A child’s birthday party should be a fun, memorable occasion, but today it is often expensive and stressful for everyone involved. Thankfully, Stephanie Phillips from CreditDonkey shares some of her affordable ideas for you to make sure child has a blast and feels special on her special day.

Food
• Frugal parents often have a party between meal times, such as mid-afternoon, and serve only finger foods, cake, and ice cream. That way guests are not expecting a full meal.
• Make your own cake, ice cream sundaes, cupcakes, juice popsicles, or other dessert. Buy your cake in a box or look up a variety of creative treats on popular recipe sharing websites. You can also make your own punch or lemonade instead of buying individual cans or drink boxes.
• Have your child’s friends join the fun by having them decorate their own cupcakes or make their own sundaes.

Location
• Have it at home or a local park. Both are money-saving venues, and parks provide activities for small children.

Decorations and Other Supplies
• If you plan on having a theme, the invitations and cake are the most important elements. You can buy plates, cups, and other supplies in solid colors. Extra budget-conscious parents often stock up on these supplies after holidays.
• Visit hobby shops to buy attractive paper to print your own invitations. You can also find many helpful online templates for cards and invitations.
• Dollar stores often have helium balloons and other party décor at prices much lower than grocery stores.
• Comic books, decorated grocery bags, and other materials make great wrapping paper. The sky’s the limit

Goody Bags
• Goody bags alone can often take parents way past their party budgets. Be smart by only sending one gift home with your guests. Baked treats, sculpting clay, or paints are some good ideas.

Entertainment
• Activities such as musical chairs, relays, and dance parties let you use what you already have on hand. Creative parents sometimes make things like mazes and forts out of boxes, create their own ball-filled kiddy pools, or host arts and craft parties.
• Instead of hiring a magician or clown, hire a local teenager to paint faces or dress as your child’s favorite television character.

Before you get started, make sure you set a budget—one with limits for each category is even better. When you head into town, remember to use your credit card that gives you the most rewards for your money. For example, a child’s birthday party is an excellent opportunity to use your family credit card that gives you an extra incentive when buying gas and groceries.

Now that you are a creative, budget-conscious party host, let’s get that party started.

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