Children’s Birthday Parties That Don’t Break The Bank

When I was a child, birthday parties involved of a house full of screaming children eating sausage rolls, too much jelly and birthday cake, and playing pass the parcel (if the music could be heard above the racket).

Today? My, how times have changed! Peer pressure and social media bragging have certainly (unhelpfully) upped the ante and parents everywhere feel the pressure to put on an elaborate extravaganza.

However there are ways to ensure your darling has a birthday party to remember without breaking the bank.

Limit The Guest List

You might feel like you ought to invite all of your child’s classmates. Don’t! Costs will rise drastically if you do – plus, surely your child doesn’t like EVERYONE in their class?

Ask your child to pick around eight guests to invite as that’s who they’d like to spend their special day with. Not only are smaller parties infinitely more fun, but they keep the costs down too. And besides, smaller guest lists are more exclusive, don’t you know!

Only Invite Your Child’s Friends – Not Their Family

Expense increases when unexpected guests arrive. Depending on the age of the child, their parent(s) may stay for the duration of the party, in which case, you will have to at least make them one or two cups of tea. However, if the child is older, give parents and carers a definitive time to drop off and pick up their children.

Perfect Timing

Arrange the party for mid-afternoon as you will miss lunch and won’t be in time for dinner. That way, you won’t have to spend huge amounts on meals for everyone. Instead, you can offer affordable party food favourites such as carrot and cucumber sticks and dips, crisps, mini pizzas and cakes. When children are having so much fun, they don’t have time to stop and eat!

Cost-Effective Invites

To get the kiddiwinks there, you’ll need to invite them – and what better way to do so by Googling ‘free birthday party invites’, downloading and editing with your details. Then email the invites to parents or print them out. Or there is trusty SMS if you know the phone number of the parents. Practically no cost at all.

DIY Decorations

• Balloons. No party is a real party without balloons. They’re cheap and provide hours of entertainment (to younger children especially – and some adults!) Fill clear balloons with sweets or confetti for an unusual and fun look. Just be prepared for a major tidy-up afterwards.
• Buy Or Create Your Own Piñata. These things are all the rage because they’re so much fun. What’s not to like about taking turns to bash an object until the goodies fall out of the middle?! Obviously, age-appropriateness comes in here. You can’t expect a bunch of three year olds to have the strength or desire to do this, but a bunch of seven year olds might. To make your own, you’ll need newspaper, flour paste, PVA glue, a large round balloon, paper fringe garlands. Follow the method here

Whatever your budget, the main thing to remember when decorating is to use colour – and lots of it. It adds to the birthday atmosphere and brightens up everyone’s spirits. When you’re rushed off your feet with ten wild children pulling at your coat tails, just look up at the yellow streamers on the ceiling and they’ll lift your mood… kind of.

The Birthday Cake

The birthday cake is a pretty big deal to a child. In fact, it is a VERY big deal. However, you don’t need to spend a fortune to make sure your child loves the appearance and taste of it.

If you’ve the baking skills to rival this year’s winner of the Great British Bake Off, then go ahead. But if you’re like most of us who can barely make an Angel Delight mousse edible, then shop-bought it is.

Either order one from a professional cake-maker, or the less-expensive route would be to buy from a supermarket and personalize it yourself: use icing to pipe the name of the birthday girl / boy, decorate the edges with chocolate buttons and add candles. Have a look on a search engine for more ideas to suit your tastes.

But Where?

The possibilities are endless although most people’s budgets aren’t. Nowadays going bowling, to the zoo or cinema, and having an organised party afterwards at the premises is a fairly common. But to save money on admission and hiring fees go retro: host the party at home.

Home

We’ve ticked off food and decorations and now you have two whole hours to entertain a roomful of energetic children… what to do?

• I’ve been to many-a-party where a bouncy castle (around £60 for the day) has been hired and the beaming children have to be prised off it even to sing ‘Happy Birthday’ to birthday boy / girl. Although get ready for the tears when the bouncing heads ping off one another (happens every time).
• If you’ve the budget, go for a professional entertainer. They’ll take the pressure off you and they’ll have done this many times before so know what works.
• If you want to stick with the classic games only, do so. I remember having so much fun with Musical Chairs, Pin the Tail on the Donkey and a Treasure Hunt when I was younger. Just don’t forget the small prizes for the winners of the games.  Small packets of sweets, note pads and pens or bubbles would suffice. After all, kids are only in it to win it!
• If you don’t want to host at home, consider a Community Centre or Church Hall where hire fees are relatively cheap. Take your own food, hire a bouncy castle or just put on your own games – and you don’t have to worry about that expensive China getting trashed. Alternatively, look for deals at local play areas (Groupon often sell these) and take the party there. Choose the package which best suits your budget.

The tips above should give you plenty of scope to arrange a birthday party for your child that is fun for all involved, yet doesn’t break the bank.