5 Tricky tips to throw your kid a stylish birthday party on a budget. Amazing birthday party ideas for anyone on a budget. This post may include affiliate links of which I may receive a small commission if any purchases are made.
Planning a birthday party can be very stressful so I have come up with some birthday party ideas on how to have a stylish birthday party for your kid on a budget.
It will take some time, patience, and planning, but trust me you can definitely do it. These 5 tips will help you save money and give a fun birthday party everyone will enjoy.
1. Balloons
Balloons are very important when you have a themed birthday party for your kid, friend or family member.
So let me give you a simple yet cool way to have a stylish party on a small budget.
Take for example, if you want to have a Minnie Mouse themed birthday party. You can purchase 2-4 Minnie balloons for the theme. These balloons are expensive, so try to keep the number small.
The trick is to buy inexpensive balloons (with matching colors) from the dollar store or Walmart to pair with the expensive balloons. The cheap balloons can be pink, red, or white or a combination of all three colors to match the Minnie Mouse theme. (Or whatever theme you choose for your party)
Now that you have a few themed balloons and cheap color matching balloons you can decorate. Take one expensive Minnie themed balloon and pair it with about 6-8 matching cheap balloons to make a balloon bouquet. I like to place the expensive balloon just a tad bit higher than the cheaper balloon for a more stylish look. Continue to do this and spread each balloon bouquet around the party room.
Add the left over cheap balloons around to make the room look fuller. These extra balloons should be filled with air, not helium to save money. You can simply use balloon tape and tape them to “safe areas” around the party room.
2. Disposable Tableware
Disposable tableware includes cups, plates, cutlery, and napkins. They’re a cute and easy addition to the help with the party. You can use these as a quick and easy clean up when the party’s over. You can also use your disposable tableware as decor to match the party’s theme when placed at the main table with the cake and snacks. Place them on the main table to fill in any gaps.
The trick to saving money on tableware is similar to saving money with the balloons. Instead of buying expensive Minnie Mouse tableware, you can simply by the cheaper version for about $1 at Walmart and other dollar stores.
Keeping with the Minnie Mouse theme used in this article, you can buy red, white or pink tableware instead of purchasing the more expensive name brand version.
They look just as nice and match the theme perfectly. You get to save a few bucks, the party looks great and your kid is happy.
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3. The Cake
No one can deny the cake is the most important item during a birthday party. Especially when it will be the centerpiece for the day and the centerpiece for the main food table. So I have 3 tips to help you save money on the cake and it’s set up.
Tip #1. This tip saves the most money. Simply make the cake yourself. Yes, make the cake yourself.
Even if you’re not a baker or a cake maker, it’s totally doable. There are plenty of recipes to follow when it comes to making birthday cakes and I will share some recipes below. Just make the cake the color of your theme and add a cheap themed cake topper to tie in the theme. Easy peasy.
Tip #2. If you don’t want to or don’t have the time to make the cake then you can always turn to your local grocer to make your cake for about $20 and add a themed cake topper. To be honest though, the best way to get a nice themed cake while saving money is to order one from Walmart. Yes Walmart!
Walmart actually has a variety of specialty themed cakes ranging from Minnie Mouse to Spider Man and basically everything in between. I actually used this service last year for my daughter’s art themed birthday party. The cake was nice and neat and it was delicious. You have to order and customize the cake from their “custom cake” section.
To help fill the main table at the party you can also purchase cupcakes from any grocery store to set up next to the cake on both sides. The cupcakes help with the theme and if you set the cake and cupcakes up on cheap displays from Walmart or a dollar store, it makes the table pop even more.
When you set the cake and cupcakes up on a display it makes the main table instantly more stylish and gives the look that you’ve spent more money than you actually have.
Tip #3. If you don’t want to use Walmart and would like to have a themed cake from a professional bakery then I have a money saving tip for that also.
For instance, if you want a more stylish Minnie Mouse themed cake, then the trick is to order the main cake on a smaller scale. When the baker asks you how many people your are trying to feed, be sure to say 18-20 people. This will automatically make the cake less expensive while still keeping with the theme. Then add 2 smaller sized “plain” cakes to the cake order. This way you will have 3 cakes. A main themed cake that feeds 20 people and 2 smaller plain cakes to feed the rest of the party guests.
