Happy Birthdays on a Budget

Dollar stores and discount stores are your best source for a huge assortment of very affordable party "extras." The quality of what you find may be very good because many of the high-priced stationary stores sell their overstock to discount stores. Reminder: When buying food items from discount stores, be sure to check the expiration date to make sure the item is fresh.

When it comes to finding great kids’ party locations, you can't beat the great outdoors. You'll be able to accommodate a group of any size under a canopy of sunshine in natural settings like parks, beaches, and even your own backyard for FREE. If you're celebrating during the winter or rainy season, great free indoor locations include the YMCA, public pools, and community centers. For younger birthday boys and girls, get a free tour of the local fire station.

A gelatin-based edible centerpiece is fun, inexpensive, and delicious! Take a clear plastic fish bowl and make jello that is aqua blue in the bowl. When the gelatin is cooling, drop some gummy fish into the gelatin -- they'll sink about halfway down.The fishbowl serves as a decoration and can then be served to the guests with whipped cream to make "white caps" on the gelatin waves.

Instead of a large, invite-the-neighborhood affair, consider the fun of hosting a private party - as in by-invitation-only for the people who live in your house. You can purchase a small, one-layer cake from a grocery store for less than $10. Or bake your own for even bigger savings. Since you can spend less on everything, you may find that you'll have enough in your budget for things like candles, party hats and blowers from the Dollar Store.

Even the most expensive parties start with a budget. How much can be spent on food, decorations and entertainment? As the party planner in your house it's important you always plan ahead in order to stick to your budget. First, decide how much you are willing to spend on your child's birthday party. Then set up a budget and decide how much money will be earmarked for each item including the cake, food, party favors and games. If you save money in one area, don't spend it on another. Just put it back in your "party pot" and save it for next time!

Invitations can be real budget-busters costing anywhere from $1 to $5 each! Even inexpensive cards that you pick up at the Dollar Store still have to be mailed at a cost of almost 40 cents each. Instead, create the invitations yourself and let the birthday boy or girl hand-deliver them. Handwritten and computer-generated invitations work well and add a personal touch to the party because they're customized. Another alternative, if your child's friends all have e-mail addresses, is to consider using an online service such as Evite to get the word out.

An economical way to celebrate a child's birthday is to host a cake cutting. If your guests know what you are serving, they can eat before they come. The party goes by much quicker (there's no waiting forever to cut the cake), and the cake and ice cream are all most kids want anyway. Plus, you'll spend less on paper plates and cutlery, and less clean-up, too!

Nothing makes your child feel more special than your undivided attention. Instead of spending money to express love, spend time with them. Make them their favorite breakfast, play with their favorite toys, or watch a favorite video. For younger children, taking a nap with your child is a sweet, very special occasion. The time you give to your children is a gift they'll always remember...and all that love doesn't have to cost a penny.

When the party's over, sending home a gift bag with each guest is a nice way to say "Thank You for coming." The trick is to say "Thank You" to your guests without having to say "I'm sorry" to your budget. Plastic, pre-printed goodie bags are expensive and they're not good for the environment either! Instead, simply use brown paper bags (bought in bulk) to fill with candy and inexpensive toys like yo-yos, plastic rings, and stickers from the Dollar Store.

For a memorable family birthday celebration that barely puts a dent in your budget, host a family slumber party. Staying up late is, all by itself, a special treat for a kid. Let the birthday boy or girl pick the double-feature for the night, pop up some popcorn, put on your PJ's, and pull an "all-nighter" of family fun and bonding.

If you're planning a party for a young child, don't worry about the decorations. For most youngsters, if a decoration can't be eaten, played with, or utterly destroyed in a frenzy of paper-tearing, it's not very important. Hold off on streamers, balloons, and especially birthday banners if the birthday boy or girl is too young to read the message!

Instead of transforming your house for a party with expensive store-bought decorations, use what you have on hand to create your theme. For example, if your child has an electric train, set it up around the perimeter of one of the tables and have a "Ride the Rails" party. If you have an aquarium, think about a Mermaids and Pirates party. Or, if you have lots of plants in your home, bring them all into one room and host a "Jungle Book" birthday bash.

If there's one thing you can count on at a kid's party, it's a good-natured mess! An alternative to expensive plastic tablecloths is butcher paper...often available for free from the man behind the meat counter at your grocery store. If you want to jazz things up, turn the tablecloth into a birthday mural. As soon as the kids arrive, give them paint and brushes, crayons or whatever you have on hand to decorate the table cloth. When they're done, you can serve the goodies on their masterpiece!

No need to bust your budget to have an old-fashioned birthday party. There are many ways to cut corners on expenses. Decorative cups and plates can now be purchased at your local Dollar Store. Save big by serving the inexpensive treats kids love -- hot dogs, pizza, and ice cream. And when it comes to entertainment, depending on the age of the children and the weather, plan games like kickball, red light/green light, red rover, etc.