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.

Birthday Party on a Small Budget

Throw a Big Birthday Party on a Small Budget

I was able to throw my husband’s 50th birthday party on a small budget for 25 people in a pretty venue for just $500!

Depending on your kind of party, you could even do it for much less.

For Tip 1 on how to get the venue, music, and flowers for less, go here.

For Tip 2 on how to get the food and birthday cake for less, go here.

 

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

 

3. Tips: Tables and Chairs, Tableware, and Party Decorations

If you can, decorate the venue yourself, and with things you already own.

 

Tables and Chairs:

I had a huge room to work with and had to somehow make it feel comfortable and inviting for 25 people.

Thankfully The Lodge room comes with folding tables, nice chairs, and three little sofas, but that’s all. I had to bring in everything else.

If you don’t have enough folding chairs, ask your friends and family if they could bring some when they are coming to the party, or if you could pick up the ones they have beforehand.

If you need folding tables, I bet you know people who have one or two and will get enough together for the party.

 

Linens, Tableware, and Balloons:

 

I wanted the room to look really elegant with linens that match, but you could obviously use tablecloths you already have, borrow some from family or friends, or buy very inexpensive plastic tablecloths at a dollar store, party store, Christmas Tree Shops, Big Lots, or a similar store.

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One tip: decide on one color or two for your color theme, and then buy all of your supplies in that color. I decided on dark red and silver.

I did the math and renting the linens I needed would have cost $100, so I decided to buy five pretty table linens at Kohl’s instead (with one of their 30% off coupons).

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I also bought six simple throw pillows in the same color than the tablecloths at Target for the three sofas in the Lodge room I was using that I then reused in our home afterward. This is most likely an expense you can skip.

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For the tableware, balloons, and a 50 sign, I went to a party decor store  — with a coupon in my hand — but you can find a lot of these items also at a dollar store.

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I bought gold paper plates at the party store, and we used Grandma’s real silverware. That made for a much easier cleanup, yet it looked classy thanks to the real silverware.

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Buying a few sets of golden or silver plastic silverware only cost a few dollars at the dollar store.

Instead of bringing my water and wine glasses, I bought 30 clear plastic cups that work for water, juice, and wine.

I opted for the simple $1 balloons instead of the ones that cost up to $10 each. You can get the same deal at most dollar stores.

For extra decorations for the room, I packed up and brought what we already owned:

• flameless tealights and candles
• two small suitcases that I made into a “coffee table”
• seasonal decor (pumpkins)
• vintage silver tea kettles and cups

Since a baby and a toddler were going to be at the party, I even brought toys Landon had outgrown so they’d have something to play with, and after the party I let them take them home.

This is what the room looked like in the end. I was so busy running around organizing the party and hosting our guests that I only have a few iPhone pictures.

 

My 50th birthday party budget:

• Panera Bread food (sandwiches, baguette, mac and cheese, coffee/tea): $270
• Trader Joe’s (salad, water, juice, cakes, cookies): $50
• Party decor store (plates, cups, birthday cake candles and number, balloons): $50
• Kohl’s (5 table linens, I used 30% off coupon): $50
• Target (ice bucket, ice, and 6 pillows): $80

My total cost to host a 50th birthday party for 25 guests: $500

It took quite some time to organize everything and then to decorate the room, but it was so worth it.

Landon helped me unload the car and we put up the tables together on one day, and we made the run to Trader Joe’s, Kohl’s, Target, and Party City together.

On the day of the party, I did the rest of the decorating with his help. We finished just in time, I threw on my dress, and we all had a wonderful evening celebrating Don’s big day.

When it took seven people 45 minutes to take down the decoration and pack up, everyone got a sense of how much work had gone into making this party happen, but it was a labor of love for me and I’m kind of proud that I did all the decorating myself.

Organizing a 50th birthday party on a budget can absolutely be done! I hope my tips help you to save a ton of money.

For Tip 1 on how to get the venue, music, and flowers for less, go here.

For Tip 2 on how to get the food and birthday cake for less, go here.

Do you have other tips for planning a birthday party on a budget? Share them with us in the comments!

 

Party on a Small Budget