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Birthday Parties That Don't Break the Bank
Use this helpful guide when planning your child's next birthday party
A child's birthday party can be quite stressful and expensive. What will the theme be? Who will you invite? Where will you host it? What will the entertainment be? With a little imagination and this helpful guide, you can throw a fun, exciting, and clever birthday party for your child on a budget.
Establish your budget
Before you start planning the birthday party, decide how much money you are willing to spend. If you go shopping with only that amount of cash in hand, you will not go over the limit and it will help you stretch your dollar.
Location doesn't matter*
Keep in mind when deciding on a location that many of us fall into the same trap of renting an expensive hall, pizza parlor, or roller skating rink. You don't have to do this. Host a party in your backyard, at a local park, or at a picnic area. With a little imagination, a party at home can be just as fun. You will save money because the location usually ends up being the most expensive part of the birthday party.
Homemade invitations†
Once you've decided where you will host the party it's time to send out the invitations. Add a personal touch by making them yourself. An easy and fun way to get the word out would be to take a photo of the birthday child holding a sign that says "Come to My Party." This invitation is extremely easy to make and affordable.
Activities: Back to the basics*
Forget the expensive clowns and moonwalks. Instead, have the children play the games that we all loved as children. They haven't gone out of style and are still fun.
Try:
- Musical chairs
- Pin the tail on the donkey
- Smash open the pinata
- Red light, green light
- Simon says
- Duck, duck, goose
Don't go crazy with a theme*
Save yourself time and energy by not trying to color coordinate the tablecloth with the goody bags and the goody bags with your curtains. Go to a local dollar store and see what you can find. Most dollar stores have streamers, toys, candy for goody bags, and decorations.
Let the refreshments be part of the entertainment*
Have the children make their own sundaes, decorate cookies or cupcakes, or add toppings to a pizza. This will keep them busy and combines refreshments with an activity. You could also have the children decorate their own goody bags.
Homemade cake*
Baking your own cake will save you money and will add that special, homemade touch to the party. Instead of buying an expensive cake from the store that might not be decorated just right, try making your own.
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*Birthday tips suggested by http://www.essortment.com/family/birthdaychildre_scnn.htm.
†Birthday tips suggested by http://www.stretcher.com/stories/07/07may28h.cfm.
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