Amazing Parties on a Budget

Create Amazing Parties for Less

AMAZING BIRTHDAY PARTIES

Join the millions of parents who are choosing to throw amazing birthday parties for their children, all without breaking the bank. Extravagant, fun- illed celebrations do not need to be expensive. In fact, with just a short list of birthday party tips, you'll be on your way to having a topnotch party at a fraction of the cost. Read on to ind out how you can create your party plan today and let the fun begin!

BIRTHDAY BUDGETING

Children’s birthday parties today may not look anything like the birthday parties you grew up with as a child. You were probably accustomed to low-key affairs that included only family and friends. Perhaps you even had a party with all of your classmates for one special birthday. However, the amount that some parents spend on a typical birthday party for a child today may astound you. Many average parties these days are costing the parents $500 and, in some cases, well over $1,500!

You may be asking yourself if you too have to plan on budgeting $1,000 per child annually to help him or her usher in the next year of life. If that sounds incredibly unreasonable to you or if it would be impossible to it into your budget, you can use these six tips to keep your costs under control while still creating a memorable and fun party for your child.

CHOOSE A FREE VENUE

One of the signi icant costs associated with any birthday party is the venue. Some parents think that choosing a gym, a dance studio, a crafts studio, a zoo or a children's museum or enrichment center will make life easier for them. However, many of these venues charge well over $500 for a simple birthday party package for a dozen children, uickly making your costs escalate.

Your cheapest option is to have the party at home, preferably in your backyard if the weather is nice to keep dirty hands and feet out of most of your living spaces. However, if you do have to host the party inside your home, it would be cheaper to pay for a maid service to clean up after the party than it would be to pay for a different venue.

Your home is not the only cheap venue option, however. If you live in a smaller space or simply do not like hosting at your home, consider a no-cost park or ask your local library if they have any free or cheap rental spaces. Some restaurants also offer very low-cost party room rentals and include the cost of a children’s meal in the price.

PLAN FOR SNACKS AND CAKE

Once you have nailed down the venue, you will want to think about the food you are serving. Even the cost of simple foods can rise exponentially once you factor in the number of guests that you are serving. If you are serving any children with food allergies or speci ic preferences, your prices may shoot up even higher. To get around some of these costs, be sure to plan an at-home party for the morning or afternoon so that you do not have to pay for lunch or supper. Keep your menu plan to the main birthday cake attraction, some birthday punch, and a few inger foods to keep very hungry children satis ied.

If you do have to serve a meal, consider low-cost options, such as a box mix of macaroni and cheese or delivery pizza, which most children will gobble up, no uestions asked. A handful of kid-friendly choices will ensure that there is something for everyone.

CHOOSE HOME BAKED

If you are able to bake even the most basic of treats, you should de initely consider going DIY for the birthday cake. Many custom cakes can cost well over $75. Most box mix cakes are fairly fool-proof, and you can keep the cake interesting by choosing a special mold from a baking supply store as well as colored icing for frosting and piping in the cake details.

OPT FOR E INVITES

It may feel hard to say no to custom paper invitations that look so pretty and that are so fun for children to receive in the mail. However, it is no longer thought to be poor form to send out e-invitations. Many online shops offer custom e-invitations at only a fraction of the cost of paper invitations. Plus, you will not have to pay for postage, and you may be able to snag free online RSVPs to keep your party planning even simpler.

If you absolutely have to have paper invitations, opt for designing them yourself and handing out as many as possible in person rather than mailing them.

CHOOSE NO COST OR LOW COST ENTERTAINMENT

Entertainment is a huge budget drain for any birthday party. Renting bouncy houses and tents or paying for the time at a recreation center can uickly empty out your wallet. Consider fun at-home entertainment, such as games that all young children enjoy. You can put an adult or two in charge and play Charades, Musical Chairs, Simon Says, Hot Potato or Freeze Tag. If you have a little money to invest, consider buying a piñata, a slip-and-slide mat or some outdoor games, such as bocce ball or cro uet.

SEARCH FOR BUDGET FRIENDLY DECOR

Even if your child is really into a certain character or theme, you can still put your creativity to work to keep your party decor frugal. Try using some items that you already have at home, and search online for tips for making your own decorations. Stay away from your local party store where items can get incredibly expensive, and instead hop online for bulk party decor supplies and bulk toys or candy for swag bags. Shopping online lets you search for the best price from a variety of stores. Plus, you will ind a far better array of options online than you would locally.

The key to keeping your child’s next birthday party budget-friendly is to work as much as possible with what you have, to keep the party as small as possible, to choose do-it-yourself options whenever you can and to use the skills and talents that you and willing family members and friends have for entertainment, baking, decorating and more.

Remember that you do not have to keep up with the Joneses so to speak to keep your child happy. Instead, focus on creating great memories in a fun, bright, festive atmosphere!