Throw a fun-tastic party without breaking the bank As food and petrol prices increase and belts are tightened, some parents might be dreading the next children’s birthday party and the pressure to make it the “best yet.” I have recently discovered a great new local website called Simple Savings, which has lots of advice on how to save money.
These are some of their tips, plus a few of my own, on how to have a great party for your child without blowing the budget:
Have a baking party where kids come and cook for fun, then get to eat it all. Kids love to create their own pizza and watch it cook, and it’s easy to set up. Use pita bread for the bases, and put out bowls of toppings such as chopped ham, grated cheese, tomato sauce, pineapple and salami. You can also get them to bake their own cupcake, using either home-made or store-bought cake mix, and then decorate it with lots of different coloured icing and lollies. Do get them to wash their hands – and don’t get the baking mixed up or there will be tears! Put their pizzas on baking paper with their names written on and for the cupcakes, you can put their names on the paper patty pans.
Have an art party, where kids make a piece of art to take home. Buy some cheap canvas blocks from The Warehouse or a stationary store, mix up some paints and let them rip. All you have to do is feed them as well and send them home with a souvenir of the party to hang on their wall.
Have a picnic at your local park, beach or school swimming pool, if you can get the key. You will need some adult help to keep an eye on them all, though. Lots of parks have barbecues available so you just need to take sausages, bread, tomato sauce and their togs, plus a ball to throw around and maybe some bats. Get there early to hang balloons from trees and lay out some picnic rugs to create a party atmosphere. Remember to clean up after!
Have a cream party. Kids are invited to wear old clothes or togs and bring a change for later. Stick the kids outside, hand out cans of whipped cream and leave them to it. Emerge some time later with the hose, towels and food.
Have a dirt party. Get a pile of clean dirt delivered or dig a big pile up from the garden. Get kids to come in old clothes and bring their favourite toy truck. Then hide small $2 Shop presents wrapped in foil in the mound and let them go. Later, get them to shift the dirt around with their trucks and provide some water for dams, etc. When they’re finished get out the hose, towels and food.
This takes a bit of work, but why not make a castle out of old refrigerator cartons (you can get them from appliance stores). Go to www.mrmcgroovys.com for plans and substitute the rivets they recommend with twist ties.
Contact your local community or youth centre and talk to them about holding the party there. oost have playgrounds and indoor recreation gear and will hire out the facilities quite cheaply. They may also have coaches or staff who can teach the children activities such as basketball.
Make your own piñata out of a paper bag with handles. Cover the bag with bright paper and decorations, tape the bottom and fill with some newspaper to make it stronger, then fill with lollies and confetti and hang on the clothesline.
Instead of buying expensive cartoon character-themed party plates, serviettes, cups and balloons – find stickers at the $2 Shop and simply stick them on your own plates and so on.
Make your own themed cake. Just cut out a character – whether it’s Barbie, Superman or Thomas the Tank Engine – get it laminated, then put the picture on a cake you have iced with some extra lollies for decoration.
Instead of giving each child a loot bag when they leave the party, give them a pencil case filled with pens, stationery goodies and any little novelties that strike your fancy from the $2 shop. They’re cheaper and healthier and kids love them.
Go to www.simplesavings.co.nz for more great budget tips.