Every parent wants their child to have the best of everything, especially the best party on their Birthday. However, the sad reality is that the average cost of those amazing parties is rather high and many families cannot afford it. But you shouldn’t despair! There are ways to throw a great party at a fraction of a cost. Plan wisely and start preparing well in advance so by the time the big day arrives your little one can enjoy a celebration worthy of him or her.
5 Tips on How to Throw a Child’s Birthday Party on a Budget
1. Give party shops a miss
If you think that buying party supplies in party shops is cheaper, you are very wrong. While it’s true that they store a variety of great supplies that can make setting up a themed party easier, those items aren’t very budget-friendly.
The best thing to do is to shop around for everything you might need and decorate it a bit by hand to make it fit the theme. Note that while shopping online might be cheaper, you need to explore your local stores as well. Sometimes they offer great deals and discounts as well as hide some treasures on the forgotten back shelves.
2. Rent furniture instead of a venue
Create a perfect venue of your own at home or in some other space you have access to. With a bit of imagination and a small investment into event furniture rental, you will be able to create any kind of setting anywhere. Even a warehouse can be turned into a magical kingdom if you go about it right.
Of course, it’s not only furniture that creates a setting. You will also need to provide decorations that will fit the theme of your party.
3. Make DIY decorations during family bonding nights
Speaking of decorations, the cheapest way to get those is to make them yourself. There are hundreds of DIY guides for making party decorations, so you’ll be able to find instructions for any kind of themed party.
You can also make the process of creating those pieces much less boring and tedious if you turn it into a group effort. Get the kid excited about the party by working on these preparations together. In some cases, you might even invite their friends for an afternoon of arts and crafts. Being involved in the preparations will make children more motivated about their special and one-of-a-kind celebration. This might help you avoid tantrums that go something like “But I want to celebrate my birthday in that cool restaurant!”
4. Don’t throw a party during mealtime
As a host, you will be obliged to provide a full meal if you invite guests during a traditional mealtime. However, if your kid’s party takes place sometime mid-morning or mid-afternoon, you can get away with some drinks and an assortment of snacks.
Of course, there is also a cake to consider because no Birthday party can exist without cake. It’s one of the fundamental rules of the Universe.
If ordering a cake is too expensive and you have no talent for baking, go for a cake mix. Some experts advise using water instead of buttermilk in the recipe, but that depends on the type of cake you get. Be sure to look up tips on working with the cake mix of your choosing online.
5. Let children entertain themselves
Children are amazing in their ability to create entire worlds with nothing but their imaginations. Check it out sometimes asking your kids to explain the complex relationships of their toys and you’ll be shocked by complex social systems those exist in.
Use this innate ability of children to provide entertainment for the party. Initiate a few simple games that require little supplies, like Freeze Tag or Freeze Dance or Hot Potato. This will get the kids rolling and they’ll pretty much entertain themselves.
