How to Have a Frugal Children's Birthday Party
- 1). Stay home. Rather than shelling out big bucks for a table at a pizza restaurant or other destination, have the party at home. If your home is simply too small, go to a local park.
- 2). Choose a theme. Pick a character or hobby that your child loves and run with it. Choose your cake, decorations, games, invitations and favors based on your theme. Make and print invitations on your computer.
- 3). Shop at the dollar store. Once you know your theme, it will be easy to find inexpensive party items based (loosely) on it. Don't think you have to find plates and favors that are specific to a theme. Buy one or two larger items specific to a character or movie, if you want, and then incorporate the main colors into the rest of the decorations and favors. For example, if your child loves race cars, look for checkerboard decorations or stick with primary colors. Hang your daughter's Hannah Montana poster and buy pink and purple decorations to match.
- 4). Bake a cake. Make a simple sheet cake and place plastic characters from the dollar store or your child's collection on it as decorations. Or bake a cake or cupcakes that match your child's theme.
- 5). Play old-fashioned games such as "Pin the Tail on the Donkey" and musical chairs. Give dollar store goodies or treats bought in bulk in color-coordinated gift bags as favors and prizes. Simple can be fun!
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