Via Shutterstock
Reader Rachelle writes in with this urgent dilemma! I shared a few ideas of mine below, please add yours by leaving a comment. Let’s make sure her son has an awesome birthday party!
My son is going to be 12 in a few weeks and he really wants to have a birthday party. The places he suggested are out of our budget. For instance, the cheapest party at one of those trampoline places is $250. Add gift bags,bags, a cake,cake, etc. and you’re looking at close to $300. A rockstar birthday where you make your own music video is upwards of $500. For the cheapest package!
Having the party at our house is out of the question. Because his birthday falls in February, an outdoor party at a park is risky because of the weather.
My son is a very sweet boy who never asks for anything. So when he asked me for a party, I would like to find a way to do it. Previously, we have skipped the party and taken him to cheaper events. But this is not what he wants this year. Is there any way we can make this happen?
If anyone can figure out this dilemma, I know it would be you.
Thanks, Rachelle
I can sympathize as I’m throwing a birthday party for my toddler in less than two weeks. We made a lot of decisions to cut corners and focus on the the kids having fun, instead of trying to impress the parents! However, I’m certainly not an expert in this area. I’m sure many readers are more experienced with saving money on birthday parties!
Here are ideas to control the cost of your son’s birthday party.
1. Before you give up on bouncy houses, call similar birthday venues and get quotes, then negotiate with all of them. See who can offer you the best deal. What would bring down the cost of a party? A shorter time frame? If you brought the cake?
2. Tell the venues what your budget is. Ask if they have any slow days or times during which they can book you at your budget.
3. Find alternative birthday venues. Bowling, children’s museum, science museum, story hour, etc. There are many indoor options for birthday parties.
4. Can you reduce the cost of goodie bags by buying toys in bulk, reusing containers, or having the kids do a project at the party, which then becomes their take home toy? Or perhaps you can skip them altogether.
5. Reduce the guest list. Fewer kids = fewer costs.
Welcome to Bargain Babe! I’m Mara, and I’m so glad you’re here. I am an obsessive bargain hunter and penny pincher, and I am determined to live a full life without EVER paying full price.
Limo party.
Check with churches, community centers and recreation centers for lower cost rentals.
My middle schooler had a party at a pizza place. Served pizza and drinks. They hung out and played video/arcade games while adults watched games on the televisions.
Pay for admission to rock climbing, laser tag, paintball, bowling etc. instead of buying the birthday package. Bring own snacks or purchase snacks in the facility instead of serving a meal.
Borrow a friend or relative’s home. Barter with friend, neighbor or relative for use of their home for the party.
I held my daughter’s 7th grade (12 yr.) at our local hotel, it had a indoor pool, and adjoining room, so the 6 girls stayed up watching tv, . the hotel had free continental breakfast the next morning, as I asked the parents to pick up the girls by 10am. The room was $89 well worth the cost of swimming/eating. I bought pizzas and sodas for dinner and some candy/snacks. I think the whole thing was under $150 and minus mom’s sleep time. But the girls talked, swam/used jacuzzi til 10 pm and watched movies, at that time the hotel had cable. I thought it was better the maid clean up then me. and the girls remembered that party for a long time. I heard that others copied us. When she was in 9th grade we had another one at another hotel w/indoor pool. (You must realize in AR hotels have indoor pools, as other areas of country may not).
We did one at swim school where it is heated, a karate school which allowed tons of boy energy, paintball when he was 12 and I brought the food and we got discounts online ( groupon, living social and other sites offer deals half off), laser tag which I bought cheap at a school auction……boys do need energy activities vs friends with girls who did nails, facials and decorated cupcakes. Living in southern CA and an early June bday meant we could . Probably you need to limit the guest list to cut costs……..a matinee movie would cut costs and then pizza could be at home to cut costs…..we actually buy in bulk for half off movie passes. Costco has discounted passes. Kids love magic and check out some schools as people need to practice. Our community college has a teaching zoo which is fun to do. We have an awesome and free observatory– the show is $5 but the docents are great. Check what the local universities have available!
We have had scavenger hunts…..of course you need a couple of adult friends to supervise……
Check out places that might teach swim lessons indoors. We had my son’s party indoors at a lady’s house pool that teaches swim lessons indoors. She was there as the official life guard just in case, but she also kinda refereed if they got too wild. She was great though & I brought in drinks and cupcakes. They had a blast & got the pool for 2 hours to themselves (unlike a hotel pool). Also check into any bmx tracks or skateboard parks indoors. He is perfect age for that. You could do ice cream before or after some where else or even pizza. This age they want a party without too much of the parent there, so make it cool. Maybe even ask him what he’d like to do . Some kids are fine with creaing their own party & having something simple. Movie theatre is reallyl easy and affordable too. Good luck
Thanks everyone — I really like your ideas. I think the hotel party would work great for my daughter in a few years.
All this talk about parties on a budget got me thinking about parties my kids went to when they were younger. I think the best preschool party we ever went to was on the cheap. The boy was really into bugs (so was my daughter — she still is!) so the parents bought plastic bug toys and hid them in a small area of the park, gave each kid a small container (something cute from the dollar store) and had them collect “bugs.” They made a “pin the spot on the ladybug” game and hung it up, had a bug-themed pinata, and for dessert, had a huge planter pot (new, clean) filled with homemade “worms and dirt” (Oreo cookie crumbs mixed with chocolate pudding) served with a (new, clean) hoe or scooping tool (sorry I don’t know the correct term!). The party was adorable and was a big hit.