I'm so upset, I could cry, please help regarding Birthday party.

Contains_Mild_Peril

The most important item in a party bag is a slice of birthday cake! For toddlers, it may be better not to bother with little toys, just in case some still haven't grown out of trying to eat them! Haribo sweets on BOGOF offers are also good for party bags.
Drink for the kids will be cheaper if you buy diluting rather than fizzy drinks, e.g. a couple of bottles of Asda Smart Price apple & blackcurrant squash at 19p each should give you enough diluted juice for all the young guests.
Farmfoods is good for snack foods, e.g. sausage rolls, fancy biscuits etc. Though they currently have chocolate fudge cake on BOGOF at £1, that would be a bit messy for 2-year-olds!

Poppy9

Make your own birthday cake. A long swiss roll covered in chocolate icing with a few smarties to decorate looks very effective. To give children to take home you could have ready prepared slices with a bit of icing on top and a smily face of smarties wrapped in cellophane and a balloon and ribbon attached.

How many children and adults are coming?

Kimmywim

Wow , once again thanks for all your replies, I am actually getting really excited about it now, i'm looking at it as a challenge!!

There are approx 20 adults and 10 children coming x

gingin_2

Kimmywin, you'll be fine on that budget, I posted on the other thread, but the more I think about it when I have had parties for my 2 the adults like nothing more than tucking ino the kids food (don't we all:o ). Sandwiches, wotsits, a plate of party biscuits, cocktail sausages and cheese and ipneapple on sticks are all foods we remember from our childhood and there is nothing like nostalgia to ensure people have a good time. I agree that a couple of bags of mini sweets, a piece of cake and perhaps a balloon is more than enough for a 2 year old, anything else is wasted.

The Hedgehog cake sounds fab

Scully's_Girl

Just a thought, our friend makes a killer giant Green Chicken curry that he puts on rice. When he makes a vat of that, it feeds young and old alike. They sell the jars of curry sauce at any supermarket. Rice costs very little, so the cost will be in the chicken, but you can get that pretty cheap. Then get the remainder for the kids at Iceland.

Poppy9

Kimmywim wrote:

Wow , once again thanks for all your replies, I am actually getting really excited about it now, i'm looking at it as a challenge!!

There are approx 20 adults and 10 children coming x

Yes it's going to be fab. Have fun.

You could just do a veg. soup and some french bread for food with a few crisps and nibbles. Young children as just as happy with a piece of bread and butter and they love the crusts on their gums. Hot dogs sound good too.

abijanzo

we just had my daughters 2nd birthday party on a budget too.
We only had one other child and 12 adults but my mum made a huge chilli for the adults with a basic salad, rice and 2 french sticks! Some of the adults brought some deserty goodies as they knew we were a bit strapped. And it was bring your own drink too.
Most families will bring along a bit of something if they know it'll help you out and love to help.
We have had much more extravagant parties in the past but you have to cut your cloth to meet your needs (as my mum says) and this party was as good as any of them.
The crowning moment being my little girl blowing out her birthday candle and grinning from ear to ear as 12 adults and a baby sang happy birthday to her Priceless!

Sarahsaver

My budget for parties for kids has always been £20, about £10 for the food and £10 for other associated tat such as pass the parcel goodies etc.
I wouldn't bother with too many sweets, as long as she has a cake and some buns she will be fine! DS had a chocolate mud cake for his 2nd birthday, covered in smarties. I love to look at the photo of him when he has just literally dug into the cake. My children didnt have 'proper' parties until they reached school age.

Bogof_Babe

I doubt two-year-olds perceive the social aspect of food at a party, so as long as there is something to take away the odd bit of peckishness, they won't care what it is. I think I'd get a few packs of basics finger rolls and fill half with egg mayo and the rest with cheese (halved or thirded cheese slices would save fiddling about). Cut the finger rolls in half and stick a few baby tomatoes on the platter.

Plenty of juice as kids always seem to be more thirsty than hungry (as already suggested, get economy dilutable juice) pre-mixed in jugs with some ice-cubes to add glamour.

That leaves about £15 quid to cover the adults and games/extras, for which you have already had loads of ideas. For the party bags you could get a pack of fun size choc bars and put a couple in each bag with the cake, saving a few for the buffet table. Fun size Kitkats can be split into fingers for a sweet treat, although you might not fancy cleaning up the choccy fingerprints off your walls and woodwork afterwards :eek: .

For the adults, I'd make two large lasagnes. One with minced beef and the other with a packet of Beanfeast for any veggies. Cook in advance and reheat on the day. With a french stick or two, and butter or a substitute (check suitable for veggies) I'm sure the adults will be well satisfied.

I wanna come to this party now - need any help?

tee_pee_2

Kimy win I hope you are now looking forward to the party.

Tee
x