Reply to $300 total is a reasonable amount for a birthday party for ~15 kids, right?

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Reply to "$300 total is a reasonable amount for a birthday party for ~15 kids, right?"

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Dollar tree for decorations and paper goods (though sometimes Target and other places are cheaper for plates in larger sizes).

$5 pizza's - several pizza places have deals right now - 3 double cut
Fruit, veggies, chips, sandwich platter from Costco or where ever
Bottled water and maybe a few sodas/ice tea for adults
Costco Cake $20

Then activities[/quote]

The above is not the OP— I know, because I am the OP!— and the above food sounds like a very bare minimum of $80 just for the food. If minimal decorations and paper goods (we are also doing Dollar Tree) and minimal for favors, I think that still sounds like $120+. With $0 activities, maybe that’s it? If it’s even $3-5 per kid for activities and games, you’re butting up against that $200 minimum I mentioned. So, I feel better, because that sounds pretty minimalistic.

We are not doing anything crazy IMO, but it’s still about $6 per kid for food, drinks and cake, $6 per kid for special activities and games, $3 per kid for favors. Then that leaves $75 for fairly fancy (diy) decorations and tableware and extra food for adults. [/quote]

Not at all the bare minimum.  You can cut your own fruit and veggies so its cheaper than a platter - carrots and celery, maybe cucumber or green beans depending on price.  Bags of pretzels at Aldi's are often $1-2, just need 2. A few ago they are $.60.   If you want to go fancy, then you can spend more but if you are looking for a budget.  Kids in K. want simple so you just go fancier for the adults- some adults will eat pizza, some not so we usually get subs too or something else for adults.

If you want fancy, then you have to be very creative.[/quote]

OP again. I guess my question was more "$200-300 for 15+ people is not extravagant, right?" I have been broke. My mom grew up poor. I know I can do it for less, just needed a reality check that $200-300 is "reasonable."

As for what you described, I shop Aldi and stand by that $80 figure.

This is what you said:

[b]$5 pizza's - several pizza places have deals right now - 3 double cut
Fruit, veggies, chips, sandwich platter from Costco or where ever
Bottled water and maybe a few sodas/ice tea for adults
Costco Cake $20[/b]

So, that's...

$15 in pizzas
$5 in water and sodas
$30 is what I'm seeing on the Costco website for a sandwich platter. 
$6 for fruit and veggies for 15-20 is really cheap IMO, but okay-- $2 for carrots, $4 for apples? 
$4 total for pretzels/chips
$20 for cake

That is literally, exactly $80.

If anyone can do that *amount* of food for *much* cheaper, I'd be impressed. If all homemade, I could see knocking maybe $20 off of that.

And no one needs decorations or tableware or activities that cost any money at all-- or favors of any kind. I totally get that. Like I said, I was more asking if $200-300 didn't sound over-the-top extravagant or wasteful. From these posts and my thinking about it a little more-- sounds like it's not. [/quote]

Spend what you want $200-300 is fine.  You were sounding like you didn't want to spend more.   I've done many parties most think are elaborate for that much as a room parent but we reuse a lot of our party decorations which helps.  Personally, I'd spend more for food but if you want it cheap that is how you do it.  I think in store the sandwich platters are cheaper but I usually do Subway as I prefer it.  If you can afford it, spend enough to make a nice party.  Skip the favors as most get trashed.[/quote]

Oh, yes, I definitely don't want to spend more than $200-300! I will say that in addition to getting the sense that $200-300 is actually fairly reasonable, I do appreciate this thread for reminding me I could cut a corner or two and keep it under $200.[/quote]

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