When celebrating a 21st birthday, there are plenty of ways to do so without breaking the bank. Follow these few simple tips, and you can plan an unforgettable 21st Birthday Party that won’t cost a fortune.
It would be best if you considered hosting the party at your home rather than a venue. It will save you money and also allow you to plan for a heck of a party.
How to plan a 21st birthday party on a budget?
Your 21st Birthday is a big deal. It’s a time to celebrate finally being legal and to party it up with all your friends. But if you’re on a tight budget, how can you still have a fantastic time? Here are some tips for how to plan a 21st birthday party on a budget
- Determine the number of guests you will be inviting
- Plan the menu and drinks you will be serving
- Prepare your home for the party by doing a deep clean or setting up decorations.
- Set up an entertainment area with games or music
- Plan activities for your guests (See list below)
Feeling overwhelmed?
Don’t worry; I’ve got you covered. In the subheadings below, I will go into further details on how you plan for success.
How much should you spend on a 21st birthday at home?
How much you should spend on a birthday party depends on your budget. If you’re looking to keep things relatively low cost, I would recommend hosting the 21st birthday party at home and allocating $100-$300 for the whole event. By assigning a small amount, you and your guests will be able to have a great time without breaking the bank.
The average cost of a 21st birthday party at home is $500, which includes enjoyable activities, food, and beverages. On a tight budget, the spending may be as low as $100-$300. A 21st birthday party at home is less expensive than most venues by a factor of two or more.
If you want to plan a cheap 21st birthday party, you could design the event to take place from 2 pm, save on the cost of food, and serve drinks and finger snacks; This will leave you with a little budget left for some fun activities like bumper soccer, drunk goggle relay run, and piñata smashing.
Send a mass text or create a Facebook event to invite all your friends and get the ball rolling.
Keep the costs down by making it a BYOB affair and encouraging everyone to bring their snacks. You could also ask people to contribute towards activities like giant Jenga or beer pong.
What should I serve at my 21st
Food
Your 21st Birthday is a special occasion, so you don’t want it to feel too cheap but still be able to afford the cost. Fortunately, there are plenty of great options to choose from.
One option is to go for a classic birthday pizza party. You can either order in from your favorite pizzeria or try your hand at making your pizzas at home. Either way, this is an excellent option for feeding a large group on a budget.
Another option is to have a build-your-own taco bar; This is a great way to please everyone’s taste buds and is also very affordable. Just set out all of the fixings.
For something a little more formal, you could have a sit-down dinner party; This doesn’t have to be expensive if you keep the menu simple. A few great options include pasta with a simple sauce, roasted chicken, or even grilled steak and vegetables.
Whatever you decide to do, make sure you have a great time and enjoy your 21st Birthday!
Drinks
Of course, you will want to serve drinks at your 21st birthday party. If you are serving alcohol, have plenty of non-alcoholic options for your guests who are driving or don’t drink.
Impress your guests by having a Cocktailbar/Mocktailbar at the party.
This way, everyone can make their own special drink.
You will also need plenty of ice on hand and some coolers to keep the drinks cold. You can either buy pre-made ice or make your own ahead of time.
Small 21st birthday party ideas
It doesn’t cost much to have fun at a birthday party. Some great low-cost games to keep your guests entertained at your 21st birthday party include:
- Flip cup
- Beer pong
- Relay run
- Twister
- Dance offs
- Karaoke
- Scavenger hunt
- Truth or dare.
- Sumo-Wrestling
If you want to see our entire list of fun party activities, go to our Fun party activities for adults article. Or, if you a looking for something that will match your 21st birthday party perfectly, I have also written a post on outdoor birthday party ideas and fun activities for a 21st birthday party.
Pro tip: Try one or more of these games with Drunk Goggles on. It will spice up things.
Speeches and Toasts on your 21st Birthday
Don’t forget to prepare your speeches and toasts for your 21st Birthday. It is tradition for someone to make a speech at their 21st birthday party.
Don’t be nervous! It doesn’t have to be formal, and you can keep it casual and witty if you’d like.
Just remember to keep it clean – this is a Birthday party, after all!
Here are some tips:
- Thank your guests for coming and making a toast to your health and happiness.
- You could tell a funny story about when you were younger or something recently that’s made you realize how lucky you are.
- Use this opportunity to reflect on the past year and to look ahead to the next one. What have you achieved? What do you hope to accomplish in the coming year?
- And finally, make a toast to your future! Here’s to a happy and healthy life ahead. Cheers!
Your recommendations for a 21st birthday party at home
Let me know in the comments if you have any cool ideas for a 21st birthday party that has to be included for others to read in this post.