Planning a successful birthday party can be overwhelming, especially if you’re not in the market for a keeping-up-with-the-Jones type, over-the-top party. Here are some tips for a quick and easy birthday party that doesn’t break the bank: Go to Target. That’s it. (Just kidding.). Birthday Party on a Budget can be a breeze with a little imagination.
Successful kids’ birthday parties are planned for two audiences – parents and kids. Keep this in mind as you start putting it all together.
Location
If you can, the cheapest would be to conduct the party at home. However, if you have space constraints or do not want the house to be overrun by a bunch of kids, look for common lounges/game rooms in the building or a friend’s building. Many don’t charge residents, and if they do, it is usually minimal. If it is summer, the parks and gazebos are excellent options.
Invitations
You can spend a lot of time and energy making beautifully designed invitations on websites like Shutterfly, or you can buy a pack of eight and fill in the blanks while you’re watching television. It’s up to you. Some parents choose to use online invites, but getting an envelope in the mail is fun for kids and also helps to build anticipation. Or you can just message the parents individually. However you do it, sending invitations can be the least expensive of the steps.
Snacks
Get more snacks than you need. They don’t have to be Pinterest-inspired fruit sculptures; they just have to be plentiful. No one wants a pack of hungry kids running around. Get easy snacks like pretzels, grapes, baby carrots, cheese sticks, juice boxes – please don’t forget the juice boxes, or tiny water bottles – chicken fingers, goldfish… And also get just a couple of things that the adults can have. Coffee, soda, chips, and dips are some items that can keep the adults satiated.
Entertainment
Kids don’t need a lot of entertainment. You don’t have to hire a magician or a singing Elsa, but have a few things for the kids to do. If you forget this step, they’re guaranteed to run in circles screaming. No one wants that. Paper and crayons are easy. Stickers are fun. You can enlist a cousin/friend/family to organize games like musical chairs, pin the tail on the donkey, pass the parcel, freeze dance, charades, etc. Kids love bubbles, noise makers, balls… Again –bring more than you think you need. Someone’s going to break their noisemaker and steal someone else’s…Screaming will ensue… Save yourself the headache and get extra. (Skip the birthday hats. I’ve never seen a kid excited about the hat.). That helps, considering we are looking to make it a Birthday Party on a Budget.
Music
Don’t underestimate the power of a great playlist. It doesn’t have to be full of wheels on the bus and the ABCs. The kids are going to be occupied. Play something the adults enjoy.
Cake
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been to parties where the cake has been untouched because the parents forgot the knife. Don’t forget the knife. Also – it’s nice to have a fancy cake – everyone loves a beautiful cake – but it truly doesn’t matter. You can get one at the supermarket and be really happy with it. And if you plan even one day in advance, the supermarket can usually make you a fancy one for a quarter of the price. Or if you are inspired by the inner baker in you, baking a good homemade cake will be the ultimate flex.
Decorations
Get decorations that double as either toys or dishes. Balloons are good for this; they don’t have to be helium balloons. It’s hard to play with helium balloons anyway. Or get the colorful “Happy Birthday!“ plates and napkins to place strategically around the room near the aforementioned snacks.
Treat bags
Temporary tattoos, books, more stickers…Have one for everyone. Bring a couple extra for unexpected stray siblings who might tag along. No reason to put candy in these bags. They just had cake. Give the moms a break.
While it is challenging to have a Birthday Party on a Budget, children will have fun no matter what as long as they have the right environment and their friends to play with.
Updated: Dec 10, 2024
