Best MoneySaving kids' party bag ideas?

MSE_Laura_F

MSE Clare had cause to put together some kids' party bags recently, and she wondered how other people approach it. She'd love to know your thoughts, including:

• How do you put together the best party bags for as little money as possible?
• What’s the best party bag or party 'favour' your child has ever received? 
• How much do you typically spend on filling the bags?
• What has your child loved/played with the most from a party bag?
  
  

Thank you.

strawb_shortcake

Party bags are usually the worst part of organising a child's birthday party, similar to the contents of a Christmas stocking the only bits you see again are the sweet wrappers. 

I don't think most children care what they take home, as long as they take something home, so keep it simple, sweet cones seem to be the popular choice now.

The best party favour in my opinion was a book

sheramber

My DIL always gives a book. 

pramsay13

I think an individual thing that the children will use more is best.
The best one I can think of was a Lego minifigure. 

Emmala

I gave up party bags in favour of a lucky dip....kids picked one wrapped present out of a basket as they left the party. As  mine got older this changed to the mini haribo bags of sweets. 

SuperScrimper1

Party bag ideas in the past : I think keep it simple and just do sweets and maybe something fun if budget will allow. I have used those pound shop mugs with own straws and filled them with sweets for older ones and used ...Saved cellophane from cards or bought cellophane and filled with sweets. Used wall paper and comics  to make sweet cones and foil present wrap and made sweet parcels just tie up with left over ribbon. .Bought bubbles for the younger ones which they have played with at the garden party. Cheap Punch ball balloons  for younger ones (as they are leaving boys tend to get a bit carried away ) I don't bother with TAT it will only be binned. Charlotte bags from Rex London and name tag them (£2.95 at mo I was lucky and bought mine on sale at a £1 ...fill with face mask ..foot masks...nail kits...nail file and polish etc Bath  from pound land and you have an older girls Spa party probably cost you about  £8-they have great fun doing  a hand soak use takeaway containers for this  painting each others nails sitting in their face masks ...doing their make-up...they keep the bag and all remaining products as a gift...my friends daughters are still using the bag as a lunch box) They can even make bath bombs or lip Balm if you are feeling it. So So Much cheaper than a professional to your home or expensive lush parties.
Sweet bags can be filled cheaper by buying bags of sweets at places like Aldi's and using a few marsh mellows to fill up to look more. For cinema party trips and Film sleepovers  to keep costs down I have made cones of popcorn and taken capri-suns keeping mess and spillage at a minimum . Get the children to make a big rocky road together ( You can even use this as the birthday cake if you decorate the top using squidy texture Icing to stick marsh mellows M&Ms sweets etc on top you can even make a number  and /or cut it up and wrap it at end of the party in cellophane or paper as a take away . I have found  Children making things together will get talked about and remembered far more than any party bag gift.

ChristieJayne

I remember when I was younger we got a slice of party cake, a balloon and a cheap toy in our bags - we were happy with that. 

I’ve done my little boy’s party bags for his party - I’m printing free colouring in sheets and activities to bulk up the bags. The Crayola & Orchard Toys websites do nice ones

mountaindreams

Socks! Can get themed packs of 5/6 from ebay pretty cheap

Bennett28

Make a cone of popcorn - whole bag of kernels lasts for ages rather than the microwave variety which is quite expensive.  Books from The Works - they often do 10 books for £10
https://www.theworks.co.uk/c/offers/multibuys/10-for-10

sue1871

My daughter's 9th birthday party is next weekend. She wanted to give her friends "something useful" and settled on bags of wildflower seeds. Got ten sachets, personalised, for £5 at Amazon.