Tips to Help You Save Preparing for a Kid's Christmas Party

Aw, Christmastime is fast approaching. What will or can you do this year to save some time and money when giving your children the time of their lives? I am a mother of three and I have nothing but tips to help you as you struggle with an age old issue, especially around Christmas time, money.

As a mom I know you want the best for your children, you want them to be top of the game. Sometimes though being at the top of the game can cost us as parents a lot of money and time. For something that lasts but for a while is it not smart to think of ways you can cut costs and time in preparations. I will tell you of at least ten different time savers or maybe money savers that have proved cost efficient for me.

The first tip I want to share is this, "It does not have to cost an arm and a leg to be fun, festive, or nice." Remember that because that alone will take some of the costs away for you. Say for instance you want to shop different stores. Do not settle for items from one store, look in your shopping papers, and look for specials or sales on certain things. It might require more than a couple drives to a store and then another but it will make up in the long run by saving you cash. Lots of times I shop discount stores, we have a MIGHTY DOLLAR and it sales everything for one dollar. I have walked out of this place with out hardly spending what it takes to get a meal at McDonald's. They have some junk there, but all in all you can get cleaning supplies, plates, napkins, and pencils that come decorated . I stock up on things like decorated pencils, plastic favors, and party items . You can get supplies for your kids party for almost nothing. Look around, there can be some money savers in shopping around.

One of my tips for making a successful party for a kid is to get feedback. If you have children the age that will be at your party, ask them what would be fun to do, maybe even ask what they like to eat, or play. This will give you ideals that you can use and save you some decision making. When you plan for a game tie at the party, make sure there are a few things to do, give the guests options, or choices to choose from. If you let them choose, they are more apt to participate. I have had several board games, such as Twister, Bobbing for Apples, or Connect Four. Maybe you could offer some small prizes such as pencils, erasers, rulers, yoyos, or stickers for the winners.

A third tip I have for low cost party ideals is, make little gift bags filled with small trinkets, such as pennies, stickers, balloons, bubbles, crayons, and more. Give these as party favors and watch everyone's face light up. Kids just love getting a surprise gift bag. You can get gift bags from a discount store or even use the paper lunch bags, you get and use for lunches. For the lunch bag ideal, you can decorate them up with stamped decals, stickers, or writings. This is a low cost way to make your own gift bags.

I have always liked going to a party that serves punch. Making your own punch is way cheaper then buying drinks or sodas. You can use Kool-Aid, some sugar, some sparkling soda, and maybe some Ginger Ale to create a fabulous punch. Kids will think it is cool to get something from a decorated and scary punch bowl. Maybe you can throw in some colored dye, like a black or orange to go with the Halloween season.

Instead of renting a few tables and chairs, why not serve a buffet and let the children sit in the floor on mats, or blankets, while having some haunted music play in the background where they can sit. Try putting the chips, punch, and eatables on a table in a line, then creating a section for the children to sit. Make this sitting section scary or decorated in the theme. Hang some colored balloons, play some haunted sounds or music in the backgrounds and the kids are sure to love it.

Tradition is always good, why not have some of the favorites at your next party. These favorites cost very little and are always a hit. Things like bobbing for apples, or egg toss, maybe even a three legged race. These are great and can be a fun thing to do at a kids party. I always liked to do the three legged race.

For decorating at a Halloween party you could wrap DumDum suckers in tissue and place a couple eyes from pen and tie the tissue on for classic ghost suckers. Maybe you can make a spider from construction paper and let the kids play, "Pen the leg on the spider" instead of pen the tail on the donkey. Create scary faces by marking on blown balloons, then place them around your party. Playing musical chairs with kids is always great, and it keeps them entertained, try putting on scary music though, it will help create the atmosphere. For name markers or place holders, make cardboard tombstones with each kids name on them, then use as place setters.

Maybe you could ask each kids to bring a bag of candy to be placed in the community pot that will be distributed out later at the party. This alone can save you some cash and allow you to buy something else. In your community pot, after getting your candy from guests, allow each person to grab a handful and put in their own bags they have for their Halloween trick or treating. You could even have the guests make a Halloween Trick or Treat bag for their very own at your party. Supply them with cardboard, construction paper, paper grocery bags or plastic grocery bags, let them decorate their very own bags.

Sometimes we forget that a simple fire along with favorite ghost stories, and roasting marshmallows can be a great party theme. You could ask your guests to bring something to sit on, and have maybe a weenie roast, or a marshmallow meal. Have some haunted stories to tell, or a book to read, maybe even some sharing. All this needs is a backyard, a fire pit, some this and that, and you are set to go.

For a party you have a certain theme, ask guests to bring something in accordance with the theme. Maybe you are having a Ghost party, some ideals would be, old sheets, things that are white, things that are related to Ghosts. Maybe you can ask guests to bring a movie to share, or maybe some popcorn to pop while you watch a movie.

Kids are not that hard to buy for, when you reach their imaginations. Try something new, different and fun this Halloween, or for any other occasion. Making a safe and fun environment is a great start.