You Don’t Have to Spend Like a Celeb to Throw a Fun Kids’ Birthday Party
Oh, the lives of the rich and famous.
You might find yourself envying their weddings and birthday bashes, but have you seen the celebrations they throw for their kids?
Beyonce and Jay Z reportedly spent $200,000 on their oldest daughter Blue Ivy’s first birthday party (that’s not including the $80,000 diamond encrusted Barbie doll).
When Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale’s oldest son, Kingston, turned four, the musicians threw him a birthday bash that reportedly cost $15,000.
David and Victoria Beckham just celebrated their daughter Harper’s sixth birthday with a tea party at Buckingham Palace. Buckingham Palace.
Whew!
And if you think the desire to drop serious dough on elaborate children’s parties is only reserved for celebs, you’re wrong. Regular folk follow suit just the same.
According to a recent article from Moneyish, Tasha Holland spent $5,400 on her son’s first birthday party. Marni Konner rented a $900 pink limo bus for her daughter’s fifth birthday 10 years ago.
But don’t think you have to keep up with the Joneses — you don’t have to catch mom guilt if you don’t drop a few grand on your child’s next birthday party. You can throw an affordable celebration without sacrificing on the fun.
Spare the Expense, Not the Creativity
Just because you’re cutting costs doesn’t mean your child’s party has to be bland. Focus your theme on activities your kid loves, and take advantage of supplies or equipment you already have at home.
This post offers suggestions for throwing a bicycle party or a Nerf gun party — plus four other fun themes that can be executed inexpensively.
Don’t despair if your birthday budget can’t cover a Moana lookalike to entertain the kiddos like Jessica Simpson’s did; you can still have your kid’s favorite characters play a role in their big day by signing up for the Nick Jr. birthday club.
Joining allows you to schedule a free birthday call from characters like SpongeBob or Dora the Explorer — plus you can get free birthday printables.
Find Multiple Ways to Stretch Your Budget
From invitations to decorations, from entertainment to food, a lot goes into planning a party.
The upside? That means there are multiple avenues where you can find ways to save.
This post has smart advice to lower your expenses, like scheduling the party between meals and restricting your celebration to a few hours.
You can also have a low-cost party by using a craft as entertainment and turning paper plates into party decor.
Feed a Crowd Without Fueling Your Stress Levels
It’s hard to escape the fact that parties and food go hand in hand. And with every additional guest, food costs just keep on rising.
But you can keep bellies full and sugar levels up without renting out a floor at Dylan’s Candy Bar like Tracy Morgan did.
These cheap and easy dessert recipes use three ingredients or less. Two-minute, homemade chocolate mousse at $1.05 a serving? Yes, please!
You can also ask family members and close friends to chip in by bringing dishes in lieu of birthday presents. Face it, your kids probably already have more toys than they need. Here are some guidelines to making a potluck a success.
Don’t Forget to Have Fun
Remember, always keep the big picture in mind. Your kid’s birthday party isn’t about impressing their classmates’ parents or emulating a celebrity’s extravaganza — it’s simply about celebrating another year in your child’s life.
A big dose of love and special attention can go far, and there’s no price tag for that!
Nicole Dow is a staff writer at The Penny Hoarder. Her daughter’s birthday is coming up. She’s still trying to figure out how she’ll celebrate — affordably, of course.
