Birthday on a Budget

Planning a birthday party for your child can be a very stressful time for a Mama. You don't want to (or can't) go overboard, but you still want to make it special for your precious little one. Below are some tips to create an intimate and memorable birthday party on a small budget.

Location: Host the party somewhere that does not cost any $ (i.e. your house/backyard, park, parents' house, etc.)

Invitation: Take advantage of Evite! Or if you prefer to send cards, no need to spend a lot of $. They end up getting tossed away anyway!

Food: Make your own. If you can find some friends and/or family that can help you, it's easy and less costly to prepare food for the party. Especially, if you get the ingredients from stores like Costco, you can easily feed a ton of people (you can serve sandwiches, salads, fruits, vegetables, etc).

Decoration: You can decorate by using simple decorations like balloons (from PartyCity), streamers, flowers, etc. The decor can look great just by keeping it simple and throwing something personal in the mix (maybe something that was handmade by you, or something that is personal to your child).

Cake: If you enjoy baking, this is where you can add your personal touch. You can get really creative with the cake and make something unique and yummy for your child. If you don't/can't bake, don't worry, there are many bakeries that offer delicious cakes at a reasonable price.

Supplies: Again, take advantage of stores like Costco & PartyCity where you can save $ on plates, napkins, utensils, tablecloths, serving bins & utensils.

Party Favors: It's true. Kids get excited about anything that's new to them.. so don't invest too much $ on favors. Stickers, crayons, toy necklaces and rubber balls, are some of the things that are inexpensive and entertaining for the little ones (Target has a great selection of little toys/favors in their "party supply" section)!

Just remember, that a birthday party is a celebration of another year of your child's life...so don't stress about the details and don't feel like you need to impress. Instead, enjoy this special day with your friends and family that are important to you and your child(ren)!!