Affording a child’s birthday celebration can be a real challenge. But you don’t have to break the bank to throw a memorable birthday party for your little one. There are many affordable ways to make their party special, from DIY decorations to fun and cheap party games.
All you’ll need is a bit of creativity and a few tips from this article. We’ll show you how to prepare for your child’s birthday on a budget. And the best part? You don’t have to be an expert organizer or caterer to make it happen!
Invitations
The first thing that you have to do is send out invitations. You can choose either digital or paper ones. The latter looks more classic, but it doesn’t allow you to keep track of who has already read them. On the other hand, sending e-vites takes only a few minutes and makes it much easier for your guests to respond on time.
You can either use free downloadable templates for both types of invitations or have them printed according to your specifications.
Location and Date
You don’t need a professional catering service or an expensive venue to celebrate your child’s birthday. You can have the party at your house if you have enough space and accessories for entertaining the kids, such as a pool, trampoline, playhouse, or video games. It will save you a lot of time and money as well.
Games and Activities for the Party
Planning activities on a budget means that you’ll need to get creative with your family and friends on game day. Some ideas include:
Treasure Hunt
Hide small gift bags filled with candies around the house, backyard, or park. Then give each child a map with clues directing them to the hidden treats. Have your children wear name tags to avoid getting lost in the crowd.
Pin the Tail on the Donkey
Recreate this classic party game that involves blindfolding the birthday boy or girl, spinning them around three times, and then pointing them in the right direction. Be sure to have some extra tails on hand just in case they’re not quite sure where to pin their donkey’s tail yet.
Pass the Parcel
Have each child sit in a circle and wrap them up with several layers of gift wrapping paper. Then give each child a small box, one at a time, instructing them to unwrap just one layer before passing it on to the next player. Of course, that means that everyone will need to be very careful not to rip through the paper or let go of their parcel until they’re told to.
Decorations
It’s time to use your imagination and creativity for party decor. But don’t worry; you won’t have to dump your savings account to make it happen.
You can create a simple but fun birthday atmosphere by using things around the house instead of expensive themed decorations. For example, balloons are always easy to fill any space with color and excitement.
Nonetheless, you can lease party favors through event rentals. There are a few options to choose from, such as soft and inflatable decorations.
Food and Drinks for the Party
The menu can be classic party favorites at a low cost. For example, serve various finger foods that include sandwiches with different types of meat and fresh fruits with yogurt dip.
You can also opt for healthy snacks like fruit skewers for kids. Make some juice boxes or lemonade to go with it. It’s also best to serve meals that can be eaten without utensils, especially if you’re planning an outdoor party where clean-up will involve lots of paper and plastic.
Gift Bags
The last thing you need to do is put together the birthday boy or girl’s loot bag. You can buy small gifts, candies, and toys at a low price from your local dollar store. Roll the items inside colorful tissue paper, tie them with curling ribbon, and place them in mesh bags. You can also make personalized ribbons and tags for each loot bag to add a special touch.
Cake
You don’t need a professional bakery to create your little one’s favorite cake. You can purchase desserts from your grocery store or order them from a nearby bakery, such as frozen cakes and cupcakes that you can personalize with icing and candles.
If you happen to have the skills to make one, you can bake your child’s favorite cake from scratch. Bake two or three different cakes in varying flavors and let the kids choose the most delicious one.
So, whether you’re looking to save money or want a few ideas on how to make your child’s birthday party more fun, take a few tips from this article and get started today. You’ll be glad you did!
