Budget Retirement party

[erinmomof2]

I need ideas for a budget retirement party. My FIL just found out he will be retiring in 2 weeks (he received a buy out from GM). My MIL wants to throw a small budget friendly retirement party for him, there will be about 30 guests. She is on a pretty tight budget so my DH and I will be helping out a lot with food and decorations. So far all she knows is she wants to grill hot dogs (I'm not really sure why she wants hot dogs... but she is really set on this). My husband and I will probably bring another meat so there is at least an option beyond hot dogs and we'll bring some sides. So any ideas or recipes that are good, inexpensive, and will feed 30 (no pasta dishes... no one in the family likes it). Also any ideas as far as decorations or things to do at the party. He's really into sailing, and will probably be spending most of his time doing that. MIL is thinking a nautical theme, but so far all she's planning to do is hang one of his racing flags. MIL is not into planning and she's pretty much told DH and I to handle it.

Anyways, I would love any tips, advice, recipes, ect that you have to offer.

Thanks,
Erin

 

[trip]

I need ideas for a budget retirement party. My FIL just found out he will be retiring in 2 weeks (he received a buy out from GM). My MIL wants to throw a small budget friendly retirement party for him, there will be about 30 guests. She is on a pretty tight budget so my DH and I will be helping out a lot with food and decorations. So far all she knows is she wants to grill hot dogs (I'm not really sure why she wants hot dogs... but she is really set on this). My husband and I will probably bring another meat so there is at least an option beyond hot dogs and we'll bring some sides. So any ideas or recipes that are good, inexpensive, and will feed 30 (no pasta dishes... no one in the family likes it). Also any ideas as far as decorations or things to do at the party. He's really into sailing, and will probably be spending most of his time doing that. MIL is thinking a nautical theme, but so far all she's planning to do is hang one of his racing flags. MIL is not into planning and she's pretty much told DH and I to handle it.

Anyways, I would love any tips, advice, recipes, ect that you have to offer.

Thanks,
Erin

No pasta dishes? Isn't that unAmerican?

What about Calico Beans? There are lots of variations but here is one.

INGREDIENTS
• 4 ounces bacon, diced
• 1 pound lean ground beef
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 1 can (21 ounces) pork and beans
• 1 can (16 ounces) kidney beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 can (15 ounces) butter beans, rinsed and drained
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup ketchup
• 1 tablespoon cider vinegar
• 1 teaspoon prepared mustard
• 1 teaspoon salt
DIRECTIONS
In a large skillet, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp. Remove to paper towels to drain. Discard drippings.
In the same skillet, cook beef and onion over medium heat until the meat is no longer pink; drain. Combine the beef mixture, bacon, beans, brown sugar, ketchup, vinegar, mustard and salt. Spoon into a greased 2-qt. baking dish.
Bake, uncovered, at 325° for 45-60 minutes or until the beans are as thick as desired. Recipe can be easily doubled for a larger group. Yield: 8-10 servings.

 

[erinmomof2]

No pasta dishes? Isn't that unAmerican? QUOTE]

What makes it even stranger is that I'm Italian. My grandmother is 100% Italian, born in Italy, she is at a total loss when I visit. I remember being about 10 and going to stay with her and when she asked what I wanted for dinner I said Tacos. She didn't even know how to make it. She just shakes her head at me. My husband and his family are the same way, just not fans of pasta. Weird I know.

 

[S. C.]

Sams club and/or Costco you can get 5lbs of potato salads cheap. Also veggie trays. Their fresh baked cakes are really good, they decorate them nicely too.

 

[Handbag Lady]

Go to Michael's or some other store that has art stuff.

Buy a good-sized white or off-white posterboard and cut out a hole in the middle that is just the right size for a photo of your FIL on a boat. Like a 11'x 18' for a 5x7 picture.

Bring a few color pens and let all of the party-goers sign their well-wishes on the new picture frame.

I know there are a lot of pre-made things that one can buy for this, but I swear to you it is cheaper to do it yourself.


For food, hit Costco. They have a lot of stuff there for parties. Also, try Smart N Final if you have one in your area.



Or, if you don't like the picture frame, here is what I did for one of my guys at work who retired. He was ALWAYS complaining about parking spaces...who had one, who didn't, who was parked in the wrong spot, and he was famous for using parking cones. He once out five parking comes in one spot to get his point across. For his party, we bought a brand-new parking cone and everyone signed it for him. It now has a place of honor in his living room!

Does your FIL have an equally known "thing" about him? Maybe have people sign a small pilot's wheel for a sailing ship?

 

[mjkacmom]

I just brought deviled eggs to a bbq - gone in minutes! Potato salad is also cheap to make. Doctor up some baked beans with some bacon.

 

[lulu2]

What about some red, white and blue decorations? This sounds like it is around the time of the 4th of July, I have already noticed things on sale on party stores.....Seems like cole slaw is pretty inexpensive, how about a mandarin orange fluff dessert, I would probally search around the grocery store for whatever is on sale..........Good Luck, sounds like fun!