Party on a budget ideas?

goggler

It is my son's 7th birthday in 5 weeks and we have had a bit of a financial rollercoaster over the last couple of months leaving me very short of cash. This have then culminated with my exhub losing his job, which now means that I have also lost my maintenance payments until he is working again.

He would normally have a party, the cost of which would be shared between myself and exhub, but this year neither of us are in a position to fund that.

What can I do instead? I did think of a tea party type thing, but thought that might have been a touch girly or maybe a video evening, but fear that is a bit lame!

I have asked exhub and he doesn't want to think about it until his job is sorted out! (which could be anytime). In the meantime I have an excited 6 year old making very expensive plans :eek:

So what can I do with a small group of 6/7 year old boys for a birthday celebration on the cheap?

jackieglasgow

Have a pirate/treasure hunt type party at home, or star wars - what are they into, I bet we could come up with some fab moneysaving suggestions?

RLH33

I don't think a video evening is lame at all, if you do it properly. By that I mean you could do invitations like cinema tickets, hand out popcorn and sweets at the start of the film and then have an interval when you come in with a torch and some ice creams for them all. Make the room all dark and put a load of cushions on the floor and I am sure they will love it. Pick a really good 'boys' film but maybe one that isn't too long so that they don't get bored halfway through.

My Mum did this for me when I was young and we all loved it:D

Guinea_2

How about a Science party? Get someone you know to dress up as a mad professor, give them a children's science book and get them to do sciency things with the children. Children could also dress up as scientists; i.e. lab coat could be old men's shirts and give them a name badge each; e.g. Professor so-and-so. Main scientist could show how to do the tests and then children could work together in pairs to do them. Could do things like showing how a volcano works/making stuff...cornflour and water (this is great!) There are LOADS of ideas out there and boys (and girls!) love science...especially when they get nice and dirty!!
Hope this helps a bit?

Glad

is he into football?
at about this age I hired a local sports hall for an hour and held a football party, they did let us have a side room for the following hour where we did our own food

Caroline73_2

Have you got or could you borrow a games console? Do a tournament type thing.

A DVD sleep over night would be great and cheap. Kids like nothing better than staying awake as long as possible in a room with their mates.

heretolearn_2

Nice old-fashioned party - few sandwiches, crisps, cakes - and party games go down a storm at that age as they are so much fun for the kids and extremely unusual these days as most parents can't be arsed to do any work themselves, they'd rather just pay for the kids to be entertained somewhere. Musical bumps, musical statues, dead lions, pass the parcel, squeek piggy squeek, treasure hunts, pirate themes are great, play something like 'pin the eyepatch on the pirate' (like tail on the donkey but a different picture!). It just takes a little bit of effort on your part and your son can have the best party around!

I think a film party is a bit lame. Ooh yes come to my party and just sit around watching TV.

SugarSpun

Football tournament? Meet at your house, head over to the park and play football related games for little prizes/sweets, then all home for hot dogs or value pizza?

Counting_Pennies_2

My son is going to birthday parties for 7 year olds and I think he would love to have a film night. His friend even said to him he was desperate to come to ours for a sleep over as he loved eating popcorn watching a film before they went to bed. That was his highlight.

Football at this time of year is a bit tricky with the weather. Also it doesn't suit all children because it is very much a team game and they are only just learning how to participate in team games at this age. Unless you are a confident 'coach' I would steer clear'.

hth

Tulip09

In our house we have a few different themed events; not just for birthdays now either. But all usually involve related foods, dvd's, fun outdoors.

We have had; high school musical nights (got a few cheap t -shirts from ebay so every child was the same),Audrey hepburn day/ various fancy dress parties, harry potter day - dvds, magic boxs & a handy neighbour who had practised for weeks - magic tricks for the kids to learn, olympic day - health food only, obstacle course in garden/tournaments/scoreboard/trampoline (borrowed from neighbours), spy day, army day (i did manage to get 5 paintballing vouchers from groupon for this (£15):T, Disney day, cinema day etc Put some decorations up in the room that relate to the theme, adapt food to relate also - hands on/crafty food is great for keeping them entertained.

I find it amusing now that if my younger kids are having 'events' that my nearly 18 year old and her friends from her younger days still manage to turn up for a visit just as it starts. They all seem to join in and have fun no matter what their ages are.

Bloomin_Freezing2

I think whatever you do, if you add the sleepover it'll make it 'bigger and better' for them. It costs nothing so why not. 7 is a tricky age, not quite as grown up as they may think, but things from last year may now be baby-ish.

Film night, xbox or similar with tournaments would be great. Couple of pizza's, popcorn etc would be great. You may find if it's not too cold, they'll be running round the garden and playing football for part of the night anyway.