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9 Tips for Inexpensive Children’s Parties

By Jamie Jarvis

You might already be planning an expensive vacation or sending your child to camp, but that doesn’t mean a party this summer should break your purse strings. Consider some of these ten tips to throw a great party on a budget:

1. Keep the party short. Two hours is fine. Less time means less money.

2. Keep the party small. Don’t feel like you have to invite your child’s entire class, all the neighbors, and her soccer team, too. Limit the guest list to six or fewer of your child’s closest friends to keep costs reasonable.

3. Schedule the party for a time of day when you aren’t expected to provide a meal. Simply serve drinks, snacks (pretzels, chips, or crackers) and cake and ice-cream. If you really want to provide a meal, look for a coupon special from a local pizza parlor or serve up some kid-friendly mac & cheese.

4. Check out one-stop party places where food, decorations, activities, and party favors are all provided for one fee. These include kid gyms and play centers, children’s museums, bowling alleys, skating rinks, and restaurants. Surprisingly, package deals can be less expensive than pulling together all the pieces yourself.

5. If the weather is likely to cooperate, consider having the party at a park with a playground and an open field. Bring sports equipment, kites, flying discs, and other outdoor games. The location and activities are free. You add basic refreshments, partyware, and decorations for a fun celebration.

6. Shop for party supplies at discount stores. The selections may be more limited than at party stores, but the prices are often much less expensive. Most discount stores carry paper cups, plates, napkins, utensils, balloons, streamers, party favors and candy. Be creative, you may not be able to find plates printed with the latest TV characters at your local discount store, but solid color partyware with a few fun accents will be fine.

7. Keep your eyes open for low cost books and toys that would make nice party favors. Look for packaged sets that can be opened and divided, such as a bucket of Legos (put a big handful in an individual favor bag), a set of toy cars, or a booklet of stickers that you can cut individual pages from.

8. Consider all-inclusive party kits. Several on-line party stores sell party kits for many themes that include partyware, decorations, and favor bags at reasonable prices. Similarly, pre-assembled craft and activity kits are often less expensive than buying items separately.

9. Get help! Ask friends and family to help with specific tasks. Perhaps your sister can bake a great cake and older siblings can blow up and hang balloons (less expensive than helium).

When in doubt spend your dollars where they’ll have the most impact with the children. Fortunately, most children are more interested in having fun with their friends than participating in expensive activities, receiving elaborate party favors, or eating fancy food.

Jamie Jarvis has operated www.KidsPartyFun.com  since 2000. She has a 13-year-old son.