Food on the Table

For a child, a birthday party can be an exciting day full of magic. But that doesn’t mean you have to break the bank paying for it. With the right planning and creativity, you can throw your child a memorable, yet inexpensive celebration they won’t soon forget. Here are a few tips to keep your little one’s next birthday party on budget.

1. It’s all in the planning
The good thing about birthdays? They’re easy to plan for. Since you always know when they’re coming, there’s no reason not to get a head start on the festivity planning. This means setting a clear budget long before any purchases are made. Make a list of what you’ll need and how much you’re willing to spend, and give yourself plenty time to start looking for coupons, discounts and clearance items that match your list.

2. Don’t overthink the meal

Try holding your party post lunch. This way, your guests won’t be expecting a full menu, and you’ll be saving both time and money preparing enough food to fill everyone up. For appetizers, go for fruits and veggies that are in season, which usually means they’ll be tastier and cheaper. Serve them with delicious homemade dips and dressings. Most importantly, don’t be tempted to purchase an overpriced store-bought cake. Making a cake from scratch is less expensive and more fun, especially if you get the guest of honor in the kitchen to help you with the baking.

3. Give original party favors

It’s easy to get carried away putting together expensive party favors for each guest. This year, save money on goodie bags by adding your own original touch to them. Once your budget is set for each party favor, shop your local party store, the dollar store or the clearance section of any craft store to pick out a few themed goodies to put in the favor bags. For example, you can find beach buckets for as little as one dollar and fill them up with a few inexpensive summer toys for a beach-themed party favor all the guests will love taking home.

This post is linked to Frugal Friday at Life as Mom.

Related posts:

1. Frugal Friday: Tips for a budget-friendly kitchen makeover Home remodeling and large sums of money often go hand...
2. Frugal Friday: Kitchen Cleaning Tips A quick trip to the store to pick up a...
3. Frugal Friday: Back to School Lunches With back-to-school excitement comes back-to-school expenses. Between fresh school supplies...
4. Frugal Friday: Saving on Back to School Lunches With back-to-school excitement comes back-to-school expenses. Between fresh school supplies...
5. Frugal Friday: The Benefits of Gardening The best way to save on produce is by not...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.