Sad! In my GF neighborhood, we have weekly happy hours in the summer — it’s BYOB, but no other fees. We also had a picnic — again, it was potluck and BYOB, with no fees. But I live in the less-affluent area of GF, so maybe the more affluent you are, the more cheap you are?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think that's unreasonable given that they are providing some food and presumably planning, setting up, and cleaning up. You can always decline to participate. You can always volunteer to plan the next one and change how it's done.

I agree. $20 is not going to cover a couple of burgers with all fixings, sides, as well as the multiple drinks most adults will consume.

Sine they ask that people bring food and drink that they'll consume, no one will eat $20 worth of burgers

Fixings, sides, napkins, cups, cutlery, soft drinks, tables, charcoal. Also she should frankly get a cut from having to deal with petty, whiny, shrews like you and OP. Just stay home and peer through your curtain at everyone else having fun, Gladys.

If one cannot afford to throw a party, don't.
Condoning this is why some marrying couples think nothing of charging their wedding guests an attendance fee.

Having a party where you expect all the guests to bring the libations and food is in poor form.
It is one thing if it is family and everyone agreed to a potluck. It is another to be summoned by someone you would not consider a personal friend. Even worse, to be told there is a fee.
If you can't afford a party, dont throw one.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think that's unreasonable given that they are providing some food and presumably planning, setting up, and cleaning up. You can always decline to participate. You can always volunteer to plan the next one and change how it's done.

I agree. $20 is not going to cover a couple of burgers with all fixings, sides, as well as the multiple drinks most adults will consume.

$20 per person. For hot dogs, hamburgers, ice, and soft drinks?? With lots of other food at the party, most adults aren’t going to eat “a couple of burgers.” And people are making up that the “host” is paying kids to set up tables and chairs.

Fake “host” sounds cheap. At those prices, she is going to wind up with a lot of extra money.

I'm amazed at all the people calling the organizer (not host!) cheap, when apparently OP and her entire neighborhood are vastly wealthy, but kick up an epic fuss at contributing $20. Rich people neighborhoods are the literal worst. No community, no caring, no collaboration, just suspicion, comparison, and condescension.

Why do people who have no spirit of generosity or community insist on "hosting" and "doing everyone a favor"? Either you host a party or you don't. Enough with the cheapness and nickle and diming.

+1. She wants the credit of hosting and the credit of being lady bountiful and coordinating a block party, but does not want to invest the time, energy or money to do either properly. She cannot even be bothered to set out a sign up sheet to ask people to help clean up and is hiring someone to do it!!!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have never, ever, been invited to a paying block party. My (wealthy) street does block parties.

The whole idea behind a potluck is that you contribute in food instead of in money. The host can't have it both ways.

I'm really baffled as to why that's so hard for people to understand.

All of this new money with no class, I guess.

Well, block parties are kind of no class. But they're fun.

Yeah I don't really mind sitting in a folding chair in a driveway drinking mid-range Chardonnay out of a plastic cup. I don't mind bringing a dish to share with everyone. I'd mind being charged 20 bucks for the privilege though.

And i think that's what OP is saying too. I agree.

Yup. Rich people are often the stingiest.

$20 is a little high but I think a cover charge is bad.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have never, ever, been invited to a paying block party. My (wealthy) street does block parties.

The whole idea behind a potluck is that you contribute in food instead of in money. The host can't have it both ways.

I'm really baffled as to why that's so hard for people to understand.

All of this new money with no class, I guess.

Well, block parties are kind of no class. But they're fun.

Yeah I don't really mind sitting in a folding chair in a driveway drinking mid-range Chardonnay out of a plastic cup. I don't mind bringing a dish to share with everyone. I'd mind being charged 20 bucks for the privilege though.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think that's unreasonable given that they are providing some food and presumably planning, setting up, and cleaning up. You can always decline to participate. You can always volunteer to plan the next one and change how it's done.

I agree. $20 is not going to cover a couple of burgers with all fixings, sides, as well as the multiple drinks most adults will consume.

Sine they ask that people bring food and drink that they'll consume, no one will eat $20 worth of burgers

Fixings, sides, napkins, cups, cutlery, soft drinks, tables, charcoal. Also she should frankly get a cut from having to deal with petty, whiny, shrews like you and OP. Just stay home and peer through your curtain at everyone else having fun, Gladys.

OK tacky Trishia! Hope the plastic knives and napkins don't break the bank.

Look, if you've overextended yourself and can't afford the $20, just quietly let me know. I give to charity.

I'm not the one asking YOU for money. You're the one who is too stretched to host a party you can't afford. TACKY!!!!!

The charity she gives to is the Human Fund.

Rich people are often cheap mofos. In this case, $20 per family as a contribution to the burgers and hot dogs would cover it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think that's unreasonable given that they are providing some food and presumably planning, setting up, and cleaning up. You can always decline to participate. You can always volunteer to plan the next one and change how it's done.

