Frugal Kids Birthday Parties: Ways to Saveby Mary Ann Romans | More from this Blogger 03 Jun 2007 05:53 AM Kids Birthday parties can get pretty expensive these days. It is not surprising to hear that the average child's birthday party costs between $200 and $350! Many spend even more. But you really don't have to spend a lot to provide a fun and memorable party. Here are some great ways to save. The location of your party can really save money. Forgo the expensive pizza places, the bowling alleys, the game rooms and other commercial theme places. Most of these places never provide enough (if any) of the food, drinks, etc. The least expensive option, of course, is to have your party at home. If you just don't have the room and really want to have the party elsewhere, consider some money friendly alternatives, such as renting out a firehouse or community center. Food is another big expense for a birthday party. Don't be afraid to ask your guests, especially relatives to contribute some of the food. Or, if that is a bit tacky for you, consider having your party just after mealtimes, such as late afternoon. Then you can have a "cake only" party. An added bonus of a cake only party is that the kids will already be fed and ready to enjoy the party activities. It is always tough to get the kids to stop and eat the real food before the cake, when they are busy playing and having fun. Goodie bags and favors can get expensive, as parents seem to want to outdo each other with take home gifts. Why not combine a craft with a take-home gift? You'll have an activity for the kids at the party, and a ready made "goody." Other take home ideas include coloring books (you can get large ones two-for-a-dollar at the dollar stores) or play-doh (a large case can take care of everyone at the party quite inexpensively). How do you save on kids birthday parties? Mary Ann Romans also writes for the Computing Blog here at Families.com where she shares everything from the latest news on technology to cool downloads and fun websites. Related Articles: Frugal Kids Birthday Parties: Theme Products for Less Learn more about Mary Ann Romans  Mary Ann Romans is a freelance writer, wife and mother of three children. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, the kids and a 16-pound cat. Relevantfrugal tags User Comments PatV (57) 05 Jun 2007 09:59 AMGood ideas, all! Another option is to use a public park. Many park systems will let you reserve a particular area for parties or gatherings.  Mary Ann Romans (26876) 06 Jun 2007 02:51 AMPatV, that is a great idea. I never thought about reserving a public park! Do you know if there are generally any fees? MindyV1 (20) 28 Mar 2009 06:34 PMAdding a theme can help cut cost also. It can cut your guest list and the expense of decorations and goody bags if you get creative with the idea. I discovered a handy guide published in my area that may give you some great ideas on parties and just general ideas to what to do with your kids in a tough economy. http://volumeone.org/magazine/articles/467/Kids_Families.html Community Tags birthday parties, frugal, Kids, save Discuss this article
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