Cheap Birthday Party Ideas for Those on a Budget

Having a birthday party on a budget isn’t always easy, but it’s possible! Finding low cost party ideas just takes a little time and effort. If you don’t have the time or even if you don’t want to put in the effort, then these tips are for you! Sacrifice on the wallet but not the fun!

Birthday celebrations can be expensive. But there are cheap and inexpensive ways to make an adults’ or kid’s birthday fun. These fun ideas are affordable and easy to set up for friends and family of any age.

I’m going to walk you through having a fun birthday party on the budget. From party ideas to activities, you will be able to put together an amazing party and all on a budget!

How to have a birthday party on a budget

Are you looking to celebrate a birthday but don’t want to spend a lot of money? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. According to a recent survey, the average person spends about $600 on their birthday celebrations. But there’s no need to break the bank just to have a good time.

Cheap birthday parties for those on a budget can still turn out great. You really just have to focus on the areas that you want to spend money on and the other areas you can do on a budget! For example, you may want to go all out on the cake, but save money on the gifts. With a little bit of creativity, you can still have a fantastic birthday party without blowing your budget.

Here are some tips for cheap birthday party ideas:

Set a budget and stick to it

This is probably the most important tip when it comes to having a child’s birthday party on a budget. Decide how much you’re willing or able to spend beforehand, and then make sure all of your decisions reflect that budget. Start with the item that is most important to you. One that you are not willing to spend less on. Start there and then start researching the rest of the party ideas.

Get creative with the guest list

Instead of inviting everyone you know, be selective about who you invite. You can still have a great time with fewer people in attendance. Plus, this will allow you to focus your spending on making sure those who do attend have an amazing time. The individuals that were not invited to this party can be guests for another occasion.

DIY as much as possible

Another great way to save money is by doing things yourself instead of hiring someone else to do them for you. For example, if you’re good at baking, why not make your own cake instead of buying one? Or if you’re crafty, you could make your own invitations or decorations instead of buying them from a store. Pinterest and bloggers provide a lot of ideas for DIY party favors, printable banners, and even low-cost themed birthday party ideas.

Think outside the box when it comes to activities

Just because there’s no money for entertainment doesn’t mean your guests will be bored. There are plenty of fun games and activities that don’t cost anything to play. For example, charades, scavenger hunts, karaoke and printable themed party games are all great options that are sure to keep your guests happy and entertained.

Save on the Venue

In addition to thinking outside the box for birthday party activities, also think outside the box for the party room. Public, national, and local parks are often affordable places. Think of all the places friends have had parties. Now cross those ideas off. Why, because they are popular and popular means there is an up charge in cost – supply vs demand.  This past year, we found a small fish tank aquarium. It had an outdoor place for the kids to play and it might have been the best, most affordable party we ever had. Parents raved about the venue and no one had every been there before. By finding something that was not “common” we saved a lot. If the venue place is still too much, have a party at your home or in your backyard.

Having a birthday party on a budget is totally possible, you just need to get creative! By following these low-cost party tips, you can throw an amazing bash without breaking the bank in the process!

What activities do children like to do on their birthdays?

Still looking for inexpensive birthday party ideas? Birthdays are a special time for kids. It’s a day when they get to feel extra special and loved. Having a few family-only birthday traditions are a great way to recognize the guest of honor. If you’re looking for some fun ideas to make your child’s birthday even more special, look no further!

Here are some great low cost party ideas for celebrating birthdays with kids. Create these fun birthday ideas with a party of two to a party of 30!

Have a picnic lunch

Get some yummy food and drinks and have a picnic lunch outside! This is a great way to enjoy the nice weather and have some quality time with your child. Find a unique place to eat like on top of a big rock in the middle of a creek or downtown in the city with tall buildings.

Make a cake

Let your child help you make their birthday cake! Make your own DIY cake mix or pick up a boxed mix. They’ll love being able to help out and will be so excited to eat their creation. You can even let them make their own miniature cake (or cupcake) and have a larger cake for the family to share. This can be done with themed party food or party snacks too.

Go on a nature walk

Explore the great outdoors with your child on their birthday! This is a great way to get some exercise and fresh air while spending time together. Try this outdoor treasure hunt for locating special gifts.

Visit a farm

Many farms offer tours or activities specifically for kids. This can be a fun and educational way to spend a child’s birthday!

Go to the zoo

The zoo is always a hit with kids! They’ll love seeing all the different animals and learning about them. Plus it gets out plenty of walking to build an appetite for a special birthday dinner.

Play games

Games are always fun, no matter what age you are! bust out some of your favorites or try something new together. These can be incorporated in a family game night.

Have a dance party

Put on some music and dance the day away. This is a great way to get energy out and have some silly fun together.

Plant a garden

Get your hands dirty and plant a garden together. This is a great activity for kids who love being outside. Plus, you’ll end up with some fresh produce too!

