Throw a Birthday Party for Tweens on a Budget

Is your tween's birthday party looming on the horizon but your budget isn't what you would like? Have no fear! With my ideas you can have a party they will love for a price you can live with.

Party like a rock star. Most kids this age love music. Whatever their favorite band you can save money on licensing fees associated with buying their merchandise and go for some generic fun. Decorate with inflatable guitars (found at party stores). Make construction paper microphones for invitations. Fill favor bags with rock candy and pop rocks. For party fun have a talent show and award the winners with smalls prizes such as a gift certificate to a music store or earphones for their iPods.

Spa Party. If your tween is a girl who loves to be pampered then this party is going to go over really well. Invite her closest friends to a birthday spa retreat. Get a few other adults to help out and set up stations for your guests to indulge. Face masks can be applied, nails painted, and feet soaked. Let the girls switch stations every 10-15 minutes to keep the party moving. Favor bags are easily pulled together with a bottle of nail polish and some lip gloss.

Pizza Party. This is my favorite idea! Invite guests to a pizza party where they will get to be in on the action. Create your own pizza shaped invitation with some construction paper. Roll out the dough and set out all of the fixings needed to create the pizza of their dreams. Then let your tween and their guests go wild! Once the pizzas are created cook them up and serve hot with some cold beverages to wash them down. This party is great for the budget because the meal is also the entertainment.

Have a Luau. Buy lei's and grass skirts as inexpensive decorations that also double as favors. Hold a limbo contest and rent a DVD to teach the hula. If it's warm out you can move the party outdoors but either way try to keep the atmosphere as tropical as possible. Serve fruit punch with ice cream in it for a unique and festive drink.

Tweens can be hard to please without breaking the bank. But, with these ideas you will be able to create a fun and unique day for your child and keep a little green in your wallet.