My children were born pretty much 25 months apart. This makes it hard and expensive to have birthday parties some years. Birthday parties can be so much work, so I wanted to highlight a few ways to save money for such special occasions.
1. Keep the birthday bash small. This isn’t always possible as we have a large family, but since it is my son’s 1st birthday next month and was my daughter’s 3rd birthday, we opted to have a small party for my daughter.
2. Bake your own cake. I LOVE making children’s cakes. I decorate them with the theme of their birthdays (such as Mickey Mouse or ladybugs like we’ve had). I feel that it gives a special touch and something they will look forward to every year.
3. Print a banner on your computer and let your child color it. Use it as a guestbook for when people arrive.
4. Make goodie bags. Buy things at the dollar or bargain store. Go for the party packets and toys where you get more than one item. Look for such items as stickers, cars, candy, etc. Better yet, are goodie bags really necessary? They aren’t in our family, but I believe it depends on the occasion.
5. Have family pitch in on food. Maybe family members could bring a side dish so that way you are not having to foot the bill (and time) for all of the food. Otherwise, schedule the party during a time where you do not need any food other than cake and ice cream.
6. Host the party in a location that is free such as your house, backyard or park.
7. If you are having a themed party, buy the party plates in themes, but make balloons, table cloths, etc… in solid colors.
I hope you can use some of these ideas. I love hosting parties and feel that my kids have such great times during their birthdays, but I know first hand how expensive they can definitely be. What are some of your ideas for saving money on parties?
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