NBR-budget birthday party help

[la79al]

DD's 1st birthday came about 2 months after DH took a 50% paycut. I need to feed about 16 adults and 3 kids on $100. And the birthday girl has a dairy allergy. Ideas? Already planning on making our own cupcakes.

 

[mommyjam]

spaghetti is always a good option when you need to feed a crowd for less money

 

[mom2princesss]

The most economical thing to do is hold the party at a non-meal time. Like 2:00 or 3:00. After lunch and before dinner. That way you just need cupcakes, ice cream, maybe some chips and dip and fruit and soft drinks.

If you are set on a meal time I would do pasta or taco bar or chilli. I wouldn't worry about the 1 yo since she won't know the difference and you can feed her anything regardless of what everyone else is having.

 

[stsomewhere]

The most economical thing to do is hold the party at a non-meal time. Like 2:00 or 3:00. After lunch and before dinner. That way you just need cupcakes, ice cream, maybe some chips and dip and fruit and soft drinks.

If you are set on a meal time I would do pasta or taco bar or chilli. I wouldn't worry about the 1 yo since she won't know the difference and you can feed her anything regardless of what everyone else is having.

I agree with this. It would be very affordable.

 

[traymoney]

or a baked potato bar--baked potatoes and all the toppings--broccoli, cheese, sour cream, chives, etc

 

[la79al]

OP here, forgot to mention that due to work schedules, other commitments and travel time, it's going to have to be at a meal time. Thanks for the suggestions so far though!

 

[kathie859]

Baked ziti
Tossed salad with a few dressing options
Bread/rolls
Relish tray if enough money (carrot and celery stick, pickles, olives, radishes etc.)
Cup cakes/ice cream
Granita(frozen fruit flavored ice-scraped (think flakes) to eat with a spoon for the dairy sensitive.

Happy birthday to your little one and have a great celebration.

 

[princessmorgan]

Meals I have done cheaply for parties is having a BBQ with hamburgers and hotdogs and chips. Also a sandwich bar with croissant rolls or little rolls. Depending on coupons you could also order pizza, especially from Sams Club or Costco where the pizzas are bigger and feed a lot of people. I like simple, too, so that I can enjoy the party, too Happy Birthday to your DD!

 

[amberdburke]

Last year for DD's bday part, I made chili and baked potatoes. Not only was it inexpensive, but everyone loved it and have requested it again for this year. I had never made chili before, but Kraft has a great recipe.

 

[Mom_Rides]

With less then 20 people coming you should have no problem feeding everyone for under $100.

We have at least 40 people at DD's bday parties every year and I am always able to feed everyone for less then $100. Things we've had in the past were:

1st bday (I probably spent just a bit more then $100) - baked ziti, fried chicken (I bought it from Meijer), tossed salad, rolls, pistacchio salad, lemonaide, punch and bottled water, cake and ice cream

2nd bday - Hot dogs, chili sauce, mac & cheese, chips, lemonaide, iced tea, bottled water, cupcakes

3rd bday - I wasn't working so we just did cupcakes and had chips and pretzels out, lemonaide, Capri Suns

4th bday - Sloppy joes, pasta salad, chips, and I think some type of other salad, maybe cole slaw??, lemonaide, bottled water, Capri Suns, cake & cupcakes

This year we are debating on what to do. DH wants to do fried chicken again and order a chicken strip tray for the kids. DD said she wanted pizza but with as many people as we have coming I can't see a budget way to do it. I suggested a taco bar and taco salad. At this point the pizza is out and DD seems fine with that but I need to get prices on chicken and roughly estimate how much a taco bar would cost us.

IMO, if I'm feeding people, they'll eat what I feed them I don't put too much thought into it. And I certainly don't go overboard with the amount of food I make. We have our parties at lunch time so I figure its a lighter meal and therefore they don't 8 choices for food. 3 or 4 is sufficient.

I hope your DD has a fantastic 1st birthday!

 

[drcmk]

How do you set up a taco bar? Do you just set out big bowls of meat, cheese, lettuce, salsa and taco shells? Lined up like a buffet? Do you try to keep the meat hot in a crock pot or something? How many tacos do you expect each person to have? How much meat do you cook per person?

 

[Anne34]

DD's 1st birthday came about 2 months after DH took a 50% paycut. I need to feed about 16 adults and 3 kids on $100. And the birthday girl has a dairy allergy. Ideas? Already planning on making our own cupcakes.

My daughter also has a dairy allergy. Duncan hines cake mixes don't have any dairy in them if you are using a mix for cupcakes (most others do) and also canned frosting doesn't have dairy.

I would make pasta & sauce (Trader Joe's has a great marinara with no dairy). Check the sauce if you buy it -- many have parmesan in them. You can make it a meat sauce or keep it plain. I'd also do a salad (no cheese) and maybe garlic bread (no for the dairy free person) or french bread.