I used this simple trick a few years ago and got all 3 cakes for around $60, maybe even less. I used this bakery for more expensive cakes over the years, but that particular year I think I had about $300 max for the entire party and I made it work. I still don’t know how, but I did. Lol. (See below)
Again, we got 3 cakes, keeping with the “It” theme for around $60. Keep in mind, we spent much less money this particular year, but everything was still nice imho. You can absolutely have a nice themed birthday party on a budget.
Extra tip! If the big expensive themed cake is a must have then you can simply ask the bakery if it’s possible break up the balance. It won’t save money per se, but it will give you time to pay the balance. This way you won’t have to pay for the cake at one time. I have done this before with the cake below from the same bakery as the picture above. This birthday party ideas gives you a little wiggle room.
I think the cake was about $125-150. So I paid $50 upfront a $25 twice in between and I finished off the balance at pick up.
Don’t be embarrassed to ask. This was well before Covid and some policies have changed, but I’m sure you can find a bakery to work with you. You can call and ask over the phone if that helps.
The details of the cake can be worked out with one of the bakers from the back. Tell them what you’re looking for and how many people you want to feed with the main cake(18-20) and they will tell you what you can and can’t do with the requirements.
I have actually sat down at the table with one of the bakers and described what I wanted and they were always accommodating and helped me solidify my birthday party ideas. f you’re at a bakery that’s not helpful and patient, then you’re at the wrong bakery. Leave and go to another one.
4. Food And Cute Snacks
The trick to saving money on food and cute snacks is to make it yourself.
Don’t hire out or use a caterer. Keep the guest list small and plan like there’s no tomorrow. Of course, its more work, but it saves so much money.
Let me give you a little southern advice. Keep it simple.
Prepare simple food like:
- Hotdogs/hamburgers
- Party Wings(only 2-3 per guest)
- Ham and turkey finger sandwiches. Can also make sliders with Hawaiian rolls
- Pasta salad(easy and cheap)
- Deviled eggs(12 eggs makes 24 deviled eggs)
- Little weenies
Those are a few ideas for the “main food”. Again, I am from South Carolina so those are the basics when it comes to parties, but we also do macaroni, potato salad, and meatballs etc.
(Birthday party ideas for the food should be adjusted to accommodate anyone with allergies. Please keep this in mind when serving any food, especially to children.)
Now let’s talk about the snacks. The snacks are important because they help make the main table with the cake and decorations look cute and stylish.
You can also make these yourself. I know it’s tempting to order the snacks from others, but trust me you can create some fun snacks the kids will love all on your own.
Prepare simple snacks like:
- Cake pops-intimidating but simple to make
- Chocolate covered pretzels-also simple to make.
- Chocolate covered rice krispy bars
- Party snack mix
- Marshmallow fun pops
- S’mores popcorn
- Sugar cookies and vegan sugar cookies
- Sliced fruit
- Of course, ICE CREAM!
Just follow the highlighted recipes and you will be fine. You get to save money and still give your kid a fun party with fun and delicious food.
5. Decorations
Decorations add that little umph and pulls a themed birthday party together.
The best trick to save money on party decorations is to get free printables. You can do a simple google search to find the ones you like. Nothing is better than free!
If you don’t care for the free printable designs then you can go to Etsy and order printable birthday party decorations from there that match your theme for nearly next to nothing.
It’s an easy process. Search, purchase, download and send to a print shop. Arrange, follow instructions to cut out and decorate. Easy and stress free!
You can literally find almost any decorations you like on Etsy at a great price if you’re willing to take the extra step of printing, cutting out and stringing together.
Now if you don’t want to get free or Etsy printables then you can easily get inexpensive decorations from Walmart or dollar stores that match the color of your theme at a fraction of the price from the bigger party stores.
$1 streamers and a Happy Birthday banner will always do the trick. Don’t let the pressure of trying to have a perfect party push you to buy things you don’t need. Keep it simple and affordable. *Don’t forget the $1 lanterns, table cloths and candy bags.
In conclusion,
These are the 5 Tricky Tips To Throw Your Kid A Stylish Birthday Party On A Budget.
These birthday party ideas work very well if you take your time to plan. Speaking of planning, I have included a FREE birthday party planner to help keep your birthday party ideas in order.
Party planners come in handy when you’re planning a party. This 8.5×11 in planner has spaces for noted and to do lists or anything you would like to write down. It’s better than writing your ideas on the back of envelopes and the kid’s doctors appointment cards.
Well that’s it for this list. I hope that these birthday party ideas can help you. Please leave a comment if I need to add something to this list or if you just want me to write about something that interests you.
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