If your kid’s birthday is coming up, you might have already started to think about how you could surprise them. Throwing a party is probably your first option, but in most cases, this will involve spending some money. If you’re worried your current budget won’t allow you to splurge on a great party, perhaps you need to consider a more affordable approach.
You don’t want your little one to be disappointed, although you may currently be on a budget. Well, if you plan things just right, you will find out that even with a small amount, you can host an exciting and memorable gathering. So what can you do to keep your spending to a minimum? Here are some birthday party planning guidelines for parents on a budget:
Throw the party at home or at the park
Party venues can be quite expensive, so as much as you search for one that is a bit more budget-friendly, you’ll still end up dealing with a variety of fees. To spend as little as possible, it’s simply better to choose something free of charge. You can still have a fun party right at home. If you have a spacious backyard, you can decorate it and make it party-ready and get yourself the perfect spot without dealing with unnecessary costs.
If throwing the party at your house isn’t exactly a good option, another idea would be at the park. Kids will love having more room to play, you’ll provide them with an enjoyable setting, and at the same time, won’t spend any money on a venue. However, this means you will need to stay on top of child supervision and to also make sure you keep the entire event mess-free.
Shop online for supplies
Getting party props and supplies from a physical store isn’t exactly the most convenient option you have. Although the items might seem cheap at first, considering you’ll probably get quite a lot of things, the amount will add up and you’ll probably spend more money than you’d anticipated. It’s better if you shop online for the party supplies you need instead. You will come across a far wider variety of options, and the prices are likely to be more affordable. From birthday bags to paper cups and party decorations, you will find everything you need with a quick search on the internet. Besides accessing better prices buying from online stores is also more convenient – you won’t have to waste any time, and everything will be delivered to your front door.
Timing matters
Although you might want your kid’s birthday bash to last the entire day, this won’t be good for your budget. Timing matters when you are planning a party. If you don’t want to speed money on an entire meal, and only want to prep some snacks and drinks, you can set the party hours between 2 pm and 5 pm, just after launch, and before dinner. This way, the guests won’t expect a full meal, and you can save quite a lot of money.
Skip on the paper invitations
Don’t focus that much on a fancy party – you can easily skip on paper invitations. Digital invites are far more common and convenient these days and they come free of charge. Instead of having to pay for printed invitations, and also wasting time to order and mail or give them in-person, you can do a cute digital invitation instead. Send them via email or social media, and you’ll avoid any hassle here.
Low-key entertainment
Getting a pony for the day, hiring a clown or a Disney princess, renting a bounce house or finding a magician all sound like great ideas. Yes, kids would love having a fun guest, but you’ll need to take more money out of your pocket than you probably afford. It’s important to remember that children don’t need much to have fun, low-key entertainment options can be equally enjoyable. Think of ways you can incorporate some fun into this special day in an affordable manner. Buying piñata and setting up a game, playing child-appropriate music and testing the kids’ limbo skills, bubble blowing competitions – you have more than enough entertainment possibilities that are suitable for any budget.
Moreover, request a bit of help from friend and family member. Have them do some face painting for the kids, if someone close knows how to play the guitar, ask them to sing the kids some songs, and rely on a thrifty friend to plan a scavenger hunt, for example. Ideas are plenty, you just need to use your imagination and get some affordable supplies.
Make the cake yourself
You can’t throw a birthday party without a cake – everyone expects it, even the adult guests who’ll be there want to indulge in something sweet. However, buying a cake big enough for everyone will mean spending more money than you might initially think. How about making the cake yourself? You have plenty of recipes online, tutorials, step-by-step videos and you can also get a box mix, for an even easier solution – you don’t need to be an experienced baker to actually make a tasty dessert. Making the cake yourself will leave you with a bit more money in your pocket.
Don’t go over the top with decorations
Keep things simple and don’t spend that much money on decorations, the kids will probably not notice the difference between some affordable and colourful décor elements and fancy, expensive ones. You can make the setting look beautiful even without getting a bunch of costly pre-made decorations – consider putting your DIY to good use as well.
Just because money is tight doesn’t mean you can’t throw your kid a great party on their birthday. As long as you are organized and pursue affordability, things will turn out better than expected, and your budget won’t have to suffer. There are a few important pointers to keep in mind, as you can see from the details suggested above. Make the most of these tips and surprise your little one with a party they will remember.
About Mohammad Mustafa Ahmedzai
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