Make crafts

Craft time is always fun, especially when you get to make something cool with your own two hands! There are tons of easy craft projects that kids will love. Hit the dollar section at Target, Michael’s or even the Dollar Tree for a few low-cost party craft ideas.

Go out for ice cream

A classic birthday treat! Kids will love being able to pick out their favorite flavor and topping combination. Plus, it’s a great way to cool down on a hot day. Make your very own ice cream party shop.

Kids Party Games

I mentioned earlier, saving money on the things you can. Decide what’s most important to you, then save on the rest. Having a birthday party allows your child to feel important. It puts them at the center of attention.  The goal is a fun birthday party that gives your child self affirmation and positive feelings of oneself.

Now that you have honored your child with the special occasion, honor your guests with fun. One of the most expensive items for birthday parties, is the entertainment. Entertainment is a form of activity that holds the attention and interest of an audience or gives pleasure and delight. We have many low cost party ideas for entertainment but one of the best ways to offer affordable entertainment is through Kids’ birthday party games. Our low-cost printable games offer a list of party game instructions and a supply list so you are organized with the party entertainment.

While many of these party ideas are gender neutral party games, take a look at these activities for themed birthday parties for boys and girls. Don’t worry, these are not your common games – skip in the tail on the donkey, toss out musical chairs and simon says, these games are original, funny, and fit the party theme!

This low cost party entertainment is certain to please your boy and girl of any age.

Party Games for Girls

Let’s talk about themed birthday parties for girls. These fun party games are excellent for your sweet girl.

Unicorn Egg Race

How to Play: Give each player five plastic egg halves. Set up cones “horns” far away from the starting point. On the start of go, the kids will put on one half of an egg on their head, run around the horn and come back to the starting point where they add another egg half on top of the other and go around the horn again. Continue until they have gone around the horn with all the eggs. The one who finishes first is the winner. If at any point the egg half drop, the player must start back at the start round with the same number of eggs they had.

Supplies: Plastic eggs.

See More Unicorn Games: See more in our Unicorn Party Games List.

Spend the Bottle of Nail Polish

How to Play: Have several different colors of fingernail polish available. The girls sit in a circle and one chooses a polish bottle and spins it. Whoever the polish top points to must paint one of their fingernails that color. They also get to choose and spin the next polish bottle. Continue playing until every girl has the crazy nails.

Supplies: Nail polish, poster board, markers.

More Sleepover Games:  See more in our Spend the Night Party Games.

Seaweed Tangle

How to Play: This game is all about making a fun mess of “seaweed” all over the yard. Give each mermaid a roll of crepe paper streamers (one color per mermaid would be fun.) Set up a few checkpoints through which they must run on their way to the finish line. Each mermaid starts at a different checkpoint. While the mermaids are running are running, they must unravel their streamer behind them. Set up the checkpoints in a zig-zag pattern so they will have a fun tangle of seaweed to “swim” through while playing the game.

Supplies: Crepe paper streamers.

See More Mermaid Games: See more activities in our Mermaid Party Games.

Not a Baby Anymore

How to Play: From a baby bottle to the car keys… where did your baby go? This party game is silly fun. Fill baby bottles with soda, punch, or whatever drink you are serving. Set them up and at the start of go everyone must suck the baby bottle empty. The first player done gets the keys to the car (but not really!) You can also incorporate a baby food guessing game. Grab different flavors, a blindfold players and see who can guess the most correctly.

Supplies: Baby bottles, drinks, blindfold, baby food.

More Sweet 16 Party Activities: See more in the Sweet 16 Party Games.

Donuts on a String

How to Play: Tie the string on the donuts (one for each guest) and hang them from a clothes line, curtain rod or anything that is available. Each player stands beneath a single donut. On the mark of ‘go’ the players begin to eat their donuts using only their mouth. The first player to finish their doughnut wins.

Supplies: Donuts, string.

More Sweet Games: See More in our Kids’ Party Games or Ice Cream Party Activities.

These are just a few cute party games for girls. Of course, these gender neutral birthday party games are not limited to boys only. You can see more in our themed party game printables.

Party Games for Boys

Boys just want to have fun too! When looking for themed birthday parties for boys, these fun party games are excellent for your son. They are just an example of what you can get with a themed party game digital download.

Spidey-Sense Obstacle Course

How to Play: Superhero fans and marvel spider man lovers will love this party game obstacle course. Create an easy spiderman course as players will do it blindfolded using only the voice of a teammate to guide them. Blindfold the first player. Using a teammate, they will go through the course trying to located toy spiders. The partner who is not blindfolded will use their voice to direct them. Players must retrieve all the spiders without knocking anything down. Time each round. Player with the fastest time, wins.

Supplies: Stop watch, obstacle items, plastic spiders, tape, etc.

More Superhero Games: Found in the Superhero Party games.

