Throwing a Low-Cost Birthday Party for Your Kid: 8 Tips

Being a low-income parent, I understand the need to find ways to parent on a shoestring. Birthdays can be hard, and for families with many children or just not much money, it can be hard. Your child wants to go ice skating, or to Chuck E Cheese, or the local swimming pool, or to any of your community's other favorite kid party places, but the cost of such an adventure can range from $100 to $500 or more. Despite your childrens assurances that they will be school outcasts or their lives will be ruined if they don't get to invite their entire class to Six Flags for a private birthday party, you can provide a fun, exciting party for your child without much cost!

Tip 1:
Make your home or the home of a consenting relative the "party house". It may be crowded if you have a small place, but it is cheaper than renting a space. A public park would work too, though you may end up with some uninvited guests or party crashers- or get wet if it decides to rain!

Tip 2:
Keep it manageable. Ten to twelve kids, including your child and siblings, is probably more than enough. Skip written invitations, just call or visit the parents of invited children to issue the invite and get an RSVP. You are more likely to have a more accurate head count this way, and you skip the cost of the invitations. If you must use invitations, have your child make them himself (he can be creative, and have fun!).

Tip 3:
Keep it short. A two-hour party provides plenty of fun and not so much that fighting/tears begin.

Tip 4:
Make a plan. Decide what you will serve, what games to play, backup games/activities in case some games end up shorter than planned or are a bust. If you start having some ideas a few months before, that is great as you can watch for supermarket sales to purchase some items in advance when on sale.