Surprise 40th Birthday Party Help

[kal78]

Hi there everyone! I am new to this forum and am VERY glad to have found it!

I need some advice. I am throwing a surprise birthday party for my boyfriend's 40th. I am having it at our house to save money as money is VERY tight for me right now. I am honestly stressed out of my mind about not having enough money now for bills and for the party, which is December 4th. The food is pretty much covered as his mom is making a ham and his sisters are bringing a side. My worry is the Drinks. Mainly alchohol as I want to have enough. There will be about 30 people. I am going to make a champagne punch but I need beer, wine, and some hard stuff. Oh and appetizers and soda!!

Does anyone have any ideas on what I can do to save money! I am making myself sick right now with worry but I also feel bad asking everyone to bring something as I am the one that decided to have a party for him! Silly Silly me, I just wanted to do something nice!

[frugal is fun]

I would just keep it to beer and wine and the punch and leave it at that. I started doing this a few years ago and my friends started to catch on lately. We all know now that if we want more than beer and wine to bring our own.

I'm throwing my son a birthday party Saturday and for apps. I'm doing a veggie platter, a homemade salsa and chip platter, mini hotdogs, buffalo chicken on a stick, potato skins and I'm not sure what else. My local grocery store has boneless chicken on sale for $1.67/lb, potatoes are buy 1 get 2 free, bacon is buy 1 get 1 free. A friend of mine is bringing stuffed breads.

If someone offers to bring something say yes and then tell them what they can bring or tell them what you have and ask them for suggestions if they see any holes in the menu.

I would have a basic menu planned and then wait until the weekly specials come out and make your menu from there. I've also been collecting coupons for the past month or two and am planning on going through everything tonight. Looking for the Hillshire farms coupon for the mini hotdogs and a Marie's coupon for the dip. And any other coupons that I can use, which might change my menu.

For main course food I'm doing pulled pork in the crock pot, italian wedding soup in the crock pot, salad, bread & Butter and ice cream cake for dessert.

I'm having about 30 people and I can update next week what I spend.

[Contrary Housewife]

I agree, provide a limited amount of beer and wine and let people know they can BYO what they'd like. Your responsibility is to ensure people have a nice time, not that they get smashed.

You can make iced tea to serve also. A box of tea bags makes gallons of iced tea for much less than bottles of soda would cost.

Take a look at some of the holiday specials in the grocery this week and see what you can do. Lots of ingredients for snacks and appetizers are on sale, like cream cheese and pie crusts, crackers, cake mixes, eggs (for deviled eggs), and nuts.

[shoiji]

If you are going to have a dinner there really is not a need to have a bunch of appetizers. Keep them simple, chips and dip, carrots, celery, and another vegetable with a dip made from sour cream and an instant soup. Maybe some slicee keilbasa or pepperoni. You really do not need alot. Everyone will probably want to save room for dinner. Just watch the flyer to see what is one sale and purchase that for appetizers. With the holidays here you are bound to find something good and on sale.

Keep the alcohol to a minimum. Beer and wine seems like enough. Or you can do a signature drink and beer and wine like they show on the entertaining shows. Do you really need champagne in a punch? Seems like a waste of champagne.

Keep a list of what everyone is bringing. That way if someone wants to bring something you know what is needed.

[cuteoldlady]

Everyones advice is spot on. You are throwing a birthday party, not restaraunt service ! People will understand money is tight, just let them know what will be available and go from there, and like a previous poster said, if someone offers to bring something - say yes!

And dont stress so much about it, perfection is never attainable! grin Relax a little so you will be able to enjoy the party too!

[frugal is fun]

so I did my shopping this morning and I spent about $170 to feed approximately 30 people.

my menu, which is very heavy on apps -

veggies & dip
Pepperoni/cheese/crackers
mini hotdogs/mini kielbasa
homemade salsa & chips
buffalo ckn & bbq ckn on a stick
potato skins
shrimp cocktail
stuff breads which a friend is bringing

Main course -

pulled pork in the crock pot
italian wedding soup
salad
bread & butter

dessert -

Ice cream cake
cup cakes
brownies which a friend is bringing

I also bought the ingredients to make a punch. My ex-Dh is buying the booze.

I had coupons and I shopped the sale flyer. My receipt said "normal"prices would have been $240 so I think I did awesome and I have a ton of food.

if you plan and keep it to things you know you'll be okay.

[Libby]

I agree with what you can afford in terms of basics: beer, wine and one signature cocktail. Advise others that its BYOB I dont think thats tacky either. Serve nibbly finger food - take the basics and take them up a notch by doing something fancy with them....chicken salad sammies could be chipitole chicken salad sammies or cocktail weiners (you call them old smokies down there?) in a bourbon bbq sauce vs plain.

Can you make your own cheeseball? Soften a brick of cream cheese, shape into a ball, roll into diced pistachios or walnuts,or cranberries, let set in fridge for about an hour and put it out on a plate with a small knife and crackers.

This is your bf's 40th. The fact that you're throwing a surprise party for him will speak volumes...if anyone threw me a surprise party...it'd be more then enough just by doing that one gesture. The bonuses are seeing close friends/family and knowing your loved one loves you enough to take the time to plan something like this for you.

[Saule]

I don't know where you are but a mulled cider might be a nice thing to have, especially if the weather is cold where you are. You throw some cinnamon sticks and cloves into a gallon of cider or even apple juice, let it simmer a bit, like 20 minutes, and stand overnight. The next day heat it up and add a bottle of inexpensive port - you should be able to get it for under $10 in most places. Ruby port if people like sweet drinks in your area, but I use tawny port. It makes your whole house smell very festive.

Otherwise, do not feel you have to provide any hard liquor - that is a budget killer. I have gone to many parties where only wine and beer were served, and unless people are louts, it will be more than enough. The point is to socialize and celebrate, not to get hammered.

[shoiji]

Well it definately sounds as if you have more than enough food for 30 people. It comes out to about $5.67 a person which to me sounds really good. I doubt you could get it catered for that amount and have all the food you are going to have.

Let us know how the party was.

[frugal is fun]

the party was a success! I had food leftover but not tons, probably enough for lunch today and then a few snacks.

My 10 yr old nephew said that this was the best party he's been too. Great food and he got to run around, not like the bounce house parties that have become so popular lately.

So that was good to hear. Everyone raved about the food and had a great time.

And my girlfriend made my son a Shutterfly picture book of all of the adventures the boys had together over the summer. She's a bit of a new friend but we've really gotten to know each over over the past year so to me that was very touching. I had forgotten how much time we did spend together this spring and summer. Actually made me cry! happy tears of course!