Budget Birthdays

Planning parties can be rewarding and a whole lot of fun, but they can also be very time consuming and expensive. Having an elaborate and impressive party for your favorite child does not have to break the bank, or even strain it.  Of course, having a wild and over-the-top party is sure to make a buzz around the neighborhood, but is that really important to you? Kids don’t necessarily need to have a celebrity guest or live animals to make their parties fun and memorable.

Before you embark on planning the mega-party of the century, take a moment to consider your reasons for throwing such a shindig. Are you REALLY throwing the party for your child’s enjoyment? Do you really have pure motives? Are you feeling guilty about neglecting your child because you work? Are you trying to make-up for a deficit in your own childhood? Are you trying to win your child’s affection? Are you trying to impress your in-laws or the snooty neighbor? If your motives for planning the party are not pure, maybe it’s time to reconsider your strategies. To par down your plans and throw an authentic party that celebrates your child but doesn’t necessarily solve one of your own emotional issues. Don’t go into debt or emotional crazy town to feed your own ego or to quiet some guilty thoughts. Deal with these issues in a more mindful and prayerful way before ever diving into planning a three-ring circus quality party.

Once you have determined that your motives are pure and your intentions are in the right place, you can proceed with planning your perfect party.You can throw a truly special event and protect your bank account at the same time by planning ahead and setting a budget for your party. Of course, setting a budget isn’t enough. To truly make it work, you have to also be committed not to exceed the budget you set. It’s important to create a meaningful and exciting birthday party but it’s even more important to plan a party that doesn’t cause you to dread next month’s credit card statement. Here are some helpful tips and strategies for throwing an inexpensive party that looks like a million bucks!  Save time and money without sacrificing fun activities and precious memories.

Invitations
Don’t dip too deeply into your party budget for expensive themed birthday invitations that will get tossed out with the junk mail. Send an email invitation to all your birthday party guests instead. You may even want to use a company like e-vite or create a Facebook events page. If you have graphic art or photo editing software, you can create a custom invitation to attach to an email. Other options include making invitations with decorative papers and embellishments or simply calling guests and extending a verbal invitation. You could even get the birthday boy or girl in on the fun by having them create custom invitations with a personal touch.

 Decorations
Decorations can do wonders to create a festive atmosphere and help guests understand the theme of the party, but they can also be very expensive. Once you decide on a theme, look around your house. Leave no space unchecked, including those dark corners of your garage. Look for items that could be used as decorations, even that’s not what they are intended to be. It’s important to be creative and imaginative as you search. Try to see everything as a potential decoration or figure out a way that you can re-purpose an item to use with your party theme. For instance, a silk plant might not seem to be the perfect decoration for a princess party, but with a little white spray paint and some glitter, you can turn it into a beautiful plant in a magical kingdom. Add a nylon butterfly or two from the dollar store or a craft store and you have created a beautiful  and whimsical decoration fit for a castle.

Another strategy to keep in mind when trying to save money on decorations is to  focus on large impact items. Though these items may be big, they don’t have to carry a big price to make a big impact. For instance, you could create a large mural that reflects your theme without spending hardly any money. Paint the mural onto long butcher paper and attach it to the wall at the party venue. Large murals will not only provide a prominent visual impact, but can be used as the backdrop for party photos or a selfie-booth.
Another option is to host your party your party at a park or garden where you won’t need decorations. The natural beauty of the surroundings provide the perfect decorations. Or you can choose to have a destination party. Consider having your party at a roller rink or bowling alley where decorations will not be needed.

Activities
Depending on the age of your child and guests, you may not have to plan a lot of elaborate games or activities.

Plan activities that are age-appropriate and inexpensive. Simple party games such as “Stick the Tail on the Donkey” can be easily made and are enjoyed by a variety of ages. Use tape to attach the tail instead of a push pin for younger guests. You can also watch movies or simply provide toys and let children play together. Other activities include a craft table and a scavenger hunt.

Young party guests are usually happy with simple activities such a bin of toys (you can even offer toys that support your theme) or a coloring station. These activities are basically free to set-up and provide fun for young guests. Other activities include bubbles, face paint and tattoo stations. If the weather is nice, consider providing some balls and water games.

Pinterest is an invaluable resource for party ideas. Minute-to-win it games are usually easy to set-up and use very common items. You are likely to find everything you need for many of these games around your house or at the nearest dollar store.

Food
Have the party in the late afternoon. If you have your party between meals, you can save big money on party food. Provide a few simple snack foods such as chips or a vegetable tray and focus your food budget on an impressive birthday cake. Make the cake yourself and use small toys to decorate the top or have a bakery provide the cake for you. You can also serve cupcakes and top them with a small candy. This will eliminate the need to cut the cake and will also save you money on plastic cutlery, as most people will use their hands to eat their cupcake.

Gifts
Don’t feel compelled to give an expensive gift to the birthday child. Choose to give your child a sentimental gift such as a meaningful piece of jewelry from your own collection or a scrapbook full of photos of the past year. The party guests will likely buy toys for the birthday child, so you can focus on an inexpensive, yet meaningful gift.

You can also give a coupon book that includes coupons redeemable for activities and rewards. For instance, give your child a coupon that allows them an extra half an hour of screen time, a later bedtime or one that allows them to choose the movie on movie night. Experience gifts such as tickets to a performance or event can also be reasonably priced and allow the child something to look forward to at a later date.

Goodie Bags
Even if you are on a budget, you can still provide goody bags for guests to take home with them. Shop the seasonal aisles at your favorite store after each major holiday. You can often find items on deep discount that would be appropriate for goody bags. If you plan ahead, you can buy clearance items after each holiday. For instance, you may be able to find some trick-or-treat containers that don’t have a Halloween theme. These containers may be perfect favor bags for your child’s birthday party. You may find chocolate roses or other candy on sale after Valentine’s Day that could be used in a party goody bag with a princess theme. Additionally, you may find may find seasonal toys that can be used as generic goodie bags. For instance, you might find a winter themed yo-yo that you could use for a birthday party that takes place in the winter. 

Another strategy to consider when looking for goodie bag fill is to think big. Some items take-up more space than others, so spend your money on these items which will make your bags look fuller. For instance, you can find a packet of six tissue packages for only a dollar. Most have a princess or character theme. These items take-up a lot of space and will help fill out a goodie bag. This is better use of your dollar than to buy a single item to fill only one bag. Popcorn is another item that is inexpensive but that is bulky enough to make your bags look full.

Don’t let mama guilt or the desire to impress the neighbors persuade you into going into debt either monetarily or emotionally. Show your children, through your actions, that it really IS the the thought that matters most. That you want to celebrate them and not have selfish motives. Set an example of living within your means. Send guests home with a basket full of good cheer, quality memories and a few fun photos instead of a goodie bag full of useless clutter. Don’t forgo the party, just skip the mama-guilt-induced extravaganza. If you take the time to plan ahead for a party, shop year around and use your imagination, you can throw an inexpensive birthday party that looks like an elaborate celebration. You, your guests, and most importantly your child, will have fond memories that won’t be overshadowed by a looming debt.