It’s easy to feel a little guilty if you’re worried about money when trying to figure out birthday plans for your child. After all, we all like to spoil our children, even just a little bit, giving them as much as we can, even if only during special occasions such as this.
That being said, there is some good news here. If your money is tight, your child won’t necessarily notice. They don’t ask for the receipts of your plans, they just know the fun you’ve had, and despite how expensive everything is these days, there are methods of having a fun day out and celebrating well.
Moreover, if splitting the cost with other relatives or friends who care is a possibility, you may be able to stretch the budget a little more than you assumed. Regardless, in the meantime you may find our advice helpful to create a wonderful day while keeping your costs low.
Enjoy A Pizza Party
Outside of those with allergy concerns (which can be addressed by different styles), it’s hard to find a child who doesn’t like pizza. You can centre a party around it, especially if you invite a few of your child’s closest friends and keep the rest easy-going. You could even go for half-and-half trays so everyone has something they like.
There’s also the option of making your own from scratch, which can be a bit messy, but that’s half the fun. Kids enjoy rolling out the dough, choosing their toppings, and waiting by the oven to see how it turns out. It also stretches out the afternoon nicely, giving it more of an occasion feel. If you’d rather not deal with flour in your curtains, ordering a couple of boxes from a local pizzeria is still a solid way to go, especially since a lot of places run deals on family-sized orders. Many welcome birthday parties and might even sing for you if you call head. However you do it, pizza tends to keep everyone happy and it doesn’t have to be overly expensive to be good.
Host A Movie Marathon At Home
We’re willing to bet you have a few movies lying around, or at least one subscription service, and they’re all pretty cheap considering. If you line up three or four of their favourite films, dim the lights, throw down some blankets and beanbags, and invite a couple of friends, that could be fun. You could even print out little “tickets” and make a sign for the living room door to help set the tone and make it fun.
Snacks don’t have to be complicated either but you can still have a nice amount of them.. It’s also one of those rare setups where kids tend to keep themselves entertained for hours, which is helpful if you’re managing the day on your own. If they prefer video games, bringing the console in and having a multiplayer series like Halo can be popular with little ones. Just add some decorations and let them stay up to sleepover if you want to make it seem more special.
Consider Camping Garden Sleepovers
If the weather holds, this one can be surprisingly exciting for children, especially if it’s their first time sleeping outdoors, and even if it’s only a few feet from their usual bed. You don’t need an expensive tent, but something that keeps the wind out and has enough room for sleeping bags and some pillows. You can watch over them of course, perhaps sleeping nearby or bringing your airbed downstairs so you’re only a moment away. Hanging up fairy lights or lanterns can give it a nice touch of magic too, and if you have a projector, the movie option could be there as well!
With this advice, no matter your budget, we hope you’ll have a great time.