Kids Party On a Budget
Author: Joshua Paul
Date: 4/29/2008

Birthday's Come But Once a Year
I hate to burst your bubble, but your kid won't be super excited that you simply remembered his or her birthday. It takes a little more effort, and since you are reading this article, you probably are a little thin in the birthday funds. So you guessed it, it's time to get CREATIVE. When I say creative, I don't mean cheesy. Below are some great suggestions on how you can accomplish this.

Details Details
Getting the most out of your budget is a great goal. But instead of buying a bunch of decorations, games and supplies, you should first go through your own house and see what items you may already have.

For example, let's say your party is Jungle Theme. Go through your kids bedrooms and find anything related to the theme -- stuffed monkeys, snakes or jungle animals. These are perfect decorations. Use what you have. Just because you already have it does not mean it won't make a great decoration.

Once you have exhausted every decorating supply from your own house and yard, It's time to look at oriental trading and fill in the gaps. Don't go too crazy, but don't miss out on the $.95 cent streamers.

Entertain Me
When it comes to entertainment for the birthday party, keep things traditional. "Pin the Tail" games are always fun and safe, but the trick is to personalize it for the party. Once again, if the party is a Jungle theme, create a game like "Pin the Tail on the Monkey." It does not take much effort to print a picture of a monkey, and create/cut out simple tails. You can always get the birthday boy/girl to help you with this. You can repeat this "personalizing" idea with any traditional party game.

Getting back to the point that nothing is wrong with some good old traditional birthday entertainment. If your budget makes room for it, the absolute best way of making the dollar go far for a birthday party is investing in a birthday package. These usually include a fun food machine, a unique game and a some type of party jump.

It is important to remember that getting the cheapest rental equipment is not always the best deal. Renting equipment based on price alone could end up costing you more and adding a lot of stress to your party. Make sure the company cleans and sanitizes their equipment periodically, that they are dependable and have a strong reputation.

Stop Clowning Around
There is nothing wrong with a good old fashion balloon sculpting, face painting, juggling clown. But I am here to tell you there are other ways you can bring affordable entertainers to your party. If you are not feeling the clown vibe, try having a visiting entertainer come deliver some fabulous balloons and take some pictures. These types of entertainers are much more affordable, and can bring an equal amount of smiles to your party. Jolly Jumps can also match a balloon delivering entertainer to your theme.

Feed Me
When your party visitors are ready to eat they won't be thinking steak and lobster. Feeding a party crowd can be covered on a budget with Hot Dogs and 2 liter sodas. Don't go through the stress of seasoning and molding hamburgers from fresh ground beef. Use the frozen section to your advantage and save a little money.

Party Plan
Overall, give yourself a plan. Before you begin purchasing, renting, and organizing, make a plan of what you would like the party to be like. Once you have a plan, you can begin rearranging it to fit within your budget. Good luck!

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