In a large family, it seems like every time I turn around, it’s time for yet another birthday! While the abundance of birthdays, and birthday cake, can be a source of joy, it also presents unique challenges. In this blog post, I’ll provide practical tips on how to throw an affordable yet memorable birthday party for kids, using Mateo’s 5^th birthday party as an example.

 

Why having a lot of birthdays is fun:

The best part of having regular celebrations as a family is that it gives us multiple opportunities for our family members to come together, strengthen bonds, and create lasting memories. Each child gets their special day, allowing them to feel cherished and valued within the family unit and hosting parties allows all of the boys to learn how to interact with their peers, share, and engage in group activities.

 

Why having a lot of birthdays can be challenging:

This, like most things, comes down to time and money. As any parent knows, planning and executing multiple parties throughout the year can be time-consuming, especially for parents juggling work and a host of other family responsibilities. Plus, once you factor in the cost of gifts, decorations, and entertainment, the bill can add up quickly, especially in a large family.

 

Let’s maximize family time while minimizing time and cost challenges:

The best way to make the most of multiple birthdays every year is to make sure we focus the majority of our energy on the fun aspects, while saving ourselves from as many of the stressors as possible. Here are some of the practical tips I use to throw a reasonable yet outstanding birthday party.

• Plan in Advance: Planning early gives you more time to prepare which allows you to take advantage of sales, discounts, and thrift stores for decorations and party supplies. Or, if you’re a more creative mom (definitely not me), if gives you the time to create your own games or decorations to really go along with your party theme.

 

• Choose an Affordable Venue: Has anyone looked into the cost of facility rentals lately? We live in Central Florida, and just a year or two ago you could rent space at a local jump park for as little as $350 for 10 kids, 2 hours of jumping, a party room and everything you needed to have a hopping good time. All you needed to bring was the cake. But this year, as I planned Mateo’s party, I realized that prices had DOUBLED in our area and finding a venue un    der $500 was impossible! If you’d rather not have to deal with the stress of throwing a party at your home, look into community pools, local parks and other recreational areas that have pavilion rentals. You can usually find some really fun, affordable options.

 

• Keep the Food Simple: Catering and expensive custom cakes can add to your bill fast. But remember, the food is for the kids not the adults. Most kids I know would prefer pizza, chips and cupcakes over just about any other options, so why not deliver what they want? If you really want to lighten the cost, you could also opt for a pot luck, or consider throwing the party from 9am to noon or from 2-5, completing avoiding big meal times.

 

• Invest in the Theme: Instead of hiring expensive entertainers, plan themed activities or games that the kids can enjoy together. While any kid would happily sit through a magic show from Bipsy the Clown at your circus themed birthday party, they would also love playing home made bean bag toss, or donning silly red noses as they run around the playground. Think back to when you were a kid, what do they want to DO, not what do they want to SEE.

 

• Use Color and Design in Your Decorations: Having every decoration match the theme with prints and designs can get really expensive. So I always opt to get designs on the most prominent decorations, like the table clothes and helium balloons or hanging decorations, then mix it up with plates, cups and napkins in a solid, less expensive, option.

 

Here’s a real-life example:

Using these simple tips, I was able to throw Mateo a 3-hour birthday party for 20 kids for under $330.00! Here’s how:

Venue ($60): Rented a pavilion at a local park for a half a day and held the party from 3:00pm to 6:00pm

Theme ($54): Anyone who knows Mateo, knows he LOVES a good superhero party! He chose Flash this year so I invested in Flash designed table cloths, balloons, banners, favor bags and popcorn snack boxes and a special mask and cape for the birthday boy.

Remaining decorations ($15): To go along with the theme, I ordered plain red plates and napkins, and because of the food options we didn’t need silverware or cups!

Food ($150.50): We went super simple! We got 3 extra large pizzas, delivered directly to the park, I bought a giant bag of popcorn to fill the themed boxes, a giant box of individual packs of fruit snacks, 48 juice boxes, 24 seltzer waters and 24 water bottles (for the adults). Then, as part of the theme, I ordered Flash cupcake picks and just ordered 3 dozen standard cupcakes from Publix with white frosting and yellow and red sprinkles. We even ended up taking home a lot of leftovers!

Party Favors ($48): Instead of opting for a bag to give each kid on their way out, I designed a bag to be given on the way in! In each goodie bag was a plain red cape, a red eye mask, a Flash tattoo and a pack of fruit snacks. And it was perfect! All the kids ran around dressed up for the entire party.

 

 

Conclusion

Celebrating multiple birthdays in a big family is a beautiful tradition that fosters love, togetherness, and cherished memories. While it can come with challenges, it’s possible to throw thrifty yet memorable parties with a bit of creativity and planning. By focusing on meaningful experiences rather than lavish expenses, you can ensure that every child in your family feels special on their birthday without breaking the bank. So, put on those party hats and celebrate the unique individuals that make your big family so special!