As inflation continues to rise, the thought of spending money on a kid’s birthday party can seem a little extravagant. Food, decorations, gifts, venue rental, entertainment can all add up quickly. However, with a few budget savvy tips you can throw your child a memorable birthday celebration that won’t break the bank.
Before you start planning, be sure to check in with your child first and determine their expectations for their party. Most kids tend to have rather simple demands when it comes to their birthday celebration. Most are happy to just hang out with friends, eat their favorite foods and do something fun. Knowing up front what is important to your child will help you to determine where you can save and where to splurge a little on the party costs.
For even more birthday party ideas for Des Moines Kids visit our Birthday Party Guide.
Here’s 10 tips for hosting a budget savvy kids birthday party:
Keep the guest list small.
It’s nice to invite your child’s whole class or soccer team to their birthday party, but don’t feel like you must. Especially, if your child gets overwhelmed in large groups. It may be better to invite fewer guests, that they can have more meaningful interactions with.
Send digital invitations.
It’s greener and you save the cost of printing. There are several FREE digital invitation options available. You can use a site like eVite or Punchbowl. Create your own invitation on Canva or use Facebook to send an event invitation. And, of course you can send a text or email with the party details.
Locate an economical venue.
Hosting a birthday party at home is of course free, but that may not be an option for you. No sweat, dsm4kids put together a list of 10 Inexpensive Kids’ Birthday Party Venues in Des Moines.
Be strategic.
Host the party between 2:00 and 5:00 pm to limit the expense of providing a full meal. You can get by with serving simple snacks or even just cake and ice cream during this time.
Crowd source the party.
You know Aunt Karen is going to ask you what she can bring to the party! If you’re hosting a “friends and family” birthday party, provide the main dish and then ask family, friends, and neighbors to bring the birthday kiddo’s favorite side dishes.
Think outside the cake.
You can make the birthday cake yourself, but that’s not for everyone. There’s no rule that says you must serve cake. Your birthday kiddo’s favorite treat may be cookies, donuts, ice cream sandwiches, fruit, popcorn etc. This is their party, let them eat…their favorite treat, that may not be cake!
Make a goal to not purchase any new party decorations.
Look around the house and dig through your closets to see what you already have. And, then take a look at free swap sites to see what people are trying to get rid of. If you’re looking for something specific, put out an ABP on social media. It’s amazing what people have; you just have to ask!
Buy solid-colored plates and napkins.
I like to buy solid-colored plates and napkins. They can tie in the party theme and give a bit of color to the party, but they can also be used for another party or occasion down the road.
Downsize or eliminate the goody bag.
Oh, the goody bag. I think every article I write about kids’ birthday parties; I suggest getting rid of it. If you just need to give something, it’s better to buy one nice thing vs. a lot of plastic knick knacks that will end up in the trash. Another option is to tie it to an activity like a craft project. It ends up being the activity AND favor.
Skip the party all together.
There’s no written rule that says you have to host a birthday party for your child. Quite honestly, they’re not for everyone. dsm4kids just happens to have a bunch of ideas for birthday party alternatives in our article Low-Key Ways to Celebrate Your Child’s Next Birthday.
