Frugal Moms

Birthdays at this age are the easiest to throw if you can handle the noise level.  The first rule is to have immediate and extended family, and after that up to 6 friends.  Second make sure that you are aware of every guest that is or is not coming.  For a cake I suggest using Jiffy brand cakes.  You can buy a box for about 60 cents each, but I would buy two.  For icing I would buy a small tub of my favorite brand, since icing makes at least half the flavor of any cake.  Total for cake including 2 eggs, 1/2 cup of oil, and water: $3.50 to $4.00

Pick up party hats, streamers, and ballons at the dollar store for decorations.  You might even pick up a pack of candles and some wrapping paper if your budget isn’t extra tight.  This will cover most of you decorating needs and a couple games, depending on the age group of course.  Total: $5.00

When guests arrive, be sure to use your nice dishes and silverware for the adults.  Make sure everyone is comfortable and has a refreshment such as tea, water, or if you happen to have it on hand juice.  Using your normal dishes will take extra work due to washing, but it will be cheaper than buying throw away utensils and plates.

Until the birthday cake is ready to be served keep the children busy with games.  For ages 4 to 6 take a piece of poster board and draw a clown or other silly character missing a nose.  How the game is played.  Take a child, blind fold him, spin him around, and tell him to tape the “nose” on the clown.  Total cost: $2.00

For ages 7 to 9 a ballon stomp game can be fun and wild.  *Hint* (put away the breakables) Take (1) 12 inch length of string and tie (1) to each child’s shoe.  Attach a ballon to the end.  Tell them the last one with a balloon on the string is the winner.  Hilarity and bumps ensue.  Cost: $1.00

For ages 6 to 9, a water balloon fight is always fun, provided kids aren’t in their best outfits at the party and it is summer.  This should be supervised.  The balloon fight goes like this, to ensure it is a “fair” fight.  The children are divided into even teams with even abilities.  Basically that means two teams of three with a spread out age range.  Each team is given a set amount of pre-filled water balloons and a “base” to hide behind.  On the mark, they lob balloons at each other until depleted of ammo, or the other team is beyond soaking wet.  In the end there probably won’t be a clear winner, if the teams were evenly set up.

After play time is over, serve the cake with much fan fare.  Make sure everyone sings happy birthday and the birthday child blows out all the candles.   Of course after the cake comes presents.  Now this is the BIGGEST part of being frugal.  While I understand the want to give a little extra at a birthday, a limit should be set WELL ahead of the birthday for how much a birthday present can cost.  In our family it is generally 20 dollars.  If the child has plenty of family or friends, gathering up one or two more presents from the lot, he or she should be fine.

Total:  about $30.00

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