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6 Fun and Frugal Birthday Party Ideas
Birthdays are life events worth celebrating, but the costs that come with hosting birthday parties are not. Thankfully, there are a ton of fun and frugal birthday party ideas out there that will protect your pockets. Here are six to get you started:
- Host the Party at Home
More often than not, the party venue will eat up a huge chunk of any birthday party budget. In fact, most places will charge a per-head fee to host a party. The fee may or may not come with food.
The total amount can be the stuff of nightmares, especially if doing a kids party that also involves chaperones. To save on money, hosting the party at home is the best idea. This way, you can spend the venue rent on gifts, more food, and decor for the party.
- Have the Party at the Park
If hosting the party at your house is not feasible, the next best thing to consider is having the shindig at a park. Sure you’ll need to pay a fee, but it will be quite minimal compared to an indoor recreation center or standard party venue.
One good thing about going to the park for a birthday party is that there will be optimal space for activities. The guests can play sports, participate in chasing games, do sack races, or enjoy an obstacle course. With a park birthday party, keeping your guests entertained will be a breeze.
- Choose an Easy Theme
One great way to save money on a birthday party is to not go overboard with the theme. There are hundreds of themes to choose from for a birthday party that will not break the bank. In order to avoid the stress of choosing a theme, start from the interests of the birthday celebrant.
For a little girl who loves color and glitter, you cannot go wrong with a unicorn party. What the kid plays for sports will also be a good start for a theme. Another great theme idea is to use the season as an inspiration. A summer birthday party can have a beach theme, for instance. For a December birthday, a winter-wonderland theme will be well received.
- Borrow Equipment for Activities
Hosting a party typically means renting activity equipment and some tables and chairs too. While it is possible to get a good deal on rental, do not forget you can borrow these. You likely have a neighbor that has a huge inflatable pool for a planned ball pit.
You can borrow coolers for keeping drinks cold, a grill for outdoor cooking, or even a bouncy house as the main birthday attraction.
- Schedule the Party for Snack Time
If you want to go the frugal route for a birthday party, avoid serving full meals. This means scheduling the party in the middle of the afternoon, when guests have already eaten lunch and are still hours away from needing dinner. You will still serve food, of course, but you can get away with serving only light, convenient snacks and drinks.
- Keep It in the Family
For birthday entertainment, consider hiring friends or family. This way, it’s not necessary to shell out a lot for professional fees. If you have a musically inclined nephew, get him to DJ the party. Perhaps you have a brother who has a band—get them to play at your party for musical entertainment. Do you need a clown for a kid’s birthday? Get some face paint and ask a fun cousin to do it.
Keep in mind that a costly party does not always mean a good party. You can still host a memorable birthday party without spending a huge chunk of your savings. Keep the above frugal ideas in mind, and on top of throwing a roaring shindig, you will be happy knowing you didn’t spend a lot too.
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