Organising a memorable birthday party for your child doesn’t have to cost a lot of money. It can help to make a budget and choose where to spend money. You can also give your child a few options to involve them in the process and make sure you’re doing something they enjoy.
Instead of focusing on creating the biggest or most impressive party, think about what your child truly values. This could be something as simple as spending time with family or friends in a new or familiar place.
If your child is old enough, ask them for their own ideas on what they’d like to do within a certain budget. Or suggest a list of ideas and get them to choose.
Local community centres or village halls can be cheaper options for birthday parties, if you need to hire a space. Some schools also rent out their hall during evenings and weekends, but this does often have a fee.
Free options include having a small party at your home or finding a local park, woods or community green space. Check with your local council if there are rules about noise or any charges in these spaces when you’re planning.
Consider a joint party with a friend or family member who has children of a similar age to split the costs and work together on finding a space.
Some parents organise parties so that they are outside of mealtimes. You can then offer snacks instead of providing a whole meal.
Only provide the amount of food and drink you need to by:
Remember the party is for the children and you don’t need to feed any adults who attend.
If you have time and ingredients, a homemade cake can be cheaper than buying one in a shop. Depending on the age of your child you might want to invite them to help you make the mixture. Or you can also ask a friend or relative to help with making a cake.
Think about whether you have friends, family or neighbours who might be able to help with organising entertainment for your child. It can help to talk through ideas and make use of others’ creative skills, if they’re happy to help.
For younger children, you could play party games like musical statues or hide and seek. Older children might enjoy a film night or sleepover.
Look for second-hand items to save money on decorations or find free options. Try places like Gumtree, Vinted or Trash Nothing. Make sure you check the details before buying anything to avoid online shopping scams.
If you like homemade decorations, ask your child to help you make some. Work together to create banners, bunting or signs. If you can, use items you already have around the house, or set a budget for how much you’ll spend on DIY items like glitter and glue.
If helpful, you can set expectations about what people will get at the party when you send an invite. For example, you could say ‘light snacks will be provided for children’ so people know they won’t get a full meal.
Some parents send children home with party bags at the end of a party, but don’t feel you have to do this. If you’re feeling pressure to throw a big party, it’s a good idea to focus on making your child’s day special in whatever way works best for your family.
If you’re feeling stressed about money, read about coping with money worries.
This advice was written by our experienced Parent Talk coaches. Parent Talk is a free online service for parents and carers, provided by the charity Action for Children. For more advice, message our parenting coaches with our online chat.
