These days it seems like birthday celebrations are getting bigger and better every year – ice cream cake in the McDonald’s playroom or a quiet night at home just doesn’t cut it anymore. But don’t worry, creating the party of your dreams for you or your family doesn’t mean you have to break the bank. With a few simple cost-saving tips and tricks, these cheap birthday party ideas can help you create a birthday party your guests will remember. Keep reading to find out more!
Cheap Birthday Party Ideas
3. Serve snacks instead of a meal
4. Serve different sized glasses
6. Host the party in the backyard
1. Swap paper for e-vites
Fancy paper invitations and postage can get pricey, particularly if you’ve got a big guest list. Instead of packaging and sending out everyone’s invitations a couple months early, save money by sending out your e-vites through email or via social media apps about a couple weeks in advance. This way you can save on invitations and postage, while ensuring they remember to save the date. These budget birthday ideas also make sure that you save money in the planning process so that someone in your family doesn’t have to get left out on the actual date.
2. Recycle party essentials
If you’re planning a new activity that requires lots of decorations, such as for a fancy dress party, then consider using decorations that you’ve already got stored away for another party. For example, streamers, bunting and tablecloths are easy to clean and store for next year. Plus, not only are these great and cheap birthday party ideas, cutting down on plastic party wastage is much better for the environment!
3. Serve snacks instead of a meal
One of the great things about birthday parties is that the guests usually prefer simple tastes. Don’t worry about cooking up a big meal- save yourself time, money and effort by serving a selection of snacks. Chips, lollies and of course the Australian essential, party pies, are always affordable (and cheap) hors d’oeuvres.
4. Serve different sized glasses
If you have a lot of people coming to your party then it’s best to have some different bowls and glasses for each age group. This way everyone can have a drink of choice, go off and play for a while, and then serve themselves again as the party progresses. Serving different sized glasses means that you can accommodate everybody early on, rather than worrying if the guests are bored with just one drink all night long.
5. Book your venue early
Some venues can charge more for last minute bookings. If you’re looking for cheap birthday party ideas, as a rule you want to make sure you get your party booked early. It’s best to try and book at least 6 to 8 weeks ahead. This means you’ll have plenty of time to ensure the party’s details and costs are all sorted out before the big day. Don’t forget to tell your venue what kind of music you’d like played. You can definitely find some nice birthday party playlist ideas on websites like Spotify.
6. Host the party in the backyard
There’s nothing quite like celebrating in your own backyard with an inviting barbecue lunch and cake. Here, you have full control over your party. This means you can save money on craft activities, decorations and food costs because you don’t need to rent out a function room or hire an outside caterer. You can even decide on what budget-friendly, team-building activities you and your friends can play as well, such as having a board game corner or a movie playing inside for guests that are a bit tired. Get a little crafty and make some homemade decorations for the party or even hire a cheap marquee for something a little extra fancy.
7. Go With A Smaller Group
If you or your family have something specific (but more expensive) to do for a birthday party, a budget-friendly option is to do the activity with a close friend or two, rather than a huge group. For example, if your child has a wide group of friends and is concerned about offending or excluding some, why not go with a sibling or cousin? An escape room can be a great option for kids’ birthday parties, particularly for tweens and teens. Escape rooms can also be a great option for other events, such as corporate parties, if you’re looking for an activity that will not burn a hole in your wallet.
The Final Word
If you’re worried about spending too much money on a birthday party, then don’t be. As you can see, there are lots of cheap, quick and easy ideas that will allow you to save money without losing the fun that comes with throwing a party for yourself or your family.
Interested in other party-throwing guides and activity ideas? Consider these options:
