To think this isn't enough to pay for a party?

[user1473509591]

Ds birthday Tuesday, throwing a little party for him tomorrow. Had a bit of a fiasco with people dropping out but I've managed to salvage enough people to make it worthwhile and fun.
Three weeks ago when I got paid I put aside £50 for party food and cake (I make my own), plates balloons ect. It's not alot but it's what I could reasonably afford for the week. I'm now on my way out to go and buy stuff for tomorrow and oh has started saying 'oh please don't spend too much, you don't need £50, you could do it for £30 I bet!' and really putting the pressure on.

1. I'm the sole earner and it's my money so shush
   
2. Yes I'm sure plenty of mum's are thrifty enough to make £30 stretch but I don't have the time to make shit by hand
   
3. I thought £50 was on the low side to start with!
   

It's for roughly 15 people. Doable?

[BestZebbie]

£50 is loads for the stuff you have mentioned, unless possibly you are trying to cater a full buffet for 15 accompanying adults too. The only way you will make it up to/past £50 is if you go mad on party bags rather than doing split multipacks of cheap stuff plus a slice of cake.

[SolomanDaisy]

£2 a head doesn't sound like much for a party to me. You've set aside £50, so you must know you can afford it. If he was so convinced it was possible to do for £30, he could have sorted it himself while you were at work!

[Bathsheba]

Is the party over a meal time and how old are the attendees.....If its 15 13 year old boys for lunch, then £49273454 probably wouldn't be enough, but if its 15 4 year olds and its 2 in the afternoon so they have had lunch, then it can just be crisps, fruit and ice cream...

[Bathsheba]

Asda fresh pizza from the deli counter is fab and v cheap -

[user1473509591]

It's for roughly 7 kids aged between 2 and 7, and about 8 adults. £50 would have been enough, I had the list all planned out. I'll see how it goes 😂

[Sparklesilverglitter]

How old are the children? Little tots won't eat nearly as much as teens

What type of food are you planning on doing? Where are you planning to shop?

You can get paper plates in b&m bargins or even £1 land

[user1473509591]

Ah yes, party games aswell. Lucky it's halloween soon so there's plenty of deals on sweets!

[Sparklesilverglitter]

Ages 2-7 I think you will be fine with £50 for food

[JakeBallardswife]

I think £50 will be ok but bearing in mind its for plates, cakes and food etc these things do add up. I think doing it for £30 will be super hard and Oh would have easily over spent.

[Cococrumble]

I vote hotdogs! Super cheap plus you can hand them out in a napkin which come in bigger packets rather than paper plates.

I think your DH is pushing it a bit with £30. Is there a particular reason he doesn't want you to spend all of the money you've already set aside?

[Thegirlinthefireplace]

"I'm the sole earner and it's my money so shush" 🤔

Usually Mumsnet mantra is that Its family money (and I agree with this) but posters are strangely quiet on this point on this occasion...

[blueturtle6]

Sausage rolls, mini pizzas, jelly and cake, totally doable

[FrazzleM]

I thought the same Thegirlinthefireplace!

Regardless, if the OP's partner is that concerned then surely he should do the party planning then. Or at the very least, help!

[newmumwithquestions]

For that number I think you could do a party for £30, but you would have to work hard to do so if you've got everything to buy. I also think you could easily spend over £50 - So really either budget is reasonable depending on family finances.
I'm more concerned with the sole earner comment - if your OH thinks it's too much then they should be doing it, or helping..... What are they doing?

[user1473509591]

Thegirlinthefireplace that was tongue in cheek, thought that was clear from the cheeky shush, clearly not 😂
But would you adam and Eve it, I've done it for £26.50! He was right, that makes my blood boil 😂

[Inertia]

Are you the sole earner because DP has childcare responsibility while you are at work, or is DP a live-outside-the-household boy/girlfriend who is not part of a joint financial set up?

Did DP offer to take on any of the shopping /making burden to bring the cost down, or just give Theresa may style orders that you must make efficiency savings?

[ragz134]

Well done! Don't forget to buy yourself wine to recover with ;)

[user1473509591]

Luckily I have half a bottle of wine in my fridge already!
Honestly it was meant to be tongue in cheek, he pulls his weight more than enough with housework and childcare. The subject of him earning is a bit of a sore spot but it's not really the topic of this thread. I managed to do it and I'm super pleased, I would have happily spent all that money when I didn't need too apparently. Doing pass the parcel with newspaper instead of wrapping paper, saver range biscuits ect makes all the difference :)

[BurningBridges]

I don't see why you should have to scrimp on treating the kids now and again, its not as though you do it every other week I presume?! Anyway well done for bringing it in on (his) budget, but I'd be slipping in another bottle of wine ...

[kissmethere]

It can be done but £50 is a good price to go with. I pulled it off once with a shop from Iceland. £47 I think and dashed into pound land for plates etc. Fed at least 10 kids and a few adults. Chips, sarnies, cakes drinks, crisps, mini pizzas. 3 hour party at least. Was on a tight budget that time.

[5moreminutes]

I find that no matter what party I do it somehow costs about £80 once everything is added up (if you include everything from invitation cards to party bags and contents, all cake ingredients, balloons, party food and drinks, prizes, decor, props for games, paper plates and cups and table cloth).

Well done for doing it for so little, sounds quite tricky!

I usually find I've bought things over time though and it's only if I add up what I've spent altogether I realise that it is inevitably close to the price of a catered party for the same number at a venue of some kind. We do small parties too but they never come out so inexpensive!

Cake ingredients and toppers alone could easily come to £20 plus tbh (but I always put little toys or figures on the cake to compensate for lack of fancy decorating skill).

[3luckystars]

fine, here is £30, off you go husband, then forget about it.