Tips needed for a cheap birthday party

[SuddenlyFrugal]

My DD is turning 4 next month and due to some unexpected bills, we won't be able to spend as much as I thought. She is really excited to have a party, and I don't think she has many expectations, just have her friends sing her happy birthday and cake! Ideally there will be 15-20 kids and I know we can hire some local halls pretty cheap, I just wondered if anyone had any cheap party ideas?

We recently went to a party that was held in the local park. Child's parents just provided finger food on a picnic bench and the children played and just helped themselves to food as they wanted. It went down extremely well and everyone commented on how nice it was and a change from the usual soft play etc.

Just invite two or three little friends to your house for tea, cake, balloons, and a couple of party games. She will still have a lovely birthday.

I’d say that was a big party!

I’d invite four friends to your house and do old fashioned party games. They love them! Have it for an hour and a half and do a birthday tea.

For games things like balloons stuffed with a sweet is a fun activity - you stretch the uninflated balloon over a wrapped sweet, inflate and tie when you're ready and then the DC run around trying to pop them and scavenge the sweets.

Likewise pass the parcel is good (or roughly one per 6 children). Colouring book in the middle, small wrapped sweet each layer.

We did a paperchase game by scattering folded bits of paper and the children had to find one with a certain thing on to exchange for a sweet (the actual sweet prize can be a single Haribo, it's the fun of everyone being a potential winner that's good).

Colour in print outs of favourite characters on a side table with a few coloured crayons tend to go down quite well for those children who want a calmer activity.

Icepops/ freeze pops always go down well. Pack of 20 is under £1 and it's good to cool the children down. If you keep them in newspaper in an ice box they'll stay frozen for hours. They're enjoyed all the more if very slightly melted.

Balloon on a ribbon and a paper bag with a small cake to take home at the end.

Just get some finger food (wotsits and party rings) , turn some music on and put a shed load of balloons on the floor. Job done.

Church hall, traditional party games like musical bumps, musical statues, pass the parcel etc. dancing and finger food. Have a great time.

The best parties we did when the children were young had old-fashioned party games. I always had a friend to help, and plenty of games planned.

And a proper party tea with everyone sitting down at the table.

Not expensive at all, just plenty of preparation ahead of time.

Church hall or scout hut is normally very reasonable to rent, and as other PPs have said, traditional party games. Don't forget to end with sleeping lions!!

Music, glow sticks, lights off and 20 kids running in circles, screaming their heads off. Easy!

Thanks everyone!