How can I have a graduation party for my son without breaking the bank?

[Domestic Gal]

Well I just had a graduation party for my son this last weekend.
I fed about 30 people for less than $30 but I have been planning this for months.
I had sloppy joes (ground beef marked down to .99 lb) used 6 pounds.
Sloppy joes seasoning free from Mccorning coupon
tomato paste free from muir glen $1 coupon
buns I made myself maybe $2.00 for 4 dozen
made mini ones to stretch the meat even more.
$8 for sloppy joes
4 pringles .45 each from when Walgreens had them clearanced
$2 for chips
Pasta salad
Used 3 boxes of suddenly salad from my stockpile paid .35 each
$1 for salad
Jello salad 3 boxes .25 after coupon
Cool whip free wyb 2 boxes of jello coupon
.25 jello
Baked beans
Made my own from northern beans $1
Add ins were maybe another $1
Beans $2
Rice/fruit salad
Rice .15
can of fruit .68 from stockpile
cool whip free wyb jello
marshmallows free from wyb rice krispies
Rice salad
$1 max
Potato salad
$6 found 4 lbs marked down to $2.99 at krogers so bought 2
Pickles
Free home canned from last years garden
Drinks
Free used free 12 pk coupons from my coke rewards
Cake
$10 made it myself.

So you should be able to do it if you do some really good planning.

[marion10]

We had sub sandwiches at my daughter's (which we bought), but maybe they could be made for less at home. We didn't want to fool with a grill.

[JrandMdB]

JrandMdB – I think we are thinking a lot alike. I was thinking of asking but wasn’t sure if it was appropriate to ask. Ours will also be mostly family & they usually bring stuff to other events (except for Birthday parties) so that’s why I wasn’t sure. Do you think the chicken is cheaper to do than the hot dogs and hamburgers…or is it just easier so no one is slaving over the BBQ? *This is my first child to graduate & I’m already an emotional mess…how are you handling it? I was just driving to work this morning thinking about making up a picture collage & writing up a little poem & was crying all the way to work thinking about how much he has grown up. Then my youngest will be graduating kindergarten this year also – So, I have 12 years for him but I do have another one that graduates next year so I’ll be sure to plan that one more in advance.

For me personally I dont think the reality has set in.. he is my oldest of 3 so I still have a lot of years of kids to be home but I am not sure how it will be when he leaves... I am sure that will be much harder. I like your idea of a collage... am going to do that! Thanks for that idea

As for the party and foods.. I opted for the chicken to keep it simple, that way it will be cooked and I dont have to worry about watching grills ect. I really feel if you inform your family on what you are having and then asking them to bring a small dish that it wont be frowned upon.. they are family who love and support your son and will be more than happy to be a part of his celebration. I dont think there is anything wrong in asking for them to bring a dish... if it were a more formal setting then it might be odd but you are putting on a picnic style gathering and bringing a dish to that type of gathering is normal...

CONGRATULATIONS to you and your son.. relax and enjoy the celebration!

[hambirg]

You know what? I think you can do it. What I have done in the past to keep the price low is to focus on one big homemade dish. For me, it has either been spaghetti (got the most amazing recipe from and old co-worker's Italian mother) or chili (I like the Wendy's secret recipe one). We have a Grocery Outlet here where you can pick up the big industrial size cans of tomato sauce, etc for cheap. Then all you really need is the cake, a few bags of the big cheap green salad, some free or cheap after qs dressing and some rolls (we have a few bakery outlets around as well) or corn bread. Ask the family to bring there favorite side, salad or dessert. I think your biggest expense might be your paper goods. Those can be hard to find good deals on the quick. I would try any of the dollar stores if you have one. I always stock up in them with the seasonal clearance ones from Target. My kids already know that Halloween paper plates are just as good anytime of the year.

