8 tips for doing birthday parties on a budget
Can we just talk about how expensive kids birthday parties have got? Some families are now spending up to £500 on a party which is honestly wild to me! Because the thing is, the kids don’t actually care how much you’ve spent. They just want their friends, some fun and a bit of cake! So this year I’ve made a really conscious effort to keep costs down for my kids parties without losing any of the magic.
1. Ditch the party bags
Let’s be honest most party bags are full of plastic bits that the kids have lost or broken before you even get home!
So instead, I switched it up in the past for charity shop teddies, £1 story books, and little DIY tattoo sheets. For my daughters party, I found tea cups in a charity shop and personalised them with names so each child could take one home! It worked out cheaper and felt way more special.
2. Make your own treats
Instead of buying loads of sweets I made a few bits myself. I used silicone moulds to make themed chocolates and popped them into little bags. They honestly looked like something from a fancy sweet shop but cost next to nothing!
3. Dont spend a fortune on outfits!
For my son’s party I personalised a plain t-shirt and it looked so cute in photos. For my daughter’s party she had such a cute outfit off Vinted and I saved loads!
4. Keep the cake simple
Please don’t feel like you need one of those £80 character cakes. You can bake one yourself or grab a supermarket sponge then even add figures on top if you fancy! I mean the kids eat it that fast you barely get a look anyway!
5. Reuse your decorations
This is such an easy win. Instead of buying themed bits every year go for neutral balloons and birthday banners as well as a cake topper and you can reuse every year!
6. Don’t over cater
We all do it but honestly most of it goes to waste! Stick to sandwiches, crisps, fruit and squash for the kids and bulk buy from Aldi or Lidl!
7. Skip the expensive entertainment
For my daughter’s party we hired a local hall and did classic party games and the kids LOVED it! No need for entertainers, bouncy castles or anything over the top!
8. Don’t forget about second-hand bargains!
I will always shout about this one. Check Vinted or Facebook Marketplace for gifts, decorations, party bits, and outfits as you can get some absolute bargains!
So honestly kids parties do not need to cost a fortune. With a bit of creativity and some clever swaps you can save loads of money and avoid waste but still make it really special. Because at the end of the day they’ll remember the fun, not how much you spent.
