Skip to main content

4 awesome kid’s birthday party ideas for parents on a budget

As a parent, you want to give your child the most fun birthday party imaginable. Birthday parties don’t have the same magical feeling when you’re an adult, so making the most out of your child’s birthday years is important.

Young kids sitting at an outdoor table for a party with balloons
Image Source/Getty Images

Just because you might be a parent on a budget, that doesn’t mean you can’t deliver a fun, magical party for your child. There are so many affordable birthday party ideas out there which will make your child’s special day memorable. Check out some  great ideas and tricks to make the party exciting while keeping costs low.

Recommended Videos

Utilize free venues

One of the most expensive parts of a kid’s birthday party is the venue. Whether it’s a painting class, pottery party, go-kart racing venue, or any other kind of party, things can get unnecessarily pricey fast. While those are still fun activities to do with your child, but maybe save them for when you only have to pay for one child as opposed to 20.

Luckily, there are so many free locations that you can deck out to create a fun party venue for your child.

Your very own home

two girls playing at a birthday party
samaraagenst feeria/Pexels

You may very well be standing in the best birthday party venue for your child. Home parties can be a lot of fun! Your home can be transformed into a jungle for a dinosaur-themed party or made into a cardboard castle to welcome your princess and prince guests. No matter what kind of party your child wants, you can make it happen in your very own home.

The local park

If your child’s birthday is during spring, summer, or fall, then the local park is a great party location. Winter birthdays in the park are also possible, complete with fun snowball fights or sledding races, but you will likely need to invite everyone back to your home to warm up after. Regardless, the park is a free, beautiful venue for your child’s birthday. You can bring fun decorations to brighten up benches and picnic tables, and grill up some delicious food to enjoy.

A campground bonanza

chocolate and vanilla cupcakes on a picnic table
Ibrahim Boran/Unsplash

Even though you probably don’t want to camp out with your child and 10 of their friends, the campground can still be a fun place to hold your child’s party during the day. You can set up tents, start up a fire, and enjoy s’mores for a day-long camping adventure. The kids can explore the woods or nearby lake to fish, play games, and more.

Party it up at the pool

Another great summer birthday option is your neighborhood pool. You pay your HOA fees, so you might as well get the most out of the local pool. You can bring yummy food and fun pool toys and let the kids do the rest. This type of party lets the pool do all the entertaining, so it is easy, fun, and super affordable.

Pick an affordable theme

Picking an affordable theme is a great way to ensure a cheap birthday party. If you have old decorations from previous parties, you can utilize them for your child’s birthday decor for a quick and easy design. If your child is very particular about having a certain theme, you can usually find affordable decorations at dollar stores or make them yourself. You can even incorporate your kid into the crafting fun and let them help out with their birthday design.

There are a lot of great materials that you already have lying around the house that can be transformed into great decorations. Cardboard boxes can be made into racecars, and sheets can be used to make a giant pillow fort for hanging out in. It is important to be creative and have fun when it comes to DIY-ing party decorations.

Make the invitations digital

Everything is online these days, so why not make your invitations digital, too. You can easily send out an email to all the other parents with a creatively-designed invitation attached. Or, you can utilize free online invitation websites to design cute, creative invitations that your guests will love. To keep it super simple, you could send out a quick text to all the parents for an easy, efficient method.

Channel your inner chef

grill with hot dogs and hamburgers
Pam Menegakis / Unsplash

Food can be expensive. Catering, ordering out, or dining in can be a big hit to your wallet no matter how many people you need to feed. So, when it comes to getting food for your child’s birthday, the best, most affordable option is to cook it yourself. It can be simple, like grilling up burgers, or you can make it more fun, like personal pizza making. No matter what kind of food your child wants, you will be able to provide a delicious, affordable meal. If you are super ambitious, you can even make your child’s birthday cake or cupcakes. There are so many great recipes and tutorials online, so it can be a fun activity to do with your child.

A party on a budget can be just as fun, beautiful, and meaningful as one that costs hundreds of dollars. By using some of these tips and tricks, you can make your child’s birthday special and exciting for much less money. Spending a lot of money on a birthday party doesn’t make it any more special than a party that costs less than $100. Birthday parties are all about friends, family, and making fun memories together.

Where to host your kid’s party: Tips for parents planning the perfect day
It's easy to plan a fun and affordable birthday party for your child
Birthday party balloons

Planning your child's birthday party is exciting but can also be stressful. Sometimes, finding your kid's party location can be affordable and fun, and there are venues that cater to kids. But trust us, it does not have to cost you a fortune! There are plenty of budget-friendly party places that you can find for your child's party. Keep reading to learn more on kid's party locations.
Consider their age

The biggest factor you want to consider is the age your child is turning. Are they young children? Chances are that if they are between the ages of 2 to 7, you can probably have their birthday party at a local park. Family and friends can gather around picnic tables, the kids will have an open area to play in, and it's a bonus if there is a playground at the park. The kids would love that! Most young children don't care where their party is being held -- they just want to have fun!
Number of guests

Read more
Best spring movies for kids to get ready for those longer days
Fun family movies to enjoy together during those April showers
Mom and kids enjoying a movie

Even if the groundhog predicted six more weeks of winter, when March roars in, you know that spring is just around the corner. Unfortunately, March weather doesn't always feel invitingly warm. It can actually be quite chilly and let's not talk about those crazy March snowstorms. So, if you're tired of fighting with the kiddos over wearing an actual coat, it might be time to thaw out with some kids' movies for spring.

Spring movies are perfect for those March days that are more lion like than lamb like, when the April showers start falling, and even when the May flowers are blooming. So, pop the popcorn, grab the snacks, and mark a spot on the couch to enjoy these family-friendly spring flicks that never disappoint.
Spring movies for kids

Read more
Best third birthday party ideas for an unforgettable celebration
Birthday party ideas to celebrate turning 3
Birthday cake with a number 3 candle on it

All birthdays are special when it comes to your kiddos, but 3 years old is a truly monumental birthday. You are ending the toddler phase with the third birthday, and that is certainly something to celebrate. Those terrible two are going bye-bye, and your toddler is about to become a preschooler. A 3-year-old birthday party is probably the first one your little guy or gal will be inviting some friends of their own.

Kiddos love birthday parties, especially when all the gifts have their names on them. Of course, you want to throw a party your child and his or her friends will totally enjoy without making you crazy. Don't start stressing already. There are lots of fun third birthday party ideas to make your little one's special day amazing while keeping your stress level to a minimum.
Third birthday party ideas: How to throw a stress-free and fun event

Read more