DD wants a birthday party. Budget ideas?

[AEP123]

DD is turning 5. We’ve always had birthday party’s at home with family.. but as it’s her first year at ‘big school’ she’s been begging for a real birthday party that she can invite her friends too.

Her birthday is soon after Christmas, I just can’t afford to hire out a place. I’ve tried explaining this to her and she’s gutted, doesn’t like having a Christmas birthday.

How can I make a party at home more fun on a budget? We usually hire a bouncy castle but we can’t even afford that this year 🥲

Any ideas on what we can do would be greatly appreciated!

What would you have said?

I wouldn't tell my child they should hate their birthday because it's so close to Christmas, to set them up for a lifetime of expecting their birthday to be a disappointment.
I do have a child who's birthday is 2 weeks after Christmas myself so I understand the struggle of an expensive December.

OP said this is what she told her child, I've not made that up. Read the OP. Saying that to your child isn't a great idea.

Do the family part at home and offer to do a friend party for her half birthday. It's more fun and you can save for it.

She hasn’t told her DD to hate her birthday she’s tried to be realistic with her DD about expectations. This woman sounds as if she’s on the breadline and doing her best and you’re really digging your heels in here. It’s pretty mean and like I said, shortsighted. You’ve said what you wouldn’t do, but I’m interested, what would you say?

I haven’t told DD we can’t afford a party because her birthday is right after Christmas. I explained that having a party costs lots of money that we don’t have at the moment and that Christmas time makes that even harder.

She already unimpressed with her birthday timing as she’s had friends in school that got to bring cake to celebrate their birthdays, but hers is bang in the middle of the Christmas holidays so she’ll never get to be in school for her birthday (which apparently is exciting 🤣)

Shes a NYE kid and I do feel for her, no one wants to celebrate on her birthday because everyone’s getting ready to go and celebrate the new year, then the day after everyone too hungover and tired to come round and see her.

I try to separate Christmas from her birthday; we have a no Christmas wrapping rule for her birthday presents (for everyone in the family not just us) and we take down the decorations on the 28th so we have a few days of normality at home.

We have discussed celebrating a half birthday instead, alongside mine in June. Having a proper party like a bbq and bouncy castle, then just having a small get together on her actual birthday. But was never sure how to work the present situation around it 😅

thanks for the suggestions any-who. I’m sure we’ll be ok. I was just having a wobble earlier while frantically looking up every place locally to see if any offer a cheaper birthday party alternative.

I think the princess tea party idea is great, do homemade pizza for the food - make (or buy packs of mini pizzas then some toppings, let them decorate their own mini pizza each (that takes a few minutes) then decorate cup cakes whilst they cook. Make a pan of proper cocoa and buy a canister of cream and mini marshmallows for drinks, also have old fashioned party games. Max guests depends on your house (but do put on the invite due to space no siblings and one parent only if staying)

A princess unicorn party sounds like it would work well. The games and craft ideas mentioned would work well plus have in mind sleeping princess or unicorn game - aim is to lie still without moving, if you move your out (gives everyone a break if it is getting too crazy)
Use things you already have where possible and if you feel you need paper plates and cups they can be a mix of cheaper white and themed.
At that age my children loved miniature food for their unicorns/dinasours and mermaid/pirate/pricess dolls as the party tea so tini tiny sandwiches mini biscuits, shot glasses for drinks etc

Agree

Do you struggle every year to give her a nice birthday

Halls vary but usually £15/20ph so need 3hrs for a 2hr party so 30mins before and after

Food can be cheap and easy and make sandwich boxes up with sarnies crisps choc bar packet of raisins

Pass the parcel

Balloons

Rich tea biscuits and ice them

Musical bumps

Etx

A bouncy castle /activity is good as entertaining 30 x 5yr is hard

Yes, we struggle all year round, but Christmas and birthdays are especially hard, regardless of the month, I have another child and we can’t afford a party for him either; Christmas just piles on making it impossible.

Yes just seen previous reply /crossed posts 🥲

For a future year it's worth checking out your local softplays as the one near me does cheaper party packages that are still open to the public so not exclusive hire of the venue but you still get your own private room for the food and drink. Could be worth considering.

Alternatively I once went to a great kids party which was held at a playground but that's obviously a huge gamble with the weather!

Could you do extra hours at work if struggling /pay check to paycheck

Or 2nd job

Few evenings in supermarket /macdonalds /bar /waitress etx

Unfortunately my job is a 9-5 opening hours so there no room for overtime. DH does do as much overtime as he can get. I can’t really get a second job because it either means working 7 days a week, or getting childcare for evening/night shifts as DH works late a lot. We’re doing as much as we can but by the time the mortgage, council tax, food, nursery is paid we are very breadline. I suppose most people are in the same position right now though and it’s not just us. We can only hope the economy gets better 😩

You could also buy some colourful wooden beads and elastic so they can make their own necklaces. A nice, calm activity!

another fab idea, she’s really into her jewellery recently and we’ve brought her a jewellery box for Christmas so this would go down perfectly!

Go with the princess party at home , they’ll love it .
Bracelet making is popular and you could do decorate a cupcake and then they get to take those home instead of having to worry about party bags

We have discussed celebrating a half birthday instead, alongside mine in June. Having a proper party like a bbq and bouncy castle, then just having a small get together on her actual birthday. But was never sure how to work the present situation around it

This is a great idea... I'd separate it like this:

Winter birthday = small family party and presents

Summer birthday = friends party and presents

We have a couple of local places that do this too. Non exclusive during normal opening but include a decorated table and party food I think both are around £10 per child but I appreciate even £40 might be difficult in your situation.

Winter babies do make cheap party ideas harder I think. My DD is having a party for the first time (3) in Feb and if she had been a summer baby I would have done a party in the park but obviously not really an option in Feb!

@Anotherworrier

Don’t feel guilty. PP is shortsighted and judgemental
The OP said she didn't have the money because it was soon after Christmas not that she would not have the money at any time. It's perfectly reasonable that many of us thought it was poor annual spending planning as she specifically said it was because it was so soon after Christmas

Then read the rest.

Except my comment is before any "rest" was written 🙄 and I still stand by it. Blaming Christmas is not valid in my house when you have Dec/Jan birthdays to consider. We treat them the same as June birthdays. But that's just my house.

Well good for you but that doesn’t help this mum. I also have a DS bday on Xmas day and summers bdays but I’m not here judging, how would that be helpful?

My daughter had her 7th at home just because she wanted to and it was lovely. It was isadora moon themed (book series she was obsessed with) so we decorated fairy shaped biscuits I baked (cost maybe £10 for everything but could have been cheaper if I'd been more careful) and made fairy wands out of sticks, beads and jewellery wire (another £10 but the bracelets sound great and probably cheaper). I had some other crafty bits out as her friends are all into that. Then party food with just sausage rolls and whatnot (maybe £15?) and put on music for some games. We sent everyone home with a book but really the wands and cookies would have been a perfect party bag. I was exhausted after but the girls had a great time and my daughter was thrilled (winter baby too!)