10 tips to host your child’s birthday party on a budget (2024)

10 tips to host your child’s birthday party on a budget (1) It pays to plan the party in advance. (Source: Getty Images)

A child’s birthday can burn a hole in your pocket. Here are some ways to throw a great party and still stick to a budget.

Send e-invites

Skip printing out the invites and send an e-card instead. You can design them yourself, embellish them with fun animation, add sparkly bits or simply choose from the many template options available online. It’s fun and you end up saving from your birthday budget too.

Choose snacks over a meal

Instead of having a dinner or lunch, how about an afternoon party instead, where kids can enjoy a ton of snacks and focus on the activities? Sandwiches are easier to plan than dinner anytime! It’s also practical, since it can be a task to get young kids to eat a full meal, especially if they are running around at a party.

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Choose the right venue

Do a cost analysis on whether it’s cheaper to have the party at home (if that’s an option) or at another venue. Start the planning well in advance so that you have time to compare rates. Or how about a picnic?

Have a joint party

Does your child’s friend or a cousin have their birthday around the same date? You could throw a joint party, maybe on a weekend, and end up cutting costs or having an even bigger party in the same budget.

10 tips to host your child’s birthday party on a budget (2)

Plan the games

There are a lot of games that don’t involve spending tons of money. Not all kids need to be treated to a mall with video game machines and jugglers. Passing the parcel, musical chairs, memory games, dumb charades are great fun to play with a group of kids. You can also do a storytelling session, where you allow the kids to get creative.

Recycle discarded toys

Kids tend to get bored very quickly with new toys or sometimes not use them at all. How about using these as prizes for games the kids play at the party?

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Be your own DJ

A child’s birthday party doesn’t really require hiring a DJ. And, if you were planning on getting one, maybe you could do the job yourself. Get a playlist together of your family favourites and you’re set!

Take the DIY route

Get kids to paint seashells, twigs or rocks and use these for a treasure hunt. You can also use these as part of the goody bag for return gifts. You can also get kids to create crafts to decorate the venue, with banners, etc.

Buy the birthday dress on a sale

It pays to plan the party in advance, since this gives you time to shop during the sale season. You don’t have to buy the birthday dress at the last-minute, when you are stressed and have no time to compare stores. Avoid this and shop in advance when there are big discounts being offered. You could keep this as a surprise for your child till the actual date.

Be practical about the cake

Do you really need to spend big bucks on a cake for a baby? You can keep it simple and, if you’re a decent baker, make one yourself. There are lots of video tutorials online that can help you put the icing on. If you’re confident enough, you could try out your skills for older kids as well. If the child’s too small for an actual cake-cutting, you can opt for cupcakes instead for the guests.

10 tips to host your child’s birthday party on a budget (2024)

FAQs

10 tips to host your child’s birthday party on a budget? ›

To make a budget, first come up with the total amount you're willing to spend on the party. Then, split your budget up into categories, like the venue, caterer, florist, musician, and so on. That way you'll know exactly how much you have to spend on each vendor.

How do you budget for a kids birthday party? ›

Here's how to plan a kid's birthday party on a budget without skimping on fun:
  1. Start with the right venue. Throwing a kid's birthday party on a budget is all about location, location, location. ...
  2. Keep your food budget in check. ...
  3. Go with low-key fun and skip the fancy invitations. ...
  4. Decorate for less. ...
  5. Don't try to do it all.
Mar 27, 2023

How do you create a budget for a party? ›

To make a budget, first come up with the total amount you're willing to spend on the party. Then, split your budget up into categories, like the venue, caterer, florist, musician, and so on. That way you'll know exactly how much you have to spend on each vendor.

What is a good budget for a party? ›

Recent surveys show that party hosts spent an average of $81 per person! If you go the catering route, you're looking at about $250 for a small party. Food is an important part of the party, but that's no reason to break the budget.

What is the average budget for a birthday party? ›

You also want to consider how much you are spending on their birthday party. A recent survey suggests that, on average, parents spend roughly $400 on a child's birthday party. If that number is out of your budget, you could instead spend money on an experience for your child, such as a trip to the zoo.

How do you keep kids entertained at a party? ›

Ans: Consider setting up a themed scavenger hunt, crafting station, or a movie corner with their favorite films. These activities, aligned with the theme, can keep the kids engaged and excited throughout the celebration.

How do you celebrate your first birthday on a low budget? ›

Frame Your Baby's 'Year of Firsts'

Keep your kiddo's first birthday decor super simple and sweet with a framed photo collage of all their firsts. Not only is it an adorable decoration for the party, but it's also a beautiful keepsake you'll always cherish.

How to host a party for dummies? ›

These are best tips for throwing the perfect party to make sure everyone enjoys it.
  1. Choose a Date and Time. It is important to pick a date and time that works for most of your guests. ...
  2. Choose a Location. ...
  3. Set a Budget. ...
  4. Create a Guest List. ...
  5. Plan the Food and Drinks. ...
  6. Choose Entertainment. ...
  7. Make Sure You Have Enough Supplies.
Aug 30, 2022

What is the best time to host a kids party? ›

Plan strategically

Ideally, the best time to host a kid's party is one finishing between 2-5 PM because at this time guests don't expect a full meal and instead everyone will look forward to snacks or a light lunch, which will be more budget-friendly.

How do you host a perfect birthday party? ›

Party Planning Checklist
  1. Determine the date, time, and guest list.
  2. Choose the right venue.
  3. Select a party theme.
  4. Pick out decorations and party favors.
  5. Decide on the menu and drinks.
  6. Order the perfect birthday cake.
  7. Send out invitations.
Apr 24, 2023

How to make a simple budget? ›

How to create a budget
  1. Calculate your net income.
  2. List monthly expenses.
  3. Label fixed and variable expenses.
  4. Determine average monthly costs for each expense.
  5. Make adjustments.

How do you present a simple budget? ›

A budget proposal doesn't have to be much longer than ten slides. Outline the problem, propose your budget, and explain how the budget will help you achieve your goal. Remember to include a mission statement in the beginning of your presentation. Use one or two sentences to explain the purpose of your budget proposal.

Why is a budget important for a party? ›

Event budgeting is a fundamental aspect of event planning, and its execution is essential for a successful outcome. Creating a comprehensive budget ensures that all financial aspects of your event are well-managed, preventing unexpected costs, and helping you allocate resources effectively.

How much should I spend on my kids birthday? ›

I suspect between invitations (and postage!), decorations and paper goods, favors and goody bags, supplies for the party games and activities, and food, I usually spend $300 to $500 on a party. But that's for a couple dozen kids -- so I think it still works out to be cheaper than a ''hired entertainment'' party.

What is a good amount of kids for a birthday party? ›

What you really want is to have enough children to get a bit of a party atmosphere going but not so many that the whole thing becomes unmanageable! Enough children to get a good atmosphere may far fewer than you think - I'd recommend around 8 children as a minimum.

How do you structure a kids birthday party? ›

Plan Ahead
  1. Choose the Right Venue. If you're considering an indoor party, consider booking a venue that caters to kids' parties. ...
  2. Send Creative Invitations.
  3. Entertainment Galore. ...
  4. DIY Crafts. ...
  5. Finger-Licking Food. ...
  6. Party Favors. ...
  7. Capture the Moments. ...
  8. Themed Dress-Up Corner.

How much should I give my friends kids for birthday? ›

Kid's friends, $20-25: It's unlikely you'd have your kindergartner give a $20 bill to a friend, but this is still a helpful guide if you want to give a gift card or gift certificate. Relatives, $50: You can spend a little more for birthdays of relatives, like nieces or nephews. But you don't need to be extravagant.

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