You might catch yourself admiring their lavish weddings and birthday blowouts, but have you seen the extravagant parties they stage for their children?
Beyoncé and Jay Z reportedly shelled out $200,000 for their eldest daughter Blue Ivy’s first birthday bash (that figure doesn’t even include the $80,000 diamond-studded Barbie).
When Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale’s eldest son, Kingston, turned four, the couple allegedly spent around $15,000 on the celebration.
David and Victoria Beckham recently marked their daughter Harper’s sixth with a tea party at Buckingham Palace. Yes — Buckingham Palace.
Wow!
And if you assume that splurging on elaborate kids’ parties is only a celebrity habit, think again. Everyday parents follow suit.
A recent piece from Moneyish notes that Tasha Holland spent $5,400 on her son’s first birthday, while Marni Konner booked a $900 pink limo bus for her daughter’s fifth birthday a decade ago.
But don’t feel pressured to match the Joneses — you won’t need to succumb to mom guilt if you don’t spend thousands on your child’s next birthday. You can host an affordable celebration without skimping on the fun factor.
Spare the Expense, Not the Creativity
Cutting costs doesn’t mean your child’s party has to be dull. Center the theme on activities your kid enjoys, and make use of items or gear you already own.
This article offers ideas for putting together a bicycle-themed party or a Nerf-gun gathering — plus four additional entertaining themes that can be done on a budget.
Don’t worry if your budget won’t cover hiring a Moana impersonator like Jessica Simpson did; you can still work your child’s favorite characters into the celebration by signing up for the Nick Jr. birthday club.
Membership lets you arrange a free birthday call from characters such as SpongeBob or Dora the Explorer — and you’ll also get complimentary birthday printables.
Find Multiple Ways to Stretch Your Budget
From invites to décor, from activities to refreshments, there’s a lot involved in party planning.
The good news? That gives you many opportunities to trim costs.
This piece shares practical tips to reduce spending, like holding the party between mealtimes and limiting the event to a couple of hours.
You can also keep expenses down by using a craft project as entertainment and repurposing paper plates into decorations.
Feed a Crowd Without Fueling Your Stress Levels
It’s undeniable that parties and food go hand in hand. And with every extra guest, the food bill climbs.
Still, you can keep tummies satisfied and sweet cravings met without booking out an entire floor at Dylan’s Candy Bar like Tracy Morgan did.
These inexpensive, simple dessert recipes call for three ingredients or fewer. Two-minute homemade chocolate mousse at $1.05 per serving? Absolutely!
You can also ask relatives and close friends to contribute by bringing dishes instead of gifts. Face it, your child likely already has more toys than necessary. Here are some pointers to make a potluck go smoothly.
Don’t Forget to Have Fun
Keep perspective: your child’s birthday isn’t about impressing other parents or copying a celebrity’s over-the-top fete — it’s about celebrating another year of their life.
An abundance of love and focused attention goes a long way, and that kind of gift is priceless!
Emily Harper is a staff writer at Savinly. Her daughter’s birthday is coming up, and she’s still deciding how to celebrate — on a budget, naturally.
