How do you have a birthday party that doesn't break the bank?

You don't have to hire an entertainer or hand out expensive goodie bags to celebrate your child's special day. With some kids' songs on your iPod and a neighborhood teen willing to act as a DJ, you could have a great dance-a-long party. Or maybe there's a cheerleader in your life who can teach the kids some moves. Neighborhood parks or swimming pools can be great party venues -- less expensive than rent-a-party spaces and more spacious than your house.

Parent Answers to "How do you have a birthday party that doesn't break the bank?"

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For my daughter's 10th bday party, we had a beach party. I did require that parents stay for safety reasons. I did order pizza (which is fairly reasonable lately) and bring it with us. There was an ice cream shop right near the pier so we ordered an ice cream cake ahead of time and picked it up after we finished the pizza. Whatever was left, we donated to the lifeguards. They apparently told other lifeguards, as jeeps filled with them appeared to share the bounty before it melted.
Then we handed out some gift bags that had sand in the bottom along with purchased shells, sand dollar, and starfish along with a blow up beach ball. The kids loved them.

When she was younger, I generally would rent a jumper that would get set up in the back yard. One year at my daughter's dinosaur party, in lieu of gift bags, we handed out paintable bobblehead dinosaurs and paint and had a station that they could paint their own "gift". It was a big hit and I liked that the gift bag was a party activity.

Here in FL, I have it easy. We do pool parties and what I have found to be not only a big hit, but a money saver is...... rather than doing goodie bags, I do a pinata. It's more fun for the kids and it makes life easy for mom. Down here, many never RSVP (one of my pet peeves). So rather than make too many or not enough goodie bags, I just stuff the pinata. If I have a few kids, they get alot.....

At some hotel, let's say Embassy Suites or Drury Inn for example have packages for slumber parties or you can rent a room that can have up to 6 ppl. Embassy Suites offer fully cook to order breakfast, complimentary snacks. They can swim in the pool, have fun but an adult is needed at all time. Just an idea, good for older kids that have a few friends.

I'll bet that special dinner was fun. Children at 1,2,3 and 3 aren't going to remember the $1000 birthdays. It's good to make it more cozy with just family and then when they turn 13, 14 and 15, they are really going to be asking for a special kind of party somewhere. So save up those extra dollars and be ready for the teenage years, they are the really expensive years.

Helpful Grandma

Well, I still think a home party can be a memory creating event. At our last home party. The kids said it all, "This is so cool, I have never been to a home party." A pinata, musical chairs, the limbo, etc. and a boatload of memories without breaking the bank.

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How do you have a birthday party that doesn't break the bank?

Parent Answers to "How do you have a birthday party that doesn't break the bank?"

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