How to Throw a Child's Birthday Party on a Budget

If you have kids, you know the joy of throwing them a birthday party. But it seems a lot easier when all you had to worry about was dinner and a cake. As your child gets older and starts to develop friendships, the complexity – and costs – of a party seem to skyrocket.

Frugal moms can throw their child a party they’ll never forget.

Plan Ahead

A major issue that parents have is that they wait until the last minute to throw a party. Small costs add up quickly, especially when you have to pay for:

Ballons
Tableware
Food
Pinatas
Cake

According to a recent survey, the average cost of a kid’s birthday party was near $500. Fronting these costs at one time is difficult for most moms, and you’re at the mercy of current prices. Start looking for deals throughout the year.

You’ll find sales on tableware, balloons and other items throughout the year, allowing you to spend less time and save money in the process.

Simple Menu, Simple Invitations

Trust me when I tell you that your kids would rather you spend money on things to do than fancy invitations and menus. Keep everything as simple as possible. Paper invitations might be a must for a Sweet 16, but when possible, send invitations via:

Text
Email
Social media

You can also use a service, such as Evite, to make the process even easier.

Costco and Sam’s Club are your friends when it comes to parties. Keep the menu simple and buy in bulk. You’ll want to stick to inexpensive foods (perfect for summer parties), and you will want to pick up all of the essentials at these stores:

Finger foods
Frozen items
Cake
Paper plates
Plastic cups

And Sam’s will often offer a “one-day” trial that you can use to try out the store for a single day. If there isn’t a promotion going on, you can always go with a friend and buy all of the essentials.

Choose the Right Games

A lot of parents don’t mind spending a little more on the entertainment part of the party. You will find that there are a lot of games available, and there are even some advanced technologies that can make a party unforgettable.

The Wow Factor writes about LED interactive games (something I had never heard of before). Kids would much rather have something that guests will remember. This might mean advanced games, or it can mean funny games that will provide a wealth of memories to guests.

If you don’t have the budget for these advanced games, there are plenty of other options available on-the-cheap. A few games that are free or very inexpensive and are perfect for any event include:

Heads Up! (iOS | Android)
Off Limits! (iOS)
Who Can’t Draw (iOS | Android)

Of course, you’ll want to look for games that your kids will want to play and are age appropriate. There are a lot of resources online that can help you find free games to entertain all of your guests.

This is just the start of what you can do to stretch your budget for the perfect kid’s party. A few other tips include: renting out a firehouse rather than a venue, doubling up on birthday parties to lower costs, ordering products online, making your own cake and food, and even skipping those early birthday parties that are more for the adults than anyone else.