Welcome WTHR Weekend Sunrise Viewers: 6 Ways to Save on Birthday Parties

Exquisite and complicated themes, expensive favors, and of course mouth watering catered food.  No I’m not talking about this summer’s hottest premiere party or even a grand wedding.  Most of these things are now featured at your average three year old’s birthday party.  People, it’s getting a little ridiculous out there.  But the good news is that you can stop the madness.  The great over-the-top birthday fiasco can stop with YOU.

Here are a few of my favorite tips for saving while still celebrating:

• Limit the number of friend fetes.  You can choose to limit the number of “friend” birthday parties that you allow your children to have.  We celebrate “big” birthdays with friends 1, 5, 10, and eventually 16; however the off years are spent celebrating with only our families and a few close family friends.  Limiting the number of parties you throw cuts down on expense as well as the ugly too much birthday monster {haven’t you read that Berenstain Bears Book?}.  

• Fancy napkins, plain plates.  No need to buy every single matching party item.  Let your child choose their favorite character based napkin and then get plain or generic items to coordinate.  Better yet, choose a number of reusable items {yay for being green and saving green!} that will match a wide array of characters.  We have a wide array of red items which match almost any theme and holiday.

• Hire cheap {or free teens}.  Still feel like you need an entertainment element to your party?  Instead of a hiring a scary and expensive clown, consider hiring your babysitter or a local high school athlete to keep the kids occupied.  From baseball players to cheerleaders, from aspiring artists to garage bands, many high schoolers in your community are wildly talented and unemployed.  See if you know someone who fits your theme and then invite to come and entertain. Whether they’re good with pets or a paintbrush, one thing’s for sure, they’re cooler than you are and hungry for work.

• Keep it Simple.  We’ll call it the KIS principle because I don’t think you’re stupid.  One Google search or Pinterest inquiry will prove that birthday parties are wildly popular and perhaps a little OOC {out of control, I’m all over the acronyms}.  Ask your kiddo if a big party is really what they want.  You might be able to take one friend to the Children’s Museum or even King’s Island with what you’d spend on a party.  What are your true options?  

• Budgeting Fun.  Last summer for her 9th birthday, the Eldest Princess managed her own birthday budget.  She kept track of the cash and planned the menu, decorations, and even cake from the cash budget that we gave to her to manage.  It was a fabulous learning experience and helped her sort through what was really important and what she could chuck.

• Think Outside of the Cake.  Parties don’t require the Cake Boss.  Seriously, while they’re cool, they’re designed to be EATEN.  And as long as it doesn’t end up on Cake Wrecks, your kid is going to love it.  Birthday milkshakes, a sundae bar, make-your-own strawberry shortcake, or even pancakes could possibly get the job done just as well {if not better}.  Once again, ask your kid.  Be prepared to do the crazy though as you never know what they might really want.

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