(photo credit: Jessica.Diamond)
We have a large family; with 4 kids of our own, cousins and friends, I’ve both thrown and observed many birthday parties over the years! I have found many ideas to keep me in budget.
::Party Location:: Have the party at home. It can be inside, outside in a backyard, or even in a decorated garage! Public parks can be a great possible place to have a party, too. Look for one with grills for public use, swingsets and a playground for the kids. If there’s a little built-in entertainment, you won’t need to plan as many games and activities for the kids! A sledding party or skating party at a municipal ice rink is a great idea and usually does not cost anything at city parks.
::Plan Plan Plan:: I shop all year. I pick up party favors and invitations when I see them on clearance throughout the year. I even found a stack of kids birthday party invites at a sidewalk sale a few summers ago for 10 cents per package. I bought them all (hey, with 4 kids we’ll get around to using all of them!) and now my little ones can pick the ones they like best for their own party. I get paper plates, napkins and silverware for free or nearly free after coupons and stash them away. I also snag toys and games when I see them on clearance and keep them in the gift closet so my kids always have a present when they get invited to a birthday party. Post-holiday sales are a great way to find party supplies and gifts on the cheap. You can almost always find plain red napkins and plates on closeout after Valetine’s Day. They’re a festive color and will go with multiple themes, so why not pick them up and store them for the party? I store everything in one spot so I know what to buy when the party is getting close.
::Mind Your Menu:: Food is expensive! Thoughtfully pick the food you’re going to serve and stick with it. Don’t get caught up in special dietary needs of one or two people when you’re trying to feed 30! Usually a simple turkey sandwich or cheese and crackers will be enough to satisfy those who absolutely can’t eat what you’re serving. Everyone else can be flexible! Remember that you need to do what is right for your budget. hot dogs, sloppy joes and taco’s are all great choices. Also, skip the alcohol! Have a punch bowl or lemonade for everyone instead of alcohol and sodas. If you really want, to serve soda go with 2 liter instead of cans. A simple , frugal menu can be achieved for a variety of themes! If your child wants a pizza party try “take and bake” or Little Caesars, check your local coupons for the best deal. Or skip the meal altogether and have a cake and ice-cream party! My kids really only eat the desert anyway! bar One party we attended had a Build-Your-Own-Sundae dessert bar: a bucket of vanilla ice cream with all different types of toppings – it was a blast. This year we made our own ice cream cake and it was a hit. I found the recipe online and it was simple. If you are in doubt about trying to make your own cake make one before the party to try it out. Cupcakes are a great idea, no one has to cut cake and they turn out cute!
::Think About Invites:: Invitations can be handmade or printed out on your computer; there are lots of templates online. . Sometimes we use a photo of the “Birthday Boy/Girl” and print up information and glue it to the back of the photo.
::Don’t Forget the Dollar Store:: The Dollar Tree in my area has great party supplies. Solid color or white plates matched with more expensive character and theme napkins. Michaels is another great place to pick up items with that40% off weekly coupon! They carry birthday cake supplies, decorations and lots of other party supplies.
::Go Easy on Games:: Usually, the most basic games are the most fun! Every year we make a homemade piñata for one of my kids. It is super easy and super fun for kids! The “filliing” can be simple – candy bars, Dollar Store toys, Fruit snacks, surprise gift bags, etc. It’s way more about breaking open the pinata than what’s inside! Egg races, 3-legged races, and scavenger hunts are other easy and entertaining games.
::Don’t Ditch your Decorations:: Lots of commercial decorations can be reused from year to year. My kids also enjoy art projects, so they love making homemade banners and posters for the Birthday boy or girl! One of my kids favorite things is to blow up balloons (bought at the dollar store) and tie them on our mail box and railing outside. It’s so easy, traditional, and all of the kids love doing it. The littlest ones love going to the window and seeing their work!
–Remember the Birthday party is all about the celebration, not what you serve or the amount of money you spend! remember to HAVE FUN!
Your Turn: What ideas do you have for throwing a fun party on a budget?
We have a larger family so over the years I have had many Birthday parties and attended a lot of Birthday parties. I have found many ideas to keep me in budget.
–Party Location! Have the party at home. It can be inside, outside in a backyard, or even in a decorated garage! Public parks can be a great place to have a party. Sometimes they have grills and a playground. A sledding party or skating party is a great idea and usually does not cost anything at local parks.
