Planning a Birthday Blast on a Budget
Create homemade invitations for a birthday party that's more personal but less expensive.
Every birthday your child celebrates is special. Traditional parties, though, seem to have given way to extravagant birthday galas with circus performers, expensive favors, and organized games for four dozen guests.
You could pay (a minimum) $2200 for your 5 year old's "Ultimate Birthday" at FAO Schwarz, or you might spend months planning a Martha Stewart-style extravaganza. Those extremes aren't necessary, though. You can throw a great party for your child with just a little planning and a small budget.
So before you rent out the local sports arena, read these party-planning tips for practical parents:
Make Your Own Invitations
If your child wants to help plan his party, let him design his own invitations. An older child can proudly show off writing skills by copying information from a master invitation you create. A younger child can make the cover, and you can fill in the details inside. If there are too many invitees to hand-make each card, have your child create one flyer that you can photocopy. You can also make the invitations together on your computer using creativity software or a basic word processing program.
Mix Generic and Personal Decorations
Most kids don't notice whether you use the generic cups or the Sponge Bob napkins. If there is a fancy decoration that your child really wants, consider splurging on one item, such as the cake plates, but don't feel compelled to have everything match. Solid colors serve just as well.
For decorations that are more personalized and significantly cheaper than anything you could buy, use an inexpensive software program to make banners, party hats, and more. These programs have ready-to-go templates that are fast and easy to use.
Play Piñata at Your Fiesta
Trying to break open a colorful piñata is guaranteed to be fun … unless you've spent a fortune on the fancy paper donkey and cringe to see it banged around. A less traumatic option is to make your own piñata using materials you already have:
- a large balloon or beach ball
- newspaper strips
- paste (mix 1/2 cup of flour with 1/2 cup of cold water, stir into 2 cups of boiling water, simmer for about 3 minutes, then cool).
Drag newspaper strips through the paste; wipe off excess and place strip diagonally over the balloon. Repeat, layering the strips slightly until the entire surface is covered except for a small area where you can deflate the balloon and fill the piñata with goodies (cover this area with tape after filling it with treats). Let the piñata dry for at least 24 hours. You can paint and add a variety of decorations to the mold — streamers to create an octopus, cone-shaped coffee filters for sun rays, prehistoric patterns for a dinosaur egg.
For a less messy version (that's also easier for children to break open), make a paper bag piñata. Fill a large paper bag halfway with goodies. Roll the top down and staple it shut. Decorate the sides of the bag with fringed paper, googly eyes, and colorful streamers.
Field Trips
A house party may seem to be the least expensive party setting, but other locations may be even more affordable and require less effort. Check your area for:
- Kid-friendly museums (such as ones specializing in reptiles, dinosaurs, trains, or dolls). Entrance fees are usually low. Ask about cafeteria or garden areas where your group can enjoy a snack of cookies and juice.
- Firehouses and police stations. The number of children you can bring might be limited, but many communities offer tours with the added benefit of safety education.
- Apple or strawberry picking. Farms will often charge about $5 per child. Kids are then given a basket and free reign to play in the dirt. Afterwards, they can eat what they've gathered! For fall birthdays, go pumpkin picking and help guests decorate their prize.
- Public playgrounds. Some communities require groups to rent park areas while others have a first-come-first-serve policy. Look for places that have a selection of swings and play equipment, benches, and open spaces for games like tag or three-legged races. Bring cupcakes and a big thermos cooler of juice. Most importantly, make sure you have enough adults on hand to keep an eye on all your guests.
Entertain the Old-fashioned Way — Play!
Children can have more fun amusing each other than they would have watching a magician or professional entertainer. After an initial ice-breaking game such as "Guess the Number of Jelly Beans," even kids who have just met will likely be ready to play together.
- Have a talent show.
- Form teams for playful competitions like races to break the most balloons or fill a water bowl using only a spoon.
- Organize a treasure hunt.
- Let kids twist, dance, and giggle along with their favorite tunes.
Family Affair
Ask family members to help set up and clean up as part of their gift. Older siblings can make the cake or set up the decorations. Ask relatives to bring balloons or party beverages just like they might for an adult get-together.
More Short Cuts
Here are some more timesavers that won't require you to dig into the birthday girl's college fund:
- Almost-homemade snacks: Buy un-iced, packaged cupcakes like Yankee Doodles and add your own icing.
- Choose a party theme based on materials you already have around the house: Luau with last summer's beach gear, tea party where guests can wear your old party dresses, dress up using previous years' Halloween costumes as props.
- Take-home crafts: Rather than giving each guest a goody bag, have children make a craft to keep as a memento. Decorate t-shirts or take a Polaroid picture of each child and let them make popsicle-stick frames.
