6 Tips for Hosting a Budget Friendly Kid Birthday Party
DISCLOSURE: THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS, MEANING I GET A COMMISSION IF YOU DECIDE TO MAKE A PURCHASE THROUGH MY LINKS, AT NO COST TO YOU. PLEASE READ MY TERMS OF USE POLICY FOR MORE INFO.I love everything about a kid’s birthday party; from dreaming a theme, planning the details, hosting the guests, and watching the wonder in my kids’ eyes. It is easy to get caught up in the party planning and spend way more money than you were anticipating. I’ve been there. Parties can get expensive! But…here’s the good news. You don’t have to break the bank in order to host a birthday party for your kiddo!
I’ve been hosting my kids’ parties for several years and have learned some tips along the way. I’ve compiled a list of my favorite ways to save money while planning and hosting a birthday party. Let’s get started:
Skip the paper invites.
There are many free options for invitations that don’t involve purchasing paper invitations, mailing invitations, or buying envelopes and stamps. I personally love to make my invites in Canva and then save them as a picture on my phone and then text them to guests. There are so many free templates on Canva and it is easily customizable and user friendly. Bonus: the invites look so professional and they don’t cost me anything. :)
For those not interested in creating their own invite, you can find many free printables on Pinterest. Just search “free printable invitation ______ (the theme)”. Again, you can save these to your phone and text or email them to your guests.
An electronic invitation is another great way to invite guests. Evites has many free options to choose from.
Lastly, another free option is creating a Facebook event for your party. It’s an easy way to invite many people at once and easy for your guests to RSVP and find the party details.
2. Pick a free party venue.
I usually host my kids’ parties at my house. It is free! You also don’t have to worry about hauling food, decorations, presents, and everything else you need for hosting off-site. Party venues can run a few hundred dollars, taking a big hit into that party budget.
Another option for a free venue is a park. Bonus if it has a playground. Say hello to built-in activities and entertainment.
3. Provide snacks instead of a full meal.
Providing a full meal for all of your guests is not cheap. Plan your party time around meals so that a full meal is not expected; try 9am-11am, 1pm-3pm, 2pm-4pm, or even 3pm-5pm. Offering some snacks and birthday cake is a really great option to keep the budget low.
4. Skip the goodie bag.
Although a nice touch for the party guests, it is unnecessary to provide goodie bags for the kids. Often times, the items are cheap, plastic toys that break very easily and end up in the garbage anyways. No one will notice if they leave without a goodie bag. If you really want to provide guests with something to leave with, try one small item or toy instead of a whole bag of treats.
5. No need for themed paper goods.
I love a themed party! I have been known to go all out on everything to match the theme! Many of my themed parties are characters that my kids are into. It is fun to do, but gets expensive. From napkins to paper plates to cups to matching tablecloths and utensils, you can find it all. However, I have found that plain colored plates, napkins, and other goods can follow the theme just fine. Once you have a theme, I’d suggest picking 2 or 3 main colors to match with. Check out the Dollar Store and pick up plates, napkins, cups, and tablecloths for a fraction of the price.
6. DIY as much as possible.
With the help of Pinterest, DIY can be a breeze! There are so many ideas out there to help you DIY your party. Focus on these 3: paper products, cake, and decorations. Find my tutorial for a DIY high chair banner here and DIY balloon arch here.
As mentioned in #5 above, no need for all matching themed paper products for the party. DIY themed cups with a simple sticker on a plain colored cup.
Store bought birthday cakes and cupcakes can cost a pretty penny! Try making your own cake or cupcakes. There are ways to make it super simple. Frosting colors in your theme is a great way to make it look nice. Throw some themed sprinkles on the cake and a plastic character (that you already have) on top and you’re good to go! If you’re into baking like I am, search online and replicate a fun cake with the theme. I’ve surprised myself with how nice my cakes have turned out over the years.
Think simple for decorations. Plain balloons with one or two “special” themed balloons look fantastic! Don’t forget the electric balloon pump: a necessity. Print off some coloring pages and have your child color some wall decorations in the theme of the party. Make your own party banner. There are hundreds of free printables to choose from on Pinterest. I have 2 available here- plain banner and “one” banner.
Happy party planning friends!