Do you host a holiday party?

[Anonymous]

Do you do it every year? If so how much do you usually spend? We seem to be the only people in our friend group to host any sort of holiday party nowadays. We have been doing it for the better part of a decade now and usually have 100+ people come and go through the day/night including kids. Its always very fun to see friends we don't see on a normal basis but it has gotten very expensive!

I think all in for food, booze, a babysitter for the little kids, etc we are spending $2000.

[Anonymous]

No, we don't host a holiday party. At best, we will host a casual game night. $400 tops.

[Anonymous]

I think mine's more in the range of 30-50 and people bring things so maybe $200-300. I make a couple big lasagnas,, bread, and salads and have some cookies.

If you're feeling stressed just pare down the guest list.

[Anonymous]

Two, most years. One is not in our home, though.

[Anonymous]

We do Christmas day and NYE. Christmas day we usually get 40-60 family (immediate and extended), and NYE we have about 120 guests...more business and friends than family for that one. I think this year we spent 7k on the Christmas party and NYE is looking close to 15k.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We do Christmas day and NYE. Christmas day we usually get 40-60 family (immediate and extended), and NYE we have about 120 guests...more business and friends than family for that one. I think this year we spent 7k on the Christmas party and NYE is looking close to 15k.

Ooh, nice budget for NYE. What do you typically do?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you do it every year? If so how much do you usually spend? We seem to be the only people in our friend group to host any sort of holiday party nowadays. We have been doing it for the better part of a decade now and usually have 100+ people come and go through the day/night including kids. Its always very fun to see friends we don't see on a normal basis but it has gotten very expensive!

I think all in for food, booze, a babysitter for the little kids, etc we are spending $2000.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you do it every year? If so how much do you usually spend? We seem to be the only people in our friend group to host any sort of holiday party nowadays. We have been doing it for the better part of a decade now and usually have 100+ people come and go through the day/night including kids. Its always very fun to see friends we don't see on a normal basis but it has gotten very expensive!

I think all in for food, booze, a babysitter for the little kids, etc we are spending $2000.

That seems like an insanely good deal!!

[Anonymous]

I do not have a friend group. I have a lot of individual friends, most of whom are not friends with each other, and our husbands are not friends.
I wish I could have a party but the people wouldn't mesh.

[Anonymous]

How are you providing food and drink for 100 people on 2K?!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How are you providing food and drink for 100 people on 2K?!!!

Op - maybe I am underestimating.

Food for the party

Wegmans catering $1200
Costco - $800
Babysitter - $200
Booze - $500

So I guess more like $2700. Also this year I am making a bunch of food to save money. Making chicken, pasta, meatballs, appetizers.

[Anonymous]

We are hosting this year (posted a separate thread for it and was scolded for choosing a bad date, haha). I think we will have 30-50 people.

Food - about $300
Booze - about $300
Babysitter - $200

Not too bad!

[Anonymous]

We host a Santa brunch where Santa comes with wrapped gifts for all the kids (provided by their parents ahead of time). We do not provide childcare at the party. I'd say we spend maybe $1000 on food, booze, and Santa, but it is a potluck style so people bring contributions for both food and drink. They also chip in for the cost of Santa himself. One reason our cost is high is that one dish we always provide is a very high quality tenderloin that my husband makes that is pricey.

Our friends used to host a huge Christmas open house and the had bartenders (with an open bar with top shelf items), babysitters, a DJ, and all the food. They spent around $10K on that party.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I do not have a friend group. I have a lot of individual friends, most of whom are not friends with each other, and our husbands are not friends.
I wish I could have a party but the people wouldn't mesh.

same

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How are you providing food and drink for 100 people on 2K?!!!

Op - maybe I am underestimating.

Food for the party

Wegmans catering $1200
Costco - $800
Babysitter - $200
Booze - $500

So I guess more like $2700. Also this year I am making a bunch of food to save money. Making chicken, pasta, meatballs, appetizers.

You are probably way underestimating booze. And maybe food as well, but this is cultural -- some groups eat a lot more than others at parties.