This is so timely as my dear daughter’s 2nd birthday is coming up! But no, we don’t have any grand plan for her special day this year since we had a big one on her 1st birthday already. But instead, we might just get her a Dora cake and prep up some balloons here in our place on her day and a dinner out with our immediate family since it’ll also be my mom’s birthday the day after Olin’s so a double celebration it is! so what gift shall we give the little princess? we are still thinking of what to buy actually, well, she’s eying one expensive item at Toy Kingdom, hmmm, I dunno, we’ll see if we can get that for her ;) how about getting her a doll house with huge industrial knobs?? joke!
Anyways, let me just share with you this nice online find that I got to help parents save money for the kids party from babycenter.
-
Stay close to home
If you can swing it, have parties in your own home or backyard — it makes it much easier to organize activities, and you won’t have to lug food and supplies around. If your living space is simply too small to accommodate a gaggle of friends and family, consider borrowing a relative’s house — but make it clear that you’ll do all the setting up and cleaning up.
Or, if weather permits, host everyone at a local park. It’s much less expensive to drape some streamers around a picnic table than it is to rent just about any venue. Be sure to find out whether your park allows you to reserve a table (or a shelter) or it’s first come first served.
-
Shave your guest list
Limit yourself to a set number of guests, and resist the temptation to add on at the last minute. When planning a party, it’s natural to feel like you have to invite all your friends and family and reciprocate all recent invitations. But the bigger the gathering, the more hectic and pricey it will be. (Hint: Pretend it’s a catered party and you’re being charged at least $10 a head.)
For a children’s party, the general guideline for number of guests is your child’s age plus one. If you’re including adults, invite only those people you know will enjoy a few hours focused on kids.
-
Stick to simple foods
Food is often a centerpiece of a good party (ever notice how guests tend to congregate in the kitchen?), but that doesn’t mean you have to serve a full meal. There’s nothing wrong with a light brunch, a dessert party, or a cocktail reception of hors d’oeuvres and simple drinks.
If you want to serve a meal, think vegetarian, Italian, or both. A huge pan of spinach lasagna or baked ziti is easy to make and costs only cents per serving. Round it off with a tossed salad, a loaf of bread, and a big bottle of inexpensive chianti, and your friends will be saying grazie for weeks. If you’re cowed by the idea of cooking for a crowd, ask guests to pitch in with a potluck dish.
If food is really your thing and you consider preparing it half the fun, keep your guest list extremely small, perhaps just another family or two. Choose fellow foodies, and you can take turns hosting dinner parties.
When it comes to children’s birthday parties, however, food is fairly expendable, says Mary Toohey, the coauthor with her husband Bill of The Average Family’s Guide to Financial Freedom. Just pick a midmorning or afternoon time slot and “your expenses are cake, juice, and favors — that’s it,” says Toohey. She cut costs even more by baking and decorating the cake herself, though she acknowledges that not everyone has the time or talent to do that.
You can also save by buying a cake, juice, and chips and other snacks at a warehouse store. When children get together, they’re more interested playing than in eating, so elaborate snacks are usually a waste of time and money.
-
Make homespun fun
Sure, you’d love to hire a DJ and dance the night away. But it can be just as much fun to giggle through a game of Pictionary in front of the fire.
Young kids are just as happy running around in a spirited game of Duck, Duck, Goose as they are sitting down to watch an award-winning magic show. Classics like Musical Chairs, Simon Says, and Pin the Tail on the Donkey (personalize it by drawing a picture of your child’s favorite animal on a piece of cardboard) never go out of style . You can create a carnival atmosphere with a beanbag toss (use Beanie Babies and old Easter baskets) and a sack race. Treasure hunts are always a big hit, too. Keep it simple: Decorate a shoebox with some tin foil and construction paper, and you have a treasure chest. Fill it with play money, sparkly trinkets, and other party favors, then hide it in a sandbox or under a blanket. Give the kids a treasure map, complete with age-appropriate clues, and they’ll have a blast pretending they’re pirates hunting for buried gold.
-
Hire undiscovered talent
Maybe you want an entertainer to brighten up your child’s big day, but you shy away from the limelight. Then network. Do you know anyone who juggles or has a steady hand with face paint? Post a notice on the bulletin board at your local college or recreation center — theater students often make a few bucks on the side donning a fairy princess outfit or doing magic tricks. You might also catch that local guitarist at the farmer’s market and ask how much he’d charge for a half-hour sing-a-long.
-
Send electronic invitations
Paper invitations can cost a bundle, and postage adds up fast (not to mention the time it takes to gather all the right mailing addresses). Instead, put technology to work for you and invite people via e-mail or online invitations
-
Be creative about supplies
Chances are you’ll be hosting parties for a long time to come, so why not buy in bulk? Instead of those expensive themed supplies, buy paper plates, napkins, cups, and plastic silverware in festive, mix-and-match colors at your local warehouse store. When it comes to kids’ stuff, don’t pick anything too age- or gender-specific, and you’ll be able to use it for years.
-
Consider offbeat favors
One of the biggest party money-wasters is overpriced plastic favors that get lost or tossed in no time. Try something different: Buy large packages of kid-friendly art supplies such as glitter pens, stickers, and stamps, then break up the sets and give each child one of each. Or use a Polaroid camera (or a digital camera if you can easily print pictures on the spot) to snap fun photos of each child. Then let the kids decorate the borders and take them home as a keepsake.
-
Line up help — cheap
If you have limited time or space, you can still throw a great party, even when you’re on a budget. Search for local venues that will cater inexpensively — for example, some restaurants will cater for less if you hold your party during off-hours, such as during the afternoon.
Scout out local meeting places such as VFW halls, community centers, and multipurpose rooms at houses of worship. These are often much less expensive than other reception locations. Or hire help in your own home. Paying a high school or college student for a few hours of cooking and serving costs much less than professional catering and buys you plenty of peace of mind.
-
Hook up with another partying family
Host a group party with one or two other friends whose kids share a birthday week or month with your child. This works especially well for children under age 4. They won’t care if the party isn’t just for them, and you’ll save big by splitting the expenses. Sing the birthday song for each guest of honor over cupcakes instead of separate cakes.
since we are always spending the special occasion at their place, my mom just always pack a little of everything that we can place in our dining table. Well, I did the gelatin and the macaroni salad (our share :D)
