The Birthday Party of the Century on a Budget

There can be high levels of anxiety and stress when you're planning the birthday party for a spouse, parent, friend or child. You want that day to be special and so everything from the music and birthday party invitations to the food and decorations must be perfect. Financial stress shouldn't tarnish the fun of planning, so here are some party tips for planning a birthday party on a budget.

For kids, parks and backyards make great (free) locations for the birthday party. Try evite.com or hand-write your invitations. Instead of spending money on themed plates and cups, buy a neat tablecloth for $3 and make your own banners. Use toys and ask friends to borrow leftover decorations. Design gift bags out of paper lunch bags, drawing characters and including each guest's name, filling them with bulk candy, stickers and prizes purchased from Oriental Trading Post or the dollar store.

Scavenger hunts are always a memorable experience as kids form teams scramble to follow clues, find items and eventually seek out their goodie bags. A good game of Scene It, Twister, pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey, water balloon toss, tug-o-war, musical chairs or hide-and-go-seek can go a long way at kids parties. Make a pinata and fill it with dollar store goodies. Serve hotdogs, pretzels and goldfish, macaroni salad and carrots. Serve pop or juice from bottles or make a koolaid punch. A fun food option is pizza, sundae and caramel apple making stations. Rather than going with a $200 bounce house, try buying a $20 slip n slide for a summer party or renting a karaoke machine for $50 - $70 in the winter.

McDonald's throw great kids parties. The package includes hosting for ten kids, complete with cake, sundaes, decorations, goodie bags and a gift for your child -- all for $70. At Chuck E. Cheese, you can host ten kids for $110 and they'll receive: two slices of pizza, unlimited pop, birthday cake, a performance and 20 game tokens. Your child will even receive a visit from Chuck E. Cheese, a balloon, a collector's cup, a crown and cotton candy, while the establishment takes care of cleaning and planning.

Eden Park Roller Rink in Pennsylvania offers invitations, admission, skate rental, pizza and pop for $6/kid. If you want to go with a bowling alley, be aware that it could cost $100-$200. However, some smaller places like Fort Leavenworth Bowling Center will give you an hour of bowling, pizza or a hotdog, chips, a drink and an hour in the party room for $7 or less per child.

For adults, family-style restaurants or Chinese buffets are a sensible option. If you'd like to be a little more creative, an intimate wine tasting party with 8 to 10 guests can be a nice treat. For $20 you can get a wine celebration kit with name badges, pens, wine comment cards, decorations, a celebration guide and wine bags. Each bottle of wine will cover ten samples and purchasing wine through a winery can get you each bottle for $8-10 each.

You should purchase at least two reds, two whites and a blush. You can serve cheese, crackers, grapes and bread dip. You should be able to do this event for $100 or so. Movie nights or game nights can be a lot of fun too. Another way to stick to a budget while planning the birthday party for someone you love, is to limit the guests to 7 or have someone else help split the cost.

If you're a parent, don't feel you have to do everything. Offer your child a big gift or a party and let them choose. If you find it hard to save money for the birthday party extravaganza, then set aside a change jar. You'll be surprised what a year's accumulation can yield!

"Free Secrets to Help You Throw the Best Party EVER!" Why settle for an average party when you can have a fantastic party? You need to read these must have tips if you are ever planning on having a party, celebration, or social gathering that you host. Using this guide you will be less stressed about the details and planning and more focused on having a good time with your guests. We will show you how to: Avoid trouble with the neighbors Make invitations Plan your party space Plan parking Plan food and drinks Best of all, this guide is our FREE gift to you.   Download our guide right now and start planning your next party that will have everyone talking.   Just enter your name and email to get the report instantly delivered! Name: E-Mail: SECURE & CONFIDENTIAL Your name and email address will not be sold, shared or disclosed to anyone. We promise to respect your privacy.

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