How to Plan a 50th Birthday Party on a Budget

Learn about the average cost for a 50th birthday party and how to plan a birthday party on a budget for your favorite 50-year-old.

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How Much Does a 50th Birthday Party Cost?


The average cost for a 50th birthday party depends on where the party is hosted, the number of people invited, the type of food served, and several other factors. Catering a birthday party for 50 guests or more is approximately $20-$40 per person, while hosting at a restaurant typically costs even more when you take into account inflated liquor prices and venue rental rates of $100 to $500 per hour.

Want to hire a DJ? That’ll cost you on average $400 for four hours. And don’t forget about decorations and party supplies like plates, cups, and utensils. While they’re not terribly expensive, these items do put a dent in your party budget. 

Feeling overwhelmed? Planning a 50th birthday party on a budget isn’t impossible. Learn how to throw a 50th birthday party on a small budget with the following tips and ideas. 


50th Birthday Invitations: Go Digital


Gone are the days of snail mail invitations. Honestly, who wants to buy stamps and expensive invites then wait weeks for people to RSVP? Send gorgeous online 50th birthday invitations that have the same look as paper invites for free. Customize your invitations, send via text or email, and easily collect RSVPs and message guests.



Host at Home


While venues have some perks, hosting at home means you can party safely as long as you like at no extra cost. You can also decorate and create a party atmosphere to your liking. Finally, hosting at home means you’ll have more options for food and beverage options, which will also likely be easier on your wallet. 

Don’t have space big enough for hosting? Consider hosting at a local park or asking a good friend or family member if they’d be willing to host at their home. 



Decorations: Use Photos + Friends


You don’t need to spend a lot of money to decorate your home. Gather your favorite pictures of the guest of honor from over the years, place them at tables throughout the event space, and blow them up into posters to hang on walls. 

It’s likely that you have friends and family the same age as the guest of honor. It doesn’t hurt to ask them if they have any 50th birthday decorations you could borrow for the celebration. 



Potluck it Up

Food is one of the most expensive costs for a 50th birthday party. With this in mind, ask guests to bring a dish to the celebration. Not only will this save you money, but people often enjoy sharing home-cooked food with loved ones. 

When you send your invitations, use the Potluck Organizer tool to specify what you’d like each guest to make or allow guests to write in their own contributions.

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Plan an Epic Playlist


There’s no need to hire a DJ for your celebration when you can create a playlist on your MP3 player and set up speakers. Be sure to incorporate songs from each decade of the birthday honoree’s life along with lots of hits that will get people busting a move! 

If the honoree loves to sing, borrow or rent a karaoke machine and find familiar and favorite tunes to play. For a fun touch, pass out awards for “Best Singer” and “Best Dance Moves.” 



Share Party Photos for Free


Don't miss a single moment from the celebration. Use Shared Albums to easily collect photos from guests throughout the party with one simple link and share the final album with everyone after the event. Did we mention that it’s free?

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Now that you know how to plan a 50th birthday party on a budget, send 50th birthday invitations today to start your planning!


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