Catch a Tiger Tail

How to Play: The tiger tries to catch their own tail in this fast paced game of tag. To make the tiger the kids line up and hold hands during the game. The head tries to tag it’s tail (the last person in line) by running and trying to touch them. The kids cannot let go of their hands in the line while being chased by the tiger head. When the tail is caught the head moves into the tails position & the next child becomes the new tiger head.

Supplies: None

More Safari Games: Found in the Animal Party Games.

Mini Figure Knockdown

How to Play: Have competing teams of toy players. Use a water gun or Nerf gun and line bricks mini-figures. One by one use your toy gun to knock them down. Player that gets all their mini- figures down first, wins.

Supplies: Water guns, Nerf gun, Nerf bullets, LEGO mini men/women.

More LEGO Games: Found in the LEGO Building Bricks Party Games.

Astronaut Game Challenge

How to Play: Put candies or small prizes into a shoe box. Tape the edges shut. Wrap the box in many, many layers of wrapping paper, aluminum foil or newspaper. (Silver would be great!). Gather “astronaut gear” including some sort of hat, gloves, goggles and something to hold in each hand like a spatula or wooden spoon. One player has a pair of dice. When the timer starts, the player to the left of the child with the dice has to put on all of the astronaut gear and try to unwrap the astronaut box using only the tools. The other child is rolling the dice trying to get doubles. As soon as they roll doubles, they get to have a turn. The first player takes off all of the gear and the second player puts it on. The player to the right will then roll the dice and try and get a turn.

Supplies: Candy, box, tape, aluminum foil, wrapping paper, newspaper, astronaut costume props, oven mits, spatula, wooden spoon, dice, timer.

More Space Party Games: Found in the Space Party Activities Ideas.

Demolition

How to Play: Attach a long piece of string to a tennis ball, and then hang it from a tree. Then, stack up empty cereal boxes into a tower. Let the kids take turns swinging the ball towards the tower to try to knock it down. Give children a certain number of swings. See who can knock the most boxes down.

Supplies: Boxes, string, balls, pole or tree.

More Construction Games: Found in Construction Party Games.

These are just a few examples of party games for boys. Of course, these gender neutral party games are not limited to boys only.

See kids’ party games for themed birthday parties for boys and girls. We promise you will love them!

More Cheap Party Ideas

In addition to birthday parties, there are plenty of ways to create a cheap party for all occasions and all environments. When it comes to cost and savings, the #1 one place to save on your party needs is entertainment. You don’t have to spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars to keep people laughing and having fun. Bring entertainment with low-cost party games.

Let’s start with Adult Games. The kind you can play at a party. Big parties call for big fun. And games are an easy, low-cost way to entertain guests. Adults love party games too! Here are over 100+ printable adult party games you can download, print, and play with your friends and family.  Pin to Pinterest.

In addition to an annual birthday celebration, Holiday Games can also be used a low-budget party for Christmas, Halloween, Thanksgiving, New Years, and more. Pin to Pinterest.

Are you in need of low budget office party ideas? Group Games are not only excellent for an office party, they can be used in youth group, the classroom and more.  These are excellent ice breaks and can be done quickly (for example an awesome selection of minute to win it games) for a holiday party, indoor or outdoor. Use for players of all ages – kids to adults. Pin to Pinterest.

Every other year we have a kid’s birthday party with friends. For the years in between we focus on a family experience. This can be an at home birthday party or a small family trip or staycation. Take a look at these affordable and fun Family Birthday Traditions and save a little bit of money every other year. Pin to Pinterest.

Hosting a party? We have many more birthday party theme ideas for girls and boys. Save many of these kids party ideas for future years or for other children and pets too! Pin to Pinterest.

• Super Hero Party Ideas
• Pirate Party Ideas
• Jungle (Safari) Party Ideas
• Spa Party Ideas
• Minnie Mouse Birthday Party Ideas
• Winter One-derland Party Ideas
• Cat Party Ideas
• Tea Party Ideas
• Spa Party Ideas
• Blippi Birthday Party Ideas
• Baby Shark Party Ideas
• Fortnite Birthday Party Ideas
• Spy Party Ideas
• Disney Princess Party Ideas
• Thomas the Train Party Ideas
• Troll Party Ideas
• Blue Clues Birthday Ideas
• LEGO Birthday Party Ideas
• Camping Party Games
• Mad Scientist Party Ideas
• Star Wars Party Ideas
• Camouflage Camo Birthday Ideas
• Toy Story Party Ideas
• Space Party Ideas
• Glow-in-the-Dark Party Ideas
• Pokemon Birthday Ideas
• Harry Potter Birthday Ideas
• Paw Patrol Party Ideas
• Rockin Geology Rock Party Ideas
• Sleepover Party Ideas
• Art Birthday Party Ideas

Our Pinterest community and I would love