Children aren’t the only ones to get a bit carried away at birthdays. Parents often do too, organising parties that exceed their kids’ wildest dreams… and their own financial expectations. Mounting social pressures to host a mind-blowing birthday bash coupled with the increased cost of living make it challenging for parents to keep celebrations affordable.
The plus side is that it doesn’t take much to keep kids happy. After all, the party is for the children and not the parents. Catering to what the kids like instead of what will look good on social media keeps the party affordable and enjoyable.
With some creative thinking and resourcefulness, a cheap birthday party that doesn’t skimp on the fun is entirely possible. From at-home birthday parties to a crafty birthday party or a birthday scavenger hunt, here are some cheap ideas for a children’s party that will help get you started.
Tips for hosting an affordable birthday party
These suggestions make it easier to utilise the resources you already have when planning and looking for the cheapest place for a birthday party.
Stick to the budget and party theme ideas
Without a budget, you’re destined to be unpleasantly surprised once you tally up the cost of the party. On the other hand, a carefully created budget will set guidelines to help you stay within your means.
The same goes for your birthday party theme. Focus on one theme and then stick to your guns.
Utilise parents’ skills
Birthday parties require skills such as cake baking, decorating and more. But you don’t have to go pro — why not draw on your network for parents who can pitch in? Some parents may be willing to teach the kids a hobby they’ve picked up, such as juggling or calligraphy. It saves you money and gives the parent some practice in a low-key environment.
Be strategic about the location
Aside from the size of the guest list, where you choose to host your party can be one of the biggest cost factors. Free or cheap birthday party locations can include your garden, church, or rooms at your local sports club or community hall. If you don’t have a large enough home or any community connections, choose a location that includes another party element. For example, a party in the park can eliminate the added expense of decorations. Or a pizza-making party at a restaurant means the activity is also the meal.
You can also save money by booking cheap venues for a birthday party on venue rental websites. Just bear in mind that with blank-canvas venues, although you save money on hire, you may end up having to spend on decorations instead.
Be selective about customisation
Parents want to throw an extraordinary birthday party for their kids. But that doesn’t mean every decor element or food item has to be one of a kind. Though customised items are trending, it’s OK to personalise one element, such as the birthday child’s T-shirt, while keeping the other aspects more generic. One special item is enough to make the birthday kid feel special and to make an impact on their guests.
It also cuts down on cost and potential waste. Even if you’d like to keep event decor as mementos, it’s unlikely you’ll be able to keep the children’s personalised party invitations, banner, cake topper and tablecloths forever.
DIY as much as possible
The labour behind all of the moving parts of birthday parties is costly. That said, DIY party ideas can save you a lot of money. You might even be able to get your kid involved, such as by helping to make DIY birthday decorations. But remember that DIY birthdays can still get expensive, so assess what you already know how to do and what supplies you have at home before going down the DIY route. To cut down on stress, keep things simple and see if you can find shortcuts, like looking to Etsy for templates of character activity sheets you can print at home.
10 cheap birthday party ideas
Here are 10 affordable birthday party ideas.
1. Brunch birthday party
If your kids simply don’t care how much you’d like to sleep in on the weekends, try making the most of it by throwing a morning “pancake and pyjama” party. Invite the kids over in their favourite pyjamas, make pancakes and get some boxes of cereal for an extra treat. They can have fun experimenting with flavours by mixing different ones together. Then, gather the kids in front of the telly to watch cartoons.
You can also pull out the champagne flutes and orange juice (and maybe bubbly for mimosas) for parents to enjoy. The brunch birthday ideas are endless!
2. Simple nostalgia birthday party
For a cheap, stress-free concept, treat the birthday party like a big play date — just like our parents used to. Before social media and trending topics, parents would throw parties with a birthday banner and whatever they had at home. And the kids had a whale of a time!
3. Dance birthday party
Dance parties aren’t limited to traditional dance studios teaching ballet and tap. A dance party is the natural choice for a child with toe-tapping feet and a song in their heart. Introduce them to Just Dance video games or other dance-related activities such as freeze dance. Thankfully, we live in the age of YouTube, where there’s no shortage of kid-friendly music options. You can even have them follow this Zumba kids’ routine to a remix of a “Frozen” classic.
4. Finger paint birthday party
Save money on decor by keeping the space a blank canvas and leaving it up to the kids to beautify it during a paint party. Give the kids some canvases they can hang up when they’re finished with their masterpieces. White table mats and tablecloths can also be fun to colour in.
5. Scavenger hunt birthday party
A lost button, an old book, some loose change, mum’s gold necklace. Children are always finding “hidden treasures”. A scavenger hunt party is the perfect way to incorporate their natural inclination to find hidden gems. Hide a few things throughout the space, print out a scavenger list and have them go to town.
6. Relay race birthday party
Children are natural competitors. Whether it’s putting on their clothes, finishing a snack or running to the car, they can turn anything into a race — which makes for a cheap yet fun birthday party!
If you can’t think of birthday party relay games on your own, The One Simple Party blog has several inexpensive and stress-free ideas for races. Kids can be challenged by a turtle-crawl relay, balloon-bounce relay, bean-bag pass and more. Don’t forget the cheering section for the supportive spectator parents.
7. Backyard movie birthday party
If your child’s birthday falls during a season with suitable weather for outdoor parties, all you need is some popcorn and a favourite movie like Shrek or Paddington. Invite the kids to bring some folding chairs and blankets to sit on or get some inflatable chairs from the pound shop. The kids will sit still for at least an hour and a half, and the parents won’t have to worry about chasing them around. When the movie is over, let the kids roll over and count the stars or look for constellations.
8. Game-night birthday party
Create stations of various games you may already own or buy some inexpensive games at charity shops. The best part of a board-game birthday party is that it can be modified to suit all ages and abilities. Games like Twister can be set up and played by older guests and those who may be more limber. Meanwhile, bingo or Snakes and Ladders can be a great option for younger guests or those with limited mobility.
9. Build-it birthday party
Some kids have a knack for building unique structures. And there is no limit to what kids can come up with when they have enough supplies. Pull out your usual building supplies such as blocks, Kinetic Sand, LEGO sets and Play-Doh. Even the boxes from your last online shopping spree can be a build-it party paradise. Throw in some protective eyewear or a hard hat so the kids can feel like the real deal.
Even more good news: You won’t have to share too many instructions. All you need to do is be prepared to repeatedly hear the phrase, “Look what I made!”
10. Cake-decorating birthday party
Any party that can combine life skills and a fun activity is a win-win. With a cake decorating party, children can have fun finally helping out in the kitchen and get a head start on learning how to cook. Aprons and chef hats make the cutest party accessories.
For a cooking challenge with a twist, try making this layered fruit “cake”. It’s a fun alternative if you are concerned about food allergies or the amount of added sugar in traditional birthday cakes.