I agree. $20 is not going to cover a couple of burgers with all fixings, sides, as well as the multiple drinks most adults will consume.

Sine they ask that people bring food and drink that they'll consume, no one will eat $20 worth of burgers

Fixings, sides, napkins, cups, cutlery, soft drinks, tables, charcoal. Also she should frankly get a cut from having to deal with petty, whiny, shrews like you and OP. Just stay home and peer through your curtain at everyone else having fun, Gladys.

OK tacky Trishia! Hope the plastic knives and napkins don't break the bank.

Look, if you've overextended yourself and can't afford the $20, just quietly let me know. I give to charity.

I'm not the one asking YOU for money. You're the one who is too stretched to host a party you can't afford. TACKY!!!!!

The charity she gives to is the Human Fund.

Rich people are often cheap mofos. In this case, $20 per family as a contribution to the burgers and hot dogs would cover it.

When we have a block party we ask for donations to cover the food we're grilling which is available for everyone. We also get a bounce house. The goal is to get maybe $200 to offset the cost of those things. But the main organizers (us and maybe 3 other neighbors) mostly shell out because we enjoy having the party and it's just easier for us to pay.

We live in a middle class neighborhood though, not Great Falls.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think that's unreasonable given that they are providing some food and presumably planning, setting up, and cleaning up. You can always decline to participate. You can always volunteer to plan the next one and change how it's done.

I agree. $20 is not going to cover a couple of burgers with all fixings, sides, as well as the multiple drinks most adults will consume.

Sine they ask that people bring food and drink that they'll consume, no one will eat $20 worth of burgers

Fixings, sides, napkins, cups, cutlery, soft drinks, tables, charcoal. Also she should frankly get a cut from having to deal with petty, whiny, shrews like you and OP. Just stay home and peer through your curtain at everyone else having fun, Gladys.

OK tacky Trishia! Hope the plastic knives and napkins don't break the bank.

Look, if you've overextended yourself and can't afford the $20, just quietly let me know. I give to charity.

I'm not the one asking YOU for money. You're the one who is too stretched to host a party you can't afford. TACKY!!!!!

The poverty of your vocabulary and syntax tells me all I need to know about your upbringing.

Awwww did I strike a nerve, dear? Just don't host parties you can't afford. Makes you look classless.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think that's unreasonable given that they are providing some food and presumably planning, setting up, and cleaning up. You can always decline to participate. You can always volunteer to plan the next one and change how it's done.

I agree. $20 is not going to cover a couple of burgers with all fixings, sides, as well as the multiple drinks most adults will consume.

Sine they ask that people bring food and drink that they'll consume, no one will eat $20 worth of burgers

Fixings, sides, napkins, cups, cutlery, soft drinks, tables, charcoal. Also she should frankly get a cut from having to deal with petty, whiny, shrews like you and OP. Just stay home and peer through your curtain at everyone else having fun, Gladys.

OK tacky Trishia! Hope the plastic knives and napkins don't break the bank.

Look, if you've overextended yourself and can't afford the $20, just quietly let me know. I give to charity.

I'm not the one asking YOU for money. You're the one who is too stretched to host a party you can't afford. TACKY!!!!!

The poverty of your vocabulary and syntax tells me all I need to know about your upbringing.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think that's unreasonable given that they are providing some food and presumably planning, setting up, and cleaning up. You can always decline to participate. You can always volunteer to plan the next one and change how it's done.

I agree. $20 is not going to cover a couple of burgers with all fixings, sides, as well as the multiple drinks most adults will consume.

Sine they ask that people bring food and drink that they'll consume, no one will eat $20 worth of burgers

Fixings, sides, napkins, cups, cutlery, soft drinks, tables, charcoal. Also she should frankly get a cut from having to deal with petty, whiny, shrews like you and OP. Just stay home and peer through your curtain at everyone else having fun, Gladys.

OK tacky Trishia! Hope the plastic knives and napkins don't break the bank.

Look, if you've overextended yourself and can't afford the $20, just quietly let me know. I give to charity.

I'm not the one asking YOU for money. You're the one who is too stretched to host a party you can't afford. TACKY!!!!!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think that's unreasonable given that they are providing some food and presumably planning, setting up, and cleaning up. You can always decline to participate. You can always volunteer to plan the next one and change how it's done.

I agree. $20 is not going to cover a couple of burgers with all fixings, sides, as well as the multiple drinks most adults will consume.

Sine they ask that people bring food and drink that they'll consume, no one will eat $20 worth of burgers

Fixings, sides, napkins, cups, cutlery, soft drinks, tables, charcoal. Also she should frankly get a cut from having to deal with petty, whiny, shrews like you and OP. Just stay home and peer through your curtain at everyone else having fun, Gladys.

OK tacky Trishia! Hope the plastic knives and napkins don't break the bank.

Look, if you've overextended yourself and can't afford the $20, just quietly let me know. I give to charity.