–Plan Plan Plan – I shop all year. I pick up napkins, plates, plastic silverware, party favors, invitations on clearance. I also pick up kids gifts cheap and keep them in a box in the closet so my kids always have a gift if they get invited to a Birthday party. After holiday sales are a great way to pick up party supplies or gifts. After Valentines day pick up the red napkins that are 75% off! I store everything in one spot so I know what to buy when the party is getting close.
–A one size fits all food. Food is expensive! Pick the food and stick with it. I know you may have people coming that are on special diets but you need to do what is right for your budget. Hot Dogs, sloppy Joes, taco’s are all great choices. Skip the alcohol! Have a punch bowl or lemonade for everyone instead of soft drinks. If you are going to serve soda pop go with 2 liter instead of cans. We have had all different types of parties. If your child wants a pizza party try “take and bake” or Little Caesars, check your local coupons for the best deal. If you want to keep your costs low have a cake and ice-cream party! My kids really only eat the desert anyway. One party we attended had a build your own sundae dessert – Vanilla ice cream with all different types of toppings – it was a blast. This year we made our own ice cream cake and it was a hit. I found the recipe online and it was simple. If you are in doubt about trying to make your own cake make one before the party to try it out. Cupcakes are a great idea, no one has to cut cake and they turn out cute!
–Invitations can be handmade or printed out on your computer there are lots of sites to print them. Sometimes we use a photo of the “Birthday Boy/Girl” and print up information and glue it to the back of the photo. Use your imagination and search the internet for ideas.
–Shop the dollar store first! The Dollar Days Store in my area has great party supplies. Solid color or white plates matched with more expensive “Character” napkins. Michaels is a great place to pick up items with that weekly coupon! They carry birthday cake supplies, and other party supplies.
–Games for kids. Every year for one of my kids we make a homemade piñata. It is super easy and super fun for kids! The prizes can be simple – Candy bars, Dollar Store toys, Fruit snacks, surprise gift bags, use your imagination. Family Fun magazine has a ton of ideas for Birthday parties! They have a great website too.
–Decorations can be homemade or reused year to year. My kids enjoy making homemade banners and posters for the Birthday boy/girl. One of my kids favorite things is to blow up balloons (bought at the dollar store) and tie them on our mail box and railing outside. It is a Birthday tradition. Use the comics to wrap those gifts! Kids love it!
–Remember the Birthday party is all about the celebration! remember to HAVE FUN!
jennifer says
I’m always disappointed by these kinds of posts. Yes, its great to get all the party stuff for free or cheap with coupons/sales/etc. but wouldn’t it be better to invest maybe $50 on some bright colored plates, bowls, cups, napkins, and utensils that can be reused year after year? For less waste in the landfills.
I’d love to read ideas for kids parties that involve decorations like hand sewn buntings that can be reused year after year, even into adulthood, or favors that won’t just end up in the trash. I once read a blog post by a mom who threw a super hero party and made simple capes for each child with inexpensive cotton fabric. It took a little time, sure, but I promise you those kids are still running around the house in their capes with their undies outside their PJ’s pretending they are super heros.
Also, the dollar stores often have toys and other items that are unsafe in many ways – toxic chemicals, choking hazards, etc. – and I wouldn’t feel comfortable shopping for my own kids there, let alone for their friends or family.
However, I always appreciate a good “gift closet” nod. It’s great to be able to give a nice brand name toy for less by having it on hand instead of buying it on the spot. If you start these kinds of things while your kids are still pretty young, they’ll never expect to go to toys r us to pick out a gift.
Kasandria says
Girl I’m with you! I’m all about saving money on birthday parties. I think most of the time when kids have those extravagant parties it’s more for the parents than the kid itself.
Kas
Marybeth Hamilton says
Thanks for the comments! I honestly think it’s rediculous to spend a lot of money on an extravagant party when the kids just remember the thought itself.
Jennifer, I truly appreciate your comment. I try to be fairly green in my lifestyle, but our parties just for family (really) are up to 29 people! Taking that many dishes to a park or another outside location is not realistic at this point. I do ALWAYS recycle I’m sure to use recyclable drinkware and utensils, and the absolute minimum at that. We do the best we can, right?
Lynn says
Love the ideas. In our economy right now, every cent saved is worth it. My family does the park parties. Instead of trying to do a big BBQ for oodles of kids and family. I’ve recently found a nice older woman who sells tamales. I contacted her and had her “cater” our party. We bought spanish rice, beans, and tamales from her. So, this way we didn’t have to load a car load of equipment to the local park and make another trip to transport kids. We also do a candy bar hunt, like an Easter egg hunt but with candy bars. Big Hit. Those count towards the take home gifts.
Keep the good ideas and suggestions coming!