13th Birthday on a budget

[indecisiveninny]

DD turns 13 next weekend.

I always think of 13 of quite a big birthday and would like to celebrate as such. I do have form for going OTT but I’m really having to rein back this year due to budget.

Thankfully she has a lovely pile of presents so I’m not worried about that but we are just not sure what to do for the day.

She doesn’t want a party (we did offer) due to mixed friend groups and any awkwardness it would cause. She has mentioned about going to the beach (we are SW so lots of nice beaches) on the day before as both her sisters would be able to come too. And going to Nando’s but that’s it!

How can I make her birthday weekend special, what budget ideas can I come up with, how can I pad out trip to the beach and make it extra special.

What did everyone else do for their DD’s 13th?

Do you get time with her just one-to-one? That's what I would do. It's nice to have a family day out, but I find my dc appreciate when they get us to themselves. Mine would, for example, love a day out to do some shopping and then a nice dinner at a restaurant she chooses. And then maybe the next day getting to go do something sporty with dh - mountain biking or something. Or what about something with one special friend - so not a 'party' but a trip to the cinema and dinner with you for both of them.

Thanks for the ideas.

We do get a fair amount of one on one time, DH has also been away for quite a long time due to deployment and missed her last birthday so I think she’s appreciated us all being together.

Is there a boat trip or anything handy to your beach? A snazzy restaurant (yes, I know she said Nandos). A really good ice cream place?

Her favourite breakfast, decorations and her gifts to start the day off with.
A family party with extended family? They could meet you at nandos.

So we live quite far away from family due to my husbands job, she has ruled out friends so just the 5 of us to consider.

Some sort of new decoration like a balloon arch or door streamers for a novelty? Beach picnic or BBQ if the weather allows?

I think food and good music is always key. Good hotdogs, burgers, some sort of dessert, popcorn, nice juice, whoever they are into music wise. Can you arrange paddle boards or canoes? Or some other activity, like kites? Sand building competition?