How to Throw a Child's Birthday Party for Under $50

Throw a traditional child's birthday party on a budget of $50.

Throwing a child's birthday party for under $50 can be challenging in this day of over-the-top kiddie soirees. To be successful on your budget, just go back in time to the days when children's parties were not catered affairs and their party favors were handed out in paper bags. The 50's and 60's were all about living room birthday fun with Mom providing basic treats, decorations and entertainment. You can throw an updated version of this budget-friendly style birthday and your child will be as happy with the results as the kids from yesteryear.

Things You'll Need

• Balloons
• Crepe paper streamers
• Poster board
• Favor bags
• Party favors such as whistles, water pistols and lollipops
• Masking tape
• Cake mix
• Icing
• Birthday candles
• One gallon of ice cream
• Hot dogs
• Hot dog buns
• Potato chips
• Soda
• Plates
• Napkins

Instructions

Decorations and Favors

1. Put party favors in the treat bags.

2. Blow up balloons and tape them or tie them in clusters of four or five. Use masking tape to attach clusters of balloons throughout the rooms in your house where you'll hold the party such as your living and dining rooms.

3. Hang party streamers in the rooms where you'll hold the party. Hang them randomly or create a focal point. Tape one end of a streamer to a focal point on a wall such as where the birthday child will sit to open presents. Twist the streamer before taping the opposite end to the other wall. Tape all streamers to the focal point. Tape the streamer ends to random parts of the room.

4. Use a piece of poster board to make a sign that says "Happy Birthday" to your child in large, colorful letters. Hang the sign in the room where you will open presents or have cake.

Food

1. Bake and ice the birthday cake on the day of the party.

2. Prepare the ingredients for lunch on the day of the party so that you're ready to cook and serve the meal quickly. Keep dry ingredients, plates and napkins on the kitchen counter. Keep perishable ingredients in an easy-to-find spot in your refrigerator.

3. Put party favor bags near the door.

Party Schedule

1. Greet guests as they arrive and direct them to the party room.

2. Play traditional party games inside such as hot potato, pin the tail on the donkey, duck duck goose and musical chairs.

3. Cook hot dogs, place on plates, add potato chips to each plate and serve to the children.

4. Light the candles on the birthday cake. Bring out the cake and sing "Happy Birthday to You" to the birthday child and have him blow out the candles. Serve each child a piece of cake and a small scoop of ice cream.

5. Have the birthday child open presents. Thank the children for coming and hand out party favors as they leave your home.

References

• Zurchers Discount Party Supplies: How to Decorate With Streamers!
• So Raise Your Glasses: Children's party games and instructions to play them