<p>I will be celebrating my 50th birthday next month! DH and I have no disposable income to speak of right now (with 2 kids plus me in college!). DH is not a planner, so it is up to me to come up with something special/memorable that doesn’t cost much. I am in need of ideas! TIA :)</p>
<p>Happy Birthday in advance!</p>
<p>So your birthday’s in January? How cold will it be in your area – could you gather friends and family around a fire pit and toast your good health? Would a friend host your party for you? If money’s an issue, I think just being with people you love is the best celebration of all.</p>
<p>My wife was just reminiscing today… about her 50th birthday, which was … ahem… “several” years ago today. Apparently it was our 1st day on a Caribbean cruise which was an extended family thing and purely coincidentally on her birthday. I made the mistake of buying her a print from a fairly famous artist and had him sign it, “Happy 50th birthday Mrs NJres” That print is still rolled up in its cardboard cylinder in the closet. Maybe now I can take it out and get it framed. :D</p>
<p>Celebrate as a group. My DH, 4 friends and I are turning 50 this year. We all have kids in college and disposable income is limited so we are having one big bash this summer. Among our ideas were a trip to Cosa Rica to a party on a harbor cruise. We are having a “planning” meeting on New Year’s Eve �� to determine where. Some of us will still celebrate individually but it will be more low key.</p>
<p>Tell us the type of weather where you will be celebrating, it will help to give us some ideas for you. Is there a vineyard or wine tasting place nearby? Sometimes they will host a small group for wine and cheese, it could help to keep cost minimal. A hot air balloon ride with a picnic, a horse drawn buggy ride and meet guests for snacks and a toast. A toast and snack at a botanical garden.</p>
<p>Thank you for the good ideas! I am in NY. DH and I are not drinkers (I am allergic to wine, sadly). My college besties (version 1, as I am back in school, and my best friends now are all early 20s!) are all a year or 2 older than me, so have done the 50th already. We always spend the day together, and will be doing so for mine, as well. I was more looking for ideas for DH and me. But now I’m thinking of an open house dessert party…I love to bake and can make an assortment of treats, serve coffee and tea, and maybe some hors d’oeuvres, crudite, and wine. What do you think?</p>
<p>I like the idea of a dessert party. But… it sounds like a lot of work for the Birthday Girl ;)</p>
<p>H & I are 6 days apart in age, so we turned 50 together and threw ourselves a big party. I did spend a bit, as I brought servers in, however I cooked all the food myself and bought nice wine. The open house idea is perfect and you can set a budget. </p>
<p>Unless you want gifts, make sure you put ‘no gifts’ on the invite. We were a bit embarrassed most friends brought something - wine or gift card to local restaurants. A few made donations in our name to charities we support, which is what was nice.</p>
<p>I went to a fabulous milestone birthday. It was a simple lasagna dinner, salad, bread, yummy ( bought) Italian cake. But the best part was the birthday girl asked for items for children to be donated to a charity organization near here that distributes toys and clothes for kid’s. It was so much fun! She opened each present like it was her own…but we all knew we were contributing to a good cause.</p>
<p>I know what I would like. A make-it-yourself ice cream sundae party, with a toppings bar. Easy, inexpensive, fun and think how happy the guests would be.</p>
<p>If you are close to NYC, you and your husband can take a harbor lights circle line cruise.</p>
<p>A co-worked celebrated her milestone bday by renting a suite at a nice hotel, and inviting some of us to have a slumber party. It was fun, and she didn’t have to do anything, and it didn’t cost all that much because it was off-season.</p>
<p>For a milestone birthday I had a coordinated potluck dinner (so no food overlap or major gaps) and asked everyone to bring a gift they’d gotten and didn’t like. Some people chose one to take home, and I still have a few orphaned gifts I’m not quite ready to donate to the thrift shop. Costs were modest, and people from different parts of my very eclectic life got to meet each other.</p>
<p>If you do have a gathering/party, it would be easier on you and cheaper, if it were potluck. But I thought you were thinking of something for just you and your husband. Could you swing a real nice dinner out at a romantic restaurant? See a show or concert that you might not otherwise do? Spend one night at a hotel? I just think this is your day for others to pamper you, rather than you doing all the work.</p>
<p>I had a party for two of my best friends who share a birthday–one turned 50 and the other turned 60. We called it the “All-girl 110 year Celebration.” I asked each birthday girl to invite 4 friends for a total of 11 (including me). We decided on an Italian theme; I made a huge lasagna and everyone else brought a dish or wine or a desert. Turned out to be a really fun party. If you do a party with close friends–make it a potluck. It will be less work for you and not as expensive. Whatever you do, have a fun time.</p>
<p>These all sound like very appealing ideas. S & his HS classmates had a 70th birthday cruise to Alaska this past year. Many of them have known each other for over 50 years & some since kindergarten! For his 50th, I bought a nice sheet, cut it up & made cloth napkins. I also invited three couples (3 of his best friends) over for dinner at our house. It was simple and a lot of fun.</p>
<p>Honestly don’t remember doing anything special for my 50th–I think one of my sibs had our entire family of 25+ over for potluck dinner at their place & sang to me. I think H & I also went out for dinner.</p>
<p>I think it’s nice to celebrate in whatever makes the birthday person happy. H is retiring this year after over 4 decades working for the federal government. His office threw a potluck in his honor and we’re going to have the family & a few of his friends for a brunch this Sunday at a nearby restaurant (our place is too small to easily hold everyone). H was a bit reluctant but agreed to let us have the party.</p>
<p>I had the nicest 60th birthday last March. I invited all of my local women friends to take a walk with me. One friend lives on an unpaved road with almost no traffic and mountain views. She made us a wine cake, a family tradition of hers. Then I invited a few good friends out for dinner with us at a local restaurant. It was simple, inexpensive and a ton of fun.</p>
<p>Don’t do what I did-- for our 50th, twin sis and I went to NYC to spend a long weekend with our older sis. Got stranded with Hurricane Sandy–turned into an 8-day weekend! (We didn’t suffer, but our families did!)</p>
<p>Glad you didn’t suffer and were safe with your sisters, atomom; sounds like it was a great idea and you had more togetherness than planned. Bethievt, sounds like you had a lovely 60th!</p>
<p>I am also looking for ideas to celebrate my 50th birthday. I also live in NY and it is cold and frosty. My birthday is on Tuesday and I have to work that day. My husband and family are are around, but are quite busy so are unable to put anything together. I really want to celebrate. Turning 50 is worth celebrating.</p>