5 Ways to Save Money on Birthday Parties

Eeeek…it’s Friday! And not just any Friday…it’s ‘head to Texas and see some of my favorite people EVER’ Friday! This is my first girls weekend since Arden was born (what?!?)…so I apologize now if I post waaaaay too many pictures on Instagram this weekend. I’m just so happy–and it hasn’t even started yet!!!!

Before I go though, I wanted to share some tips that I put together for a fun little Better KC segment yesterday. The topic was saving money on children’s birthday parties and I had a blast sharing the things that I’ve learned over the past few years. So yeah, I know I said my first TV experience would probably be a one-time deal…but I’m actually starting to like it. 😉 The producers and the hosts are so incredibly nice and it’s just a really fun atmosphere. Plus it gets me out of the house and my mom uniform for a few hours. Win win!!

For those of you planning parties for your kiddos, I hope you’ll find these tips useful!

1. Plan ahead. Set your budget and develop a plan at least a month before the party. This will give you a chance to buy things that might be cheaper online…plus you’ll avoid the overspending that comes with shopping at the last minute.

2. Send invitations electronically. (Evite, Paperless Post, etc) This saves you on the cost of invitations AND postage. A single stamp doesn’t sound like a lot, but it can really add up if you have a large guest list!

 3. Throw the party in between meal times…at a free venue. Guests will be just as happy with snacks and slice of cake! If you decide to serve a meal, buy in bulk (Costco, Sam’s) and keep it simple. You may even consider a theme that has easy, low-cost food. For example, we served hotdogs and chips at Nash’s camping themed party…and the donuts for Arden’s 2nd birthday party only set us back about $35 total.  As far as location goes, if you want to save but don’t have the space to host at your house (or the desire to clean before and after…I totally get that!), check out nearby parks to see if they have free shelters available. This alone will save you hundreds!

4. Try your hand at DIY decor. Pinterest is a great resource for free printables (banners, cupcake toppers, invitations, thank you’s, etc)…but even pre-made decor can be found on Etsy for very reasonable prices. I’ve worked with Morgan at Pink Antlers for the last 3 parties we’ve had…and she always does a fantastic job! Another idea is to shop your own house for decor. I’ve found that nursery decor usually doubles as party decor. Borrow things from around your house and simply put them back when the party’s over! 

 5. Get creative with party favors. A favor could be a craft the kids make at the party, homemade cookies, or nothing at all. I promise you–no one will miss the junk!

Happy weekend to you!!!