How to throw an awesome (budget friendly) kid's birthday party
As parents, we all want to make sure that our kid’s birthday party is awesome and unforgettable. But parties for the little ones can be pretty expensive and throwing a lavish party with a decadent birthday cake and ritzy birthday invitations can put a major dent in the monthly budget. But fret not, because you don’t have to troop down to a restaurant like Pancakes on the Rocks or head off to an amusement park to make your kid’s party memorable. Those of us who are on a tight budget can still make that party incredible but cost-effective. Here’s how.
Planning ahead of time
Planning ahead of time allows you to create a well-thought through birthday party for your little one that’s not only awesome, but budget-friendly too. Start planning for the date, theme, and venue early, and of course, don’t forget to set your budget. Throwing the party at home or your local park will be your lowest cost option, especially if you know the weather will probably be good so the kiddos can have fun outside. Inside parties are great too but just be careful that the wear and tear on your furniture doesn’t end up costing you some of your hard-earned money.
Skip the fancy invitations
Skipping the fancy paper invitations will help you save a lot of dosh, and you’re being kind to the environment too! Go for digital invitations that you can send via email or social media. You can still make it fancy and memorable by using online tools such as Canva or Photoshop but without the paper clutter.
Go for low-key fun and free entertainment
You don’t have to hire clowns, rent a bouncy house, or set up a carousel in your background to make your kid’s birthday party fun and exciting. Go for low-key fun such as face-painting, temporary tattoos, or a scavenger hunt, where you can ask family and friends to pitch in and assist those ankle-biters. You can also organise some traditional games such as egg and spoon race, charades, or hide and seek. All of these are fun - and free!
DIY party favours
Sending off goodie bags to guests is a long-standing tradition, but if you’re on a budget for your kid’s birthday party, why not include some DIY activities on the day that will produce some fabulous goodies that they can take home later. Think candle making, cupcake decorating and other crafts like creating a frog mask or party crown. Another idea is to get the kiddies to create their own goodie bags by getting them to “fish” for their treasure from a big bowl – just fill it with goodies, give them each a goodie bag and a little net for catching. These activities will encourage their creativity, and they’ll also save you the cost of the usual goodie bags.
Avoid mealtimes
One of the best ways to keep the cost down is to avoid throwing your kid’s party at mealtimes. You can keep the food simple if you throw a mid-morning or mid-afternoon party - cakes, party pies, popcorn and juice will do just fine. If you want to make a kids birthday cake with lots of wow but not much cost, just buy a couple of cheap chocolate or mud cakes from the supermarket, coat with Nutella and then stick maltesers all over the top and sides (then get out of the way because those kids will swoop like a flock of seagulls).
Keep your guest list short
While it may be nice to invite your kid’s entire class to the party, you don’t have to do this every year, especially if your 2020 budget won’t stretch far enough to accommodate it. If you can do it without any tantrums, try to invite just those closest to your little one – it’ll not only keep you within your budget, but you can also make it more memorable for your child and those special guests.
Decorate for less
You can have lovely decorations for your party, and you don’t need to spend a lot. We recommend avoiding the party stores as they can be pretty expensive, and you can end up impulse buying on stuff you don’t need. Shop online so you can compare prices from different shops, or head down to your local Reject or discount shop. Think a little laterally and look for things that might match your planned theme. If you’re crafty, you can also prepare some do-it-yourself décor yourself – you’ll be able to decorate for less cost, and you can achieve exactly the look that you want for the party.
Stay within your budget
Part of the first step in throwing a kids' party is planning your budget, and the last step is to stay within it, although sometimes this is easier said than done. And if this is the year when you really want to go all out and throw a party that the kids and adults too will be talking about for months - we’re here to help with some cash to make it happen. Just check out our flexible cash loans from $1,000 to find out how quick and easy it is to get your hands on some extra funds. Once a loan is approved, we can usually deposit the money into your bank account within a few hours - so you can throw a worry-free party that’s sure to be awesome and unforgettable!