[Teens&Tots]

Funny you post this, I was going to do the same...I am on #2 and am doing 'happy hour' type with just pick up food - here is my menu thus far:
wings
meatballs
shrimp
veggie tray
crackers and cheeses
chips

that's all I have for now (party is May 29 6:00 - 9:00 pm) have to get crackalackin - I work better under pressure....I'm trying to be frugal but am not putting a dollar amount - spent way too much on #1 but learned alot - ie less tables and chairs and food - I am doing a chocolate fountain (I own one) instead of a cake - ideas on paper products - I went to an outlet place and scored nicely - even managed thank you notes (sets of 20 for .50) and I have leftover wrapped plastic wear from #1 - so KEEP EVERYTHING leftover in a tub if you have more coming - I am planning to get as many FREE 8X10 pics from wags on Wed - have family members help get them to use as decor on the tables...I am only stumped on a keepsake - I had a photo of my daughter put into a really nice signing frame for her graduation, but this is my oldest son and he won't get into that - a friend had her son's initial cut out of sheet metal and is having everyone sign that with a sharpie (wish I would have thought of that:|) Anyone have ideas for that type of thing?

Getting started early is nice to gather good deals on chips, pop, water, nuts, etc - I'm stocked on those.....

Good luck OP - but you do need to make sure you have help, a runner, so that you can ENJOY - I had #1 catered and that was the BEST idea for a full meal - not even as pricey as I thought after adding up the items served....

I'll be checking back for all those creative HCWR ideas!!!!

[Andra]

Funny you post this, I was going to do the same...I am on #2 and am doing 'happy hour' type with just pick up food - here is my menu thus far:
wings
meatballs
shrimp
veggie tray
crackers and cheeses
chips

that's all I have for now (party is May 29 6:00 - 9:00 pm) have to get crackalackin - I work better under pressure....I'm trying to be frugal but am not putting a dollar amount - spent way too much on #1 but learned alot - ie less tables and chairs and food - I am doing a chocolate fountain (I own one) instead of a cake - ideas on paper products - I went to an outlet place and scored nicely - even managed thank you notes (sets of 20 for .50) and I have leftover wrapped plastic wear from #1 - so KEEP EVERYTHING leftover in a tub if you have more coming - I am planning to get as many FREE 8X10 pics from wags on Wed - have family members help get them to use as decor on the tables...I am only stumped on a keepsake - I had a photo of my daughter put into a really nice signing frame for her graduation, but this is my oldest son and he won't get into that - a friend had her son's initial cut out of sheet metal and is having everyone sign that with a sharpie (wish I would have thought of that:|) Anyone have ideas for that type of thing?

Getting started early is nice to gather good deals on chips, pop, water, nuts, etc - I'm stocked on those.....

Good luck OP - but you do need to make sure you have help, a runner, so that you can ENJOY - I had #1 catered and that was the BEST idea for a full meal - not even as pricey as I thought after adding up the items served....

I'll be checking back for all those creative HCWR ideas!!!!

For my graduation from HS, I had a book for people to write advice or funny life tips in. Some shared memories and some wrote poems too. It was great to read it later and laugh or smile at what people wrote. Mine was a large journal with a leather cover, but for a boy (if he thinks that is too girly) you could look for a coffee-table sized book that has pictures of his favorite things (sports, cars, whatever he's into) and ask people to write advice on the pages.

[Ronald1]

My daughter is graduating 6/01 and I have been planning for a while too. Started out at Party city to get a look at decor and invites...then I went home and made my own invites on the computer. I'll buy some balloons and streamers to decorate and make some signs on the computer. I'm a scrapbooker, so I'll have a scrapbook made of her life thus far with empty pages - so relatives and friends can write or draw and add comments. Should be fun.

Sadly, the food was the last of my worries...working on that now. I did buy paper products - plates, napkins etc...already.

All the previous post were all great ideas though. It's great that everyone can share their insight here!

[ungerm]

I love all the tips you all have given. I really liked the menu Domestic Gal used & I already have a lot of that stuff so I think maybe I can swing something like that. Any other suggestions are still welome.

Thanks,
Michelle