I love a good birthday celebration. Whether it’s your birthday, my birthday, or even a stranger’s birthday, it’s fun to celebrate and bring joy into the lives of people on their special day. But birthdays – and birthday gifts in particular – can be expensive. Especially during seasons of life where your inner circle celebrates milestone birthdays or when you have young children and birthday parties are on your calendar every week, keeping up with that can be exhausting. Here are some budget birthday gift ideas to help you share joy without breaking the bank.
Have a Difficult Conversation
I know on the surface this seems like a big bummer of a tip to roll out, but hear me out. Sometimes, you simply can’t afford to celebrate in a way that requires spending. And so that may mean you need to talk to those people in your life who are special about your limited means. Over the years, we’ve done this when we realized we were basically pushing the same gift card around in a circle with our siblings and small group friends. Letting people off the hook can be a gift in and of itself. Sometimes they’re just as relieved as you are. But timing is everything. This difficult conversation needs to come at a time when no one has an upcoming birthday to avoid hurting feelings.
Spend Time Together Instead
It may be a little cheesy or cliche, but honestly we all remember moments more than things. And so whether you choose to go on a hike or play a game or prepare a favorite family recipe – you can spend time instead of money to show your love for the birthday girl or boy. Even better, go the extra mile and do something of service like an odd job of cleaning out a closet or raking leaves or anything else that might be helpful. These are worthy and wonderful gifts.
Keep a Birthday Box
Sometimes – especially when it comes to your kids’ friends – birthdays sneak up on you. For this reason, it’s a great idea to keep what we call the birthday box. It’s a box filled with items I find on clearance or at a great price and put back because we know we’ll need something in a pinch. Coffee mugs, craft sets, affordable jewelry, hats, and toys all are perfect fodder for your birthday box. You can even put new items you’ve received that you know you won’t use in the birthday box. Just be careful about regifting – you don’t want to give something back to a gift giver accidentally. For me, any time I receive a candle, it goes into the birthday box because we don’t use them because of allergies.
Buy Birthday Cards in Bulk
Cards can get pricey quickly! And again, sometimes you don’t realize you need one until the very last minute. I always keep boxed cards on hand. You can find them in the greeting card area of most big box retailers. Or you can order online on sites like Amazon or Dayspring. I also keep extra cards for life events like weddings, anniversaries, sympathy, and encouragement. My friend Tricia at Garret Handlettering runs a great Etsy shop with some of my favorite special cards to purchase, as well. Of course you can also always write a letter in lieu of a card, saving a few dollars while making a world of difference by communicating what only you can.
The $5 Gift Card
While we were paying off debt, our birthday budget was extremely limited. And so for most birthday parties our girls were invited to, they took a card (sometimes homemade) and a gift card. Any gift is a good gift, friends. And sometimes $5 can bring a moment of joy just when it’s necessary. Let’s destigmatize simple, small gifts. They’re still valuable. If you want, you can communicate with the family to ask about a favorite ice cream or coffee shop. Or you can keep it simple and get one where the buyer could find just about anything. Target is always a favorite here. And for the individual who has everything, consider making a $5 donation to an organization they love and support.
Celebrating birthdays doesn’t need to equate to going broke. You can spread joy and birthday cheer even on a tight budget. Thinking ahead and doing a little leg work can help you show your love without breaking the bank.
My book is now available: Slaying the Debt Dragon: How One Family Conquered Their Money Monster and Found an Inspired Happily Ever After. You can also check out The Debt Free Devotional
This post contains an affiliate link. That means when you get a great deal, learn about a way to save, or maybe even something for free, I may end up making a small commission. All prices are subject to change.
