Children's Birthday Parties

SavingPixie

How do you keep the costs down? I like to do party bags so they are a must have for us. But otherwise what can I do to keep the cost down?

Both of my children are January babies (6 & 4 this year) so just after Xmas which is tough money wise. Thank you for any tips in advance xx

Mimi_Arc_en_ciel

• Save through out the year and buy presents in the sales.
• Tesco do some nice little individual sponge cakes which are ideal for parties
• dont go OTT with the party bags. Bubbles, few sweets, balloon and a piece of birthday cake usually do the trick!
• You dont mention where the party will be. IF you can have it at home, if not find a local hall for cheap (Our village hall charges £10 for the whole day!)
• limit the number of kids!
• cash and carry for food if its cheaper than supermarket
• Some places - such as the butchers - will do a savings club throughout the year (So you could get your ham for sandwiches, sausage rolls etc from there)

If i think of any more i will let you know!

kathrynha

Doing stuff yourself makes it so much cheaper, and buying stuff over a long time spreads the cost.

Find a venue (Church hall if home to small), pick a theme and start to get stuff now.
If you can pick a theme that is big now, chances are it will come up in the end of summer sales and you can pick it up cheap. I did a beach party in March for my little one the other year and bought most stuff in September.
Also easy a cheap cake is either make or buy a supermarket one, tub of chocolate frosting on it and decorate with a childs toy that fits the theme.

SavingPixie

Thanks for the tips will defiantly do these. I found I spent more doing it in the village hall (£23 for 2 & a bit hours on its own) rather than wacky warehouse I did go a bit crazy with the food/decs and party bags though so will cut back this year.

Keep the tips coming if you can think of any more thank you again Xx

preeti22

1)Reduce the size of the guest list.
2)Bake your own simple birthday cake
3)Skip goodie bags altogether or have the birthday child make the party favors
4)Let your children make the party decorations instead of crafting them yourself or spending a lot of money on them at a store.
5)Host the party in a public park, which is free
6)Send electronic invitations.
7)Serve food that's inexpensive and easy.

anita55

My 9 year old to be grandson (he lives with us)is having a home party so we are doing a bbq and bouncy castle (managed to get one for £50 - his dad paying) got pin the tail on the donkey from as*a for a pound have been buying li*l crisps and choc bars and am making his birthday cake, like the idea about putting a toy of the moment on it by the way. My husband and the men are taking them to the local park for a game of rounders which i'm hoping with take an hour and then they come back for food, lighting the candles on the cake and then home, then relax (oh yes and tidy up). Good luck with your little one's parties

Spendless

After I had several people not reply/not turn up to my kids birthday parties, I stopped doing the soft play set price per head type of parties. Instead I invited the guests to congregate at our house and from there we would travel to our chosen activity (ten-pin bowling, watch a football game, photo shoot, mini-makeover at beauty parlour). That way I would pay for the kids who turned up, not the minimum amount. Afterwards we'd return back to my house and I'd buy something like a kfc bucket for them to eat along with a birthday cake. I started doing this from kids being around 7/8 onwards.

browneyedbazzi

Don't compete!

Way too many people seem to plan parties based on what others have done rather than what their child would like and what they can afford. Forget about what everyone else does, look at your budget and what your child likes and go from there.

johnwilliam_2

I agree with browneyedbazzi , as you know what your kinds love so just plain accordingly with your own budget and make them fell happy by the gifts which they love to have and plain the party accordingly with a small cake and so on in your budget.

Katiehound

Was told yesterday of friend's grand daughter's favourite party this year (think she's 8 or 9) Half a dozen friends went to local tea room- choice of menu. Then went home to play games and took home a pot of iris bulbs instead of party bag. seemingly she was thrilled with it all, especially her own plant.