How To Celebrate Kids Birthdays on a Budget

There are many stories about celebrity parents going overboard on children’s birthday parties, using extravagant party favors, trucking in live ponies, and gifting kids with ridiculous amounts of presents. For most families, that celebrity lifestyle is unattainable but celebrating a child’s special occasion doesn’t have to be. You can still create a memorable time without blowing your budget.
 
Here are some tips to create a wonderful occasion for a child of any age:

 
Get Ideas from the Child
Find out what your child is thinking in terms of the ideal party. The more input they have, the more likely they will be pleased with the outcome. Sometimes it is the parents that go overboard with inflated ideas when in reality the child would have been just as happy with simple ideas.
 
Decorate Creatively
It’s hard to justify a $100 in decorations when you generally just throw away most of them after the party has ended. Dollar stores and discount party stores may be your best option for getting some decorations to hang up but teaching your children the focus should be on the guests and not the gusto is really the heart of the matter. Keep invitations simple. Handmade cards or computer print outs will work just as well as an $8 pack of cards.
 
Invite Close Family and a Few Friends
It can be a task to whittle down a guest list when you have a lot of loved ones. But to cut down on costs, you might have to cut down on people. Since this is your kid’s party, be sure to invite a handful of their friends before you start inviting your boss. A small gathering is still a celebration but don’t be consumed about hurting everyone else’s feelings. If they are truly your friends, they would understand.
 
Budget for Food
It will not help your bank account to go shopping for party food without a plan. Make a list of items you can use to feed the accounted for guests but don’t go overboard. Hot dogs may be cheaper than burgers so stick with a simple menu without a ton of options. You may also ask family members and close friends to bring a dish to supplement the party. Bake the party cake yourself and find some cheap novelties for decorations. The cake will be eaten anyway so don’t spend a fortune on it.
 
The Party Is the Entertainment
It can get expensive very quickly when you want to supply additional entertainment besides the party itself. Do yourself a favor and forget the bounce house rentals and a live DJ. Use the internet to recall old fashioned party games and pick up a few prizes at the dollar store. Keeping younger kids busy with fun games is a perfect way to spend the day. Older kids may be happy to have a dance party or be glad to hang out sans adults.