My husband and I are gearing up for our youngest daughter’s 2nd birthday. It dawned on me how very quickly she is growing! She loves to dance, talk, and sing, loves CocoMelon, loves to laugh HARD, and loves her sisters, her brother, and, of course, her Mommy and Daddy. And she will be starting daycare soon!
Since her birthday is coming up very soon, and my husband and I like to keep it simple (we have to, with five kids!), here are five ways to throw an inexpensive birthday party, especially when you’re a busy mom!
5 Ways To Throw an Inexpensive Birthday Party (And Save Time)
1. Stock up on Gifts Throughout the Year
So, this is one thing that I absolutely love about my husband. He is definitely the planner, and I am more of the go-with-the-flow type. I have been slightly better because of him, but wow. I’m a procrastinator; he is a thinker and a planner, and he utilizes all his resources for everything he does.
One of the things I am so grateful for is how we handle our kids’ birthdays because of this. Throughout the year, we both (but mainly him) grab all kinds of things he finds on sale. He finds them at stores, online, and in thrift stores. So we stock up, and we already have it when it comes time for their birthday!
Stocking up whenever you see something is such a game-changer! Also, search the internet months in advance for the best-priced things! We look on Amazon, Walmart, E-bay, and Target. I constantly check deal sites to see what items go on sale. Then, when they do, I purchase them to have for later.
2. Invite Only the People You Know Will Come to the Party
This tip is a little hard. When I was a first-time mom, I wanted to invite EVERYONE to a birthday party. But then, I just ended up disappointed that next to no one showed up except for a few people.
Inviting close family and friends works best. First, you get the most accurate headcount, so you know exactly who to expect. Also, if they can’t make it, they will typically let you know versus just not showing up, which is just courteous!
3. Opt for Easy Foods
Try and think of inexpensive, easy-to-please foods like hot dogs, pizza, and tacos. I know there is more, but that gives you an idea! For example, whenever we celebrate a birthday for the kids, we usually get pizza. They love it, we love it, and it’s less inexpensive than having five other types of food, and it just works!
I suggest sticking with something easy. Sticking with easy-to-please foods is also a time-saver; you don’t have to cook! (Unless your child requests homemade pizza like mine did last year! But we saved that for just us!)
Here are some inexpensive birthday party food ideas:
- Pizza
- Tacos
- Chicken Wings
- Hot Dogs
- Hamburgers
4. Utilize the Things You Already Have at Home
Okay, if you are anything like me, you have a box full of games you never play. Get them out!! Don’t waste money on party ideas you find online when you have perfectly good games in that box! And guess what? When the party is over, the kids will want to play again! And again! Until they forget about it, that is! If you don’t have any games, check your local thrift stores!
Don’t just stop at the games! Do you have decorations? Maybe a picture that will pop that you forgot to hang up? A decoration you can put on the table? Find those things that you already have and make them work!
There are so many things that you probably forgot about, so about a month before, take a good look around to remind yourself that you already have it at home, so now you don’t have to go out and buy it! Or maybe you thought you had something, but it turns out you don’t. So it works like a charm both ways!
5. Don’t Go Crazy on Decorations
I used to want to buy all of the decorations. But I knew they’d be in the trash as soon as that party was over. Sure, I could save them, but would I really use them again? Of course, we try to keep everything we can, but I wouldn’t want to reuse birthday decorations if I didn’t HAVE to.
But that’s just me being weird and probably selfish…because it is totally doable to save your decorations (and we did when we used to buy them). But what else happens? The tablecloths get torn, balloons get popped (I go with A FEW balloons instead of a lot!), and other decorations get ruined. So I like to get a few simple decorations and call it a day! Depending on your theme, they have really inexpensive themed party decor on Amazon.
Recap: How To Throw an Inexpensive Birthday Party
- Stock Up On Gifts Throughout The Year
- Invite Only People You Know Will Come To The Party
- Opt For The Easy Foods
- Utilize The Things You Already Have At Home
- Don’t Go Crazy On Decorations
And what I like to remember when it comes to planning birthdays is it’s not about what we buy for them or how “cool” their party turns out to be, but about what they will remember, which is the time spent and memories made. Even when they do remember the decorations, food, etc., the memories will always win!
Remember that all of us mothers throw birthday parties differently! For instance, our close friends and family know that when you get invited to one of our kid’s birthdays, there is about a 90% chance of pizza.
The bottom line is that it doesn’t matter if you throw a cheap, inexpensive birthday party. What matters is that your child feels loved and appreciated on their special day, and that can look so many ways.
Remember to breathe. Take a breath. You are a wonderful, busy mom who can pull this off!
In what ways do you throw an inexpensive birthday party? Tell me in the comments!
Read More:
- 34 Creative Birthday Celebration Ideas for an Awesome Time (No Matter What You Enjoy)
- 50 Fantastic Birthday Party Ideas
