happy to make Don’s favorite: carrot cake.
I love her “50 is Nifty!”
I bet you have someone in the family who likes to bake, and if not, simply buy a premade cake at your supermarket bakery and just ask them to add the writing on the day of the party.
They can usually do it in just a few minutes, and the cakes there don’t cost that much and feed a lot of people.
I’ve also done this for all of our son’s birthday parties. I’ve never ordered a pricey theme cake since I can just add a LEGO figurine or other characters on it myself — and I always get asked where I get the delicious cake from.
I do make a point to stay away from cheap sheet cakes full of food dyes and opt for the ones with really good chocolate — that makes a big difference. Everybody always enjoys those a lot.
For a little bit of added decor, check out these decoration sets.
Go >> here >> for Tip 3 of how to spend less on tables, chairs, linens, plates, cutlery, and balloons, plus the breakdown of my $500 budget!
Even if you have a much smaller budget, you can still get valuable tips. Happy celebration!
If you missed Tip 1 about how to spend less on venue, music, and flowers, go back << here.
