One of the most joyous occasions in any family is a child’s birthday. It’s a time for celebration, excitement, and surprises. But for parents, planning a memorable party can be both expensive and stressful.
The planning process can quickly snowball out of control, leaving parents with an empty bank account and a house full of toys they don’t need. If you’re on a tight budget but still want to throw your kid the best party that they will remember, here are some tips to get creative without breaking the bank.
Limit Your Guest List
It might seem obvious, but you don’t need to invite the entire neighborhood; it’s your child’s birthday party, after all. If they are still young or live in a small town, keep your guest list limited to friends and family members close by. As they get older, you can increase the guest list size.
You can also decide if you are willing to spend money on take-home presents for every person attending the party; it might be too much stress and expense for such a little party.
Survey for Sponsors
It’s common for parents to survey friends and family members for toy donations for the kids’ presents. Remember to be polite about your request; this isn’t supposed to come across as charity. Be clear that you are willing to provide a list of necessities to avoid duplicates, and express your gratitude when they offer their help.
Utilize the Backyard
The best thing about throwing a children’s party is that you don’t need anything too fancy. Even if your house only has one floor, chances are you have enough room in your backyard to put up some obstacles for kids to run through, and enough space for games like Duck-Duck-Goose or Simon Says.
If you don’t have a backyard, check your local community center or park. These places are always available for rental, and many of them even provide staff members to organize the activities, so all you have to do is bring the cake. Another option is to rent out part of a restaurant during hours when it usually is closed.
DIY Decorations
As for decorations, colorful balloons and streamers can add much fun, even if you don’t have the money to rent out a party room or play area. The best part is children won’t notice the difference between a DIY decoration and a professional one, as long as they’re colorful and in plentiful supply.
If you need to save money on balloons, try asking a local florist if they have any old ones in their garbage bins. Many of them will give some away for free when you explain your situation. You can also make streamers from a newspaper, although this may require access to a printer.
Tables and Chairs
If you don’t have the money for new tables and chairs for your party, you can always repurpose old ones. Many party favor suppliers offer affordable table linen rentals that allow you to make old furniture look fresh and clean.
Besides, children’s parties don’t necessarily require many tables and chairs as kids will run around and play most of the time.
Create Fun Food
A party is not complete without food, but doing the standard pizza-and-pop routine can get boring quickly. If your child loves sushi, it’s an easy option that offers plenty of color and variety. You can even create your theme, like making various rolls look like dinosaurs or princesses.
Another fun idea is to create a taco stand, where kids can pick and choose which toppings they want on their tacos. It’s a fun and healthy way to serve food because there are veggies involved, plus children love anything that allows them to be creative with food.
Invest in the Host
If you want to ensure that your child’s party is a success, it might be worth investing in the host. Hire an upbeat and experienced children’s entertainer to take care of things like games, contests, and dancing.
This way, every kid will have fun at the party while the parents get some time off their feet. Whatever you do, keep in mind that the more fun your party looks like, the more of an impression it will make on kids.
When throwing a children’s party on a budget, remember to be creative with your ideas. You don’t need anything too fancy, and utilizing what’s available to you is always a good idea: the more fun and carefree the mood, the better chance your party will succeed.
