Birthdays on a Budget

The pressure is on and you are at a loss. Your child's birthday is rapidly approaching, but your budget is tapped out. What is a parent to do? Believe it or not, there are ways to throw an exciting birthday on a budget without disappointing your child. Here are five ways to get you going without breaking the bank.

1.) Take Stock - Sometimes when we are under pressure, we forget to look at the things right in front of our faces. Do you have a large yard or a talented family member? Taking the time to look closely at your surroundings can save you a lot of money. Once you can envision your yard as a place that will be as much fun as the local pizza place or your art teacher sister as a viable alternative to the clowns and magicians that cost a lot of money, you are well on your way to a successful party.

2.) Be Creative - Once you have a location and some entertainment planned, it is time to get creative. The great thing about young children is that if they see you are excited, they will get excited. It is always important to take into consideration the interests of the age group you will be entertaining. What television shows do they like? Which stars make their eyes shine with excitement? Once you know these things, putting a spin on the party will be a piece of cake. Instead of playing just musical chairs, try "superstar" musical chairs. You could decorate the chairs with cut outs of the children's favorite stars and play music from their compact disc collection. How about using that large back yard or basement to have a "Survivor" scavenger hunt or an "Amazing Race" adventure? Taking the time to really plan will not only save you a lot of money, but it will make it a party unlike any other. Once you open your mind, the possibilities are endless.

3.) Fun and Frugal Food - Whether we like it or not, pop culture is very important to today's children. If your child loves McDonalds, make some Happy Meals at home. Purchase some inexpensive toys at a dollar store, decorate some paper lunch bags, and then cook up a big box of burgers, chicken nuggets, and fries. You could enlist some family members to fill the bags or even better, set up a pretend menu and let the kids go through the food line like a real McDonalds. If your child is too old for Happy Meals, plan a make your own pizza or taco bar. These foods are fun and can be very inexpensive. Your child and their friends will never forget the fun foods at this party.

4.) Bigger is not Always Better - Sure, inviting every member of the class and each child in the neighborhood can be lots of fun, but it can also cost a lot of money. Be sure to talk with your child about who is most important for them to invite to their party. Some children might rather have a couple of close friends over and be allowed to rent movies and order a pizza and others may want many more friends to help them celebrate. If you have this discussion up front, it will allow for budget planning and reasonable expectations by everyone.

5.) Great Gift Giving - It is important that your child has a good time on their birthday, but it is also important that they grow up understanding what is reasonable and what is not for a birthday. Be sure that your son or daughter understands at a young age what you can afford for birthday gifts. Then, shop around for a great deal. If your child wants something more expensive than your budget allows, don't feel guilty instead think of your options. It could be possible that other family members could combine resources to purchase the gift or you could get a gift card for your budgeted amount with a note telling your child that when they have saved for the remaining amount, you will be happy to take them and get the gift. If a child is brought up in a home that values money, they will be perfectly happy with such an arrangement.

Once the party is over and the guests have gone home, you can rest assured that no one even realized that this birthday was done on a budget. Your child and their guests will appreciate the extra efforts and it won't matter how much you spent. The thing that will matter will be the memories that were created.