Just had my son’s 5^th bday party! We had a kid party at noon (19 kids, 10 adults) & 25 family members for dinner. We got it done for under $100 for both. My husband is a great bargain hunter and I’ve learned with such a big family (our own growing family and our large extended family) that get-togethers can get expensive if not planned for. Here are some tips we’ve learned over our 10 years of marriage and 8 years as parents.

Our Kid Birthday Party on a Budget Ideas:

1.      We don’t do a “big” birthday (people other than family and very close friends) every year. We have a schedule. The kids have a “big” birthday party with friends and all the bells and whistles at ages 1, 5, 10, 13, 16, &18. On other years, the birthday girl/boy gets to pick any theme for party favors (for the kid cousins and themselves), the dinner menu and cake.

2.      Try for a menu that allows for as much pre-party prep as possible so you can enjoy the guests. We often do spaghetti, breakfast for dinner (quiche, eggs, bacon, sausage, waffles, pancakes with all the fixings---can be kept warm), fresh fruit salads, green salads, pizza (Dominoes and Little Ceasar’s have great $5 pizzas), 6 foot subs from the deli,taco/burrito bar (homemade refried beans in a crock pot are easy and affordable, green/red chile shredded beef is also easy and affordable if you can find the needed meat on sale). I often make our cakes instead of buying them (homemade even with decorations costs about $5, store bought about $15—I find great decorating ideas on the Better Homes and Garden website). For snacks I put out easy food that can be prepped before the party starts (e.g., Italian bread with oil, vinegar & seasonings, chips/veggies/fruit & dips, deli meats & cheese, pretzels, deviled eggs, etc.)

3.      Party favors and decorations don’t have to be elaborate. I like to make my own piñatas (really easy to find ideas and instructions online); they don’t look perfect, but I tell myself it’s the thought that counts. I can usually make them for just the cost of a large balloon and a little paint. I also like doing party games that incorporate the party favor (e.g., decorate a bean bag that we use in a bean bag toss, that the child can later take home, make party crowns, make party themed jewelry, etc.). I buy poster board and either draw or print from the internet images that go with the theme. For my son’s birthday I asked the kids to help me color the decorations the day before. It was a big hit.

4.      We often host the parties at our house. It does require clean up to get the house ready and clean up after the party, but it is a whole lot cheaper than a party place (e.g., Peter Piper Pizza, Chuck E Cheese, Bounce World, etc.).

The internet is a great resource for fun game ideas! Most of all, I keep in mind that the best kid birthday parties are ones that allow kids to be kids and just have fun. Turn on the sprinklers, spray the hose and let them run through it, play relay games, etc. They cost nothing and are tons of fun! Family and friends make it fun (by the way thanks to Mom, Lisa, Alice and Pamela for your help with Philip's bday!).