How to Have a Great Birthday Party for Your Kids ? For Less ...

If I could have back even half of what I?ve spent on kids? birthday parties over the years, I could probably retire today. What brought this on is my youngest son just turned 22 and my husband and I gave him the world?s greatest present for $25 plus shipping.? Our son Rick plays guitar as a hobby and he is known as the family ?greenie? as he promotes having a small carbon footprint, recycling, using less, eating locally grown foods, etc.? So we got him a guitar pick punch, which he can use to recycle credit cards, hotel room keys, or just about anything to make guitar picks to use or give as gifts to his musician friends.? He immediately called when the package came (instead of his usual texting) since he wanted to know where the heck we found it and agreed it was the world?s greatest present (for him).

When he was a little kid it was different. Of course, we got him presents from the family but we also had to have a birthday party for him and his goofy friends ? we took him and his friends to the usual places ? the kid crawl place, Chuck E. Cheese, and amusement parks.? They weren?t all that interesting and they ended up costing me over $200 for the party.?My next door neighbors seem to always have a bounce house blowing up in their backyard, which gets used for an hour or so costing them $150 minimum to sit there. Looking back, I could have saved a lot of money if I knew what I know now ? how to have a fun party for less but also how to make parties more interesting.? Anyone can do a bounce house or take the kids to Chuck E. Cheese but not everyone can make tie-dyed t-shirts.

Here are some ideas to get you started having some really fun and interesting parties that don?t break the bank:

Have an age appropriate number of kids.? The rule of thumb is to have the number of guests equal to the age of the birthday boy or girl.? Have three kids for a three year old, four kids for a four year old and eight for an eight year old, etc. You can do a lot more with a few four year olds rather than ten of them running around.? With a smaller number, you can engage them more so they can have a true experience.

Think outside the box (or in this case the bounce house).

Go to a museum. If your kid likes dinosaurs, take him (or her) and friends to a natural history museum. I just visited one at the University of Utah ? it was amazing and had tons of hands-on exhibits for kids (and big kids like me). I got to actually get up close and personal with a 150 million year old turtle (well, the shell anyway). The kids were going nuts?in a good way.? Many museums have special events for birthday parties where kids can have some hands-on learning fun and admission isn?t expensive. You may be able to bring your own food in a picnic area on the grounds or nearby to have your candle blowing out ceremony.

Take a trip to the zoo. Sometimes you need at least twenty kids to reserve a space and if you follow the guideline, I doubt a twenty year old would want a zoo birthday party.? The regular admission is still a good option and you can do your own thing when you get there. Discount tickets are available and one of your parents might even be a zoo member and may be able to provide discounts.? Make your own fun by having a scavenger hunt for your party and bring in your own cake or better yet ? cupcakes. With a small group, you could spend less than $100 on the party and the kids will have a blast.

Have a craft party. I am so excited that my little granddaughter is old enough to play with sidewalk chalk but I can?t wait for craft days when she gets older. Make something!? Girls like to get creative and make things like friendship bracelets, necklaces, or any kind of art work.? Glue rhinestones on a visor!? You are a hit.? All kids love tie-dye t-shirts. There are a million craft ideas at stores like Michael?s or in the latest family magazine at the grocery store.? The supplies are not expensive and you can have the party at home. The guests go home with their creation and everyone has a great time.

Enlist your friends with a special skill. In my case, the kid?s godmother, Dianne, is an artist who also happens to teach art too.? You can see where I am going with this. We used to go to the zoo as a family and she?d bring sketchbooks for the kids to draw the animals. She gave them a wonderful lifelong gift of art but also art appreciation.? If I?d been smarter, I would have enlisted her for an art birthday party starting out with a lesson, then a field trip for drawing on the little sketch pads. She could give her creation to the birthday boy as a gift and the guests could take their creations home.? Cool party ? super cheap.

My husband was no help ? his tongue in cheek suggestion was to put them all on a bus with a one way ticket to Denver.? Hmmm. We live in Salt Lake City.? I am thinking for future parties that I?ll take the grandchildren OUT of the house and leave him home so he gets some peace and quiet. I won?t propose a fishing day for ten little boys but then again, if he has enough poles for them to share, it would be cheap and definitely educational.? All we?d need is a few worms and some sunscreen!

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