Suggestions for Keeping 3Rd Birthday Party Costs Low?

While I wouldn't feel weird bringing $5 for pizza, I would feel weird being asked, esp if I am bringing a gift to the kiddo (which I would prefer to do. I love shopping for kids!)

So yes, either make a lot of chips and dip and dessert. Or maybe just get some hot dogs, keeping them warm in a crock pot or something. Hot dogs are cheap, as are buns and other toppings (relish, mustard, ketchup, chili). Make tea (or is this too Texan?) and have water avail. Lemonade maybe too. Don't waste money on sodas or alcoholic beverages. Somewhere in the invite you could put BYOB or "lemonade and tea will be served."

As for cakes/cupcakes. Cupcakes you would not need to get an extra plate for. It'd kind of be in it's own plate (the paper). BUT people may eat two each instead of one each - where with a cake, I normally get one slice and that's it. I don't think it would make a difference either way with the actual cost of the cake itself.

I wouldn't ask people to contribute to a food fund for a party I was hosting. That seems rude to me.

Instead, I'd just go full on pot luck. Let people know that you are on a budget but want to celebrate. Ask everyone to bring a little something, then everyone contributes. With the economy the way it is, we've been doing a lot of pot luck get togethers lately.

J.

Honestly, if this is a birthday party for your child and others are bringing gifts...I would not ask for money or do pot luck. I just think it's rude. It's a party FOR your child, you're not just hosting a get together where pot luck would be accepted. If you can't swing a full on meal, which is understandable, then I would make the time of the party in the afternoon and just offer cake and drinks. If you put the party at like 1-3 or even 3-5 you really don't have to offer food as it's not an eating time. If you really want to save on costs, I would suggest it.

Making your cake is a great idea, but I'm a terrible froster...so I order Costco cakes. It is $17 and can serve 3-40 easily. I think you said you were expecting 20ish so that may be too much cake, but it's cheaper and easier than anywhere else...but of course, making your own would be less than that.

This is just my opinion but I would find it rude if a parent asks for a contribution towards a birthday party.....I don't know if that is normal in your area, but where I am from in New York, it seems strange......I completely understand that sometimes a budget can be tight but if the budget is SO tight then why throw a party in the first place? We are not currently living in the best economic times and I believe that if you don't have a party, people are more willing to understand now than ever before the reason why...........bottom line, and once more this is only my opinion, if you can't afford a party then don't have one......you shouldn't invite people to a birthday party expect them to bring a gift AND contribute 2 or 3 dollars for there own food......take your kid out to a nice restaurant or a kid friendly restaurant like Chuck E. Cheese with a 2 or 3 cousins and friends and call it a day......the kids won't know the difference and they will have a blast......or make your own food at home......start prepping the day before so that the day of you don't have a monumental task of prepping and cooking.......also Costco, Sams club and BJs offer many varieties of food and appetizers that are inexpensive and you just heat and serve......they also make pizzas that are about $7 dollars each!

Well, the way to keep costs low is:
1) limit the size of the party and how many people invited.
2) plan the party at a NON-meal time. .otherwise you will be expected to serve lunch or dinner. So, make the party at a time that is not lunch or dinner time and you can just serve cake and/or ice-cream and simple snacks.
3) that way, you can have goody bags etc. and decorations.

Asking people to 'pot luck' or to chip in money for it, is REAL tacky.

A place to get party things is:
www.orientaltrading.com
In bulk and cheaper.
Many Teachers us this site. I have too.

all the best,
Susan

Love the LEGO idea!!!!

Ask your family to help out. My family do this all the time and they love to feel like they have contributed in some way. I really don't think you should have a huge buffet for your party. After all it is for your little boy. Just some nibbles and easy finger food. My friend made lots of cupcakes really inexpensive and decorated them with pink frosting for her daughter. you could do that but with your lego colors.
Hope you have fun and enjoy the day with your son which is the most important part. :-)

I usually do kids parties in the middle of the day and serve only cake and ice cream, with adults you might want food. I like the hot dog idea, Maybe Grandpa or an uncle could barbeque?
Another idea is finger sandwiches PB and J, ham and cheese cut into cute shapes for the kids, lunch meat or chicken salad for adults

I say def do the cupcakes - easier to decorate. On the food, I agree little tacky to ask people to chip in at party you invited them to. However, you are NOTrequired to provide a meal - i.e. pizza & wings or cooking out on grill! I say go to your least expensive store (Aldies, Save a lot) get chips & dip (french onion & ranch), cheedos, maybe watermelon if still in season in your area, inexpensive veggies can also be used in the dip - $20 & your done! If you want to go "high end" get some sourcream and taco seasoning and do a taco dip or cheese and crackers with sliced pepperoni OR for that matter get a bunch of their frozen pizzas and spice them up (we do that all the time when we end up with an unexpected group gathering I keep a couple in the freezer). These are tight times for everyone and family/friends are understanding!

If you do cupcakes you could even let the kids/pre-teens decorate them as an activity!

Food is definitely going to be the most expensive aspect of the party, and if you can't afford to feed people I think that you should schedule the party for a non-meal time. Then you can serve cake and juice and not worry about food. Is there time to change the time of your party?
I really think that asking people to chip in for food is tacky. They are coming to celebrate with your family and likely bringing your kid a gift, they should not be charged for the privilege of attending your son's birthday. You should throw the party that you can afford.

You are almost there with your plans, so relax (and do a sheet cake). If you really have no money for main course, and have close family/friends, ask two to bring lasagna and one a huge veggie salad and you provide garlic bread (or ask someone to). Any inexpensive drink will work at a kid's party...even Kool-aid for the kids and (whatever) for adults! Just getting together is the most important thing. Relax and have fun!

i think it would be rude to ask people to chip in but it's alright to ask your inner circle of relatives to bring a dish(if they're aware of your financial situation. be ready to trade in the "dish" for a cheaper gift for your child) . Don't go w/ too many choices foodwise but rather quantity- enough for the guests.
You did not mention time but if you start your party at 2pm(kids can play) and provide chips ,pretzels and drinks as snacks/appetizer. then you can have the real meal around 4pm. Your guests will not be that hungry at this time so if you keep it light, you shld be able to keep the cost low.(also if your party starts around this odd time, guest have an idea what to expect.)
cupcakes are in now to substitute as a birthday cake, since your child is 3 yrs old, i think they'll enjoy cupcakes more than sheet cakes.
if fruit is cheap around that time, you can make a bowl of mixed fruit for dessert or jello for the kids. i hope this helps.

Extremely rude to ask people to pay. Make PB&J sandwiches for the little
ones. Lasagna, salad, dinner rolls for everyone else. Make a sheet cake.
Chips and dip to snack on. I am sure no one is expecting anything fancy.
Certainly if someone asks if they could bring something, say yes. Have
fun.

Asking people to chip in $ is incredibly rude. Asking immediate family (I would stick just with those you'd indicated) to bring a dish is fine. Pasta is always a crowd pleaser, and also very cheap. You can serve it hot or cold (or both!). S'mores are a cheap dessert, and I'm not sure about this, but you may be able to dip mini marshmallows in food coloring to make them look like lego pieces, and of course Hershey's chocolate bars already look a bit like Lego pieces......

If you have a BJ's or Costco membership, they have great pre-made appetizers (mini quiches, etc.) that are not very pricey. The Stouffer's lasagne is amazing - I've served that several times and always gotten rave reviews.

Get your party supplies at the Dollar Tree (or similar store) - LOADS cheaper than Party City, etc.

Those are just a few suggestions off the top of my head. Good luck!

If you're interested in making a lego cake, I just saw a picture in Parenting magazine of several. They were super cute and looked so easy to make. I'm not a cook, and I thought even I could do it! It was just a rectangle with two circles of extra cake on top, there were several with primary color icing. I'm sure you could google it or look on the Parenting magazine website! Have fun!

I agree with a lot of the PP's Do NOT ask guests to chip in for the food. If your mom & MIL could each make a salad, then you could just do O. main thing like a big sandwich ring, or pulled pork in crockpot, or baked pasta (very cheap!). I know it's family and close friends, but they're coming to celebrate, and most likely bringing a gift--feed them.

For my daughter's party, my family brought food to it. The same thing for my sister's kids. I would have a hard time asking non family though. I don't know how much you want to spend, but we go to walmart and they cook fried chicken, give you rolls, and macaroni salad and/or potato salad and/or baked beans. i think it is a pretty good deal.
I'd go for the sheet cake myself.

i've found LOADS of wonderful items (handmade birthday buntings, linens, tablecloths, party items, stickers, decals, etc.) on the etsy.com website. One of my favorite designers is Sally Shim; she's wonderful:

http://shimandsons.typepad.com/theshoppe/welcome.html
http://shimandsons.etsy.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/shimandsons/sets/?&page=1

Do you have a Little Ceasar's Pizza near you? Their medium pizza's with one topping are only $5.00 if you choose to go the pizza route.

I think the simpliest most cost effective thing to do as it relates to food is to keep the party short time wise, have a few games for the kids, open the gifts, sing happy birthday, blow out the candles, cut the cake, serve just cake and some ice cream (optional). Make modest goodie bags and send everyone home.

I never have food out of obligation but because I want my guests to have the best time ever. Another great food idea which is cost effective if you must have a "meal" would be spaghetti. I use either Hunt's or Delmonte can spaghetti sauce. The can carries the same amount of sauce that the jars do but at a fraction of the costs. I also use a hearty pasta instead of spaghetti, like a rotini or pene, because it is more filling. If grilling is an option, cook all the food in advance but just keep it to the side of the hot coals to keep it warm.

Parties don't have to be expensive we just need to be creative. Also, for an activity, you may want all of your guests to help create something wonderful for the 3 year old with some lego. I think he may still be a little young to succuessfully play with the smaller Lego. It could present a choking hazard or at least a stuck up the nose hazard. (My cousin did that and he was older than your son.) He was always the dare devil in the family. Wanted to see what the big deal was about not putting it up there. He got first hand experience.

Have fun with the party. Don't stress.