Home Birthday Parties

If we're not careful, birthday parties can cost a small fortune. Case in point: my youngest daughter's recent party at a party venue ran me $250 for the venue, $40 for the cake, $60 for the present, and $30 for the goodie bags. And it was a pretty simple party as far as parties go.

My oldest daughter is turning 12 and wants a simple sleepover party. You can imagine my inner joy when she said that. Home parties can cost so much less. Note, I say CAN, not DO, because it's easy to go overboard with a home party.

I thought I'd share with you my plans for our home birthday party.

Bayberry is having a slumber party. We took into consideration her age and interests in planning her party. We did not have the most frugal party possible. There are places we could have cut corners and costs. I'll talk about that later. We did manage to save a lot of money anyway!

Here's our plan and what it's costing us:

Entertainment

• Twilight series movies -- already owned Cost = $0
• facials and nail painting -- homemade facials and we already own the nail polish Cost = $0
• Disney Sing It --already owned Cost = $0

Food

• popcorn, oil, salt -- Cost = $3.00
• 2 bags of chips -- Cost = $3.00
• bag of m&m candies -- Cost = $1.50
• Ice cream cake -- Cost = $12.00

• Homemade cupcakes -- Cost = $4.00
• Hawaiian Punch, 2 bottles -- Cost = $4.00
• Tombstone Pizzas (3) -- Cost = $6.00

• Breakfast (Pancakes, Bacon, Sausage, Syrup, Orange Juice, Breakfast Casserole) -- Cost = $15.00

Goodie Bags

• heart-shaped white boxes (6) -- Cost = $6.00

• bath poufs (6) -- Cost = $1.16
• Shower Gel (6) -- Cost = $10.00
• Nail Polish (6) -- Cost = $6.00
• Lip Gloss (12) -- Cost = $2.40
• Rose Petal soaps (12) -- Cost = $1.33

Invitations

• 6 invitations -- Cost = $3.37

Presents

• wallet with cash inside -- Cost = $55.00
• zhu zhu pet with accessories -- Cost = $20.00 est.

TOTAL PARTY COST = $153.76

Previous Venue Party Cost = $380.00

Home Party Savings = $226.24 --In other words, my family's large cell phone bill for a month. WOW.

We could have saved more. Here's how:

1. Ditch the chips. They already have access to pretty much unlimited popcorn. Savings = $3.00
2. Make a cake. Skip Carvel and cupcakes. Savings = about $12.00
3. Go with store-brand soda/iced tea/KoolAid for drinks. Savings = $2.00
4. Make pizzas from scratch. Savings = about $3.00
5. Smaller breakfast. Ditch the bacon and casserole. Savings = about $6.00
6. Skip the goodie bags altogether. Savings = $26.89
7. Print our own invitations. Savings = $3.00
8. Less cash in the wallet. $50 is standard present cost for us, but we could have halved it to save. $25.00

Cost of this party with the reductions = $72.87

More ways to save on home parties:

• Use what you have for decorating. Chances are good that you already have streamers, balloons, and confetti hanging around from years prior. Mix and match for a new look.
• Negotiate prices. Or barter. Maybe Jo Jo the clown would be willing to take hedge trimming or gutter cleaning in exchange for an hour with the kids.
• Use your dishes rather than buying paper/plastic disposables.
• Shop sales for party food. Publix had my chips buy one, get one free last week.
• For entertainment, choose a movie you own, or set out a bunch of craft supplies you have on hand and let the kids create what they want to create.
• Another entertainment option that also cuts food costs: Have the kids prepare their own food. Whether they make individual pizzas, tacos, or cupcakes, making it at home costs less than buying premade. And letting the kids create their own provides food and entertainment. A double whammy.