Bargain Birthday Bashes

Category: Real Frugal

We've just glided through "Birthday Season" at our house, celebrating 2 of our 3 kids birthday's, plus my dad, uncle, brother and nephew.  We've had a steady stream of cupcakes flowing out of our kitchen since the beginning of October.  I love birthdays, the joy and smiles from those celebrating someone's special day is contagious.  I love balloons, streamers, colourful tissue paper and rainbow ribbons.  I love throwing a good party, but I don't love how much it all costs.  It's sometimes hard to refrain from buying everything I see that relates to our chosen birthday themes each year.  I attempt to make the majority of the decorations, food and loot bag items. Now, for those of you who know me personally, you know that I relish the opportunity to "make" something, whether it be an edible treat or personalized name tag.  However, you don't have to have a lot of creative talent to throw together a fun party on the cheap.    Here are some tips to help:

Hosting the party at home saves big time! If that's not a possibility, consider booking rooms in your local community center or joining a public program (ie: skating). We did this for our 8yr old's birthday and it didn't blow our budget.  We got a discount on the public skate (less than $1/person) which took place down the stairs from our rented room. 

Scour your house to see what supplies you could come up with before buying everything new.  We had paper cups, plates, napkins and tablecloths left over from previous parties. Write the kid's names on the paper cups so they don't go through 4 each.


Balloons are wonderful inexpensive decorations and there are a variety of fun games to play with balloons.  I found some extra large balloons which we used for volleyball and other games. There are so many fun games you can do at home depending on the age.  One of our biggest hits was a scavenger hunt to find the cupcakes.  Relay races have been successful, as well as freeze dance, musical chairs & costume parades, and all you need is what you already have at home.  One time, when our daughter was 3, we had a Halloween party and the biggest hit was when my husband read a book to the group.  Go figure! The kids were riveted by the story, amazing how the whole group was completley enthralled listening to thrilling tale. 

Making your own food (either when hosting at home or bringing it to your birthday location) gives you the control to buy just what you need.  I lucked into a sale a the grocery store for $3.00 frozen pizza's. Fruit & veggie platters, mini sandwiches, cheese and crackers...they all work well and don't cost a lot.  Buying ingredients from the bulk store saves $ in the long run.  This easy chocolate cake recipe is my standard for chocolate cakes and cupcakes, it's so easy and they taste great!  (with homemade buttercream icing of course!)

I want to be a "farm-girl!"

 

Moo Cow Cupcakes

Loot bags are a tough one and I've often thought of caving in and starting the trend to fore go the loot bag.  I haven't though.......yet.  Instead, we print out activity sheets relating to our party's theme then make a little booklet.  Tying some pencil crayons together with raffia is a nice accessory for the book.   For a farm themed party, I found $2 straw hats, bought one meter of fabric and cut it into strips to tie around the hats.  Paper bags do wonders to hold your goodies and can be recycled (I glued black spots on the white bags above). Other loot bag items that we've given out: small pumpkins that the kids painted as a craft, wooden bead necklaces they made at the party,  I've made wands using construction paper and BBQ skewers which the kids then decorated and went home in their loot bag.  I've baked and decorated sugar cookies that also end up in, wait for it...... the loot bag. 

I attempt to avoid all things plastic, instead gravitating to something the child will actually enjoy using without having it break on them within the first 8 minutes or end up in the garbage after 24 minutes.  It's sometimes a challenge, but it is possible. 

Choosing a theme, whether it be a sport, character or a colour, will help with your whole party preparation.  Don't get too picky though.  I've learned over the years that the kids generally don't notice that the pink cups match the pink napkins and the pink plates.  They're too busy chowing down cupcakes and anticipating the next fun group activity we have planned. 

Bring on the party, put up the decorations, send out the invites!  You can do it without breaking the bank and you don't have to be a Martha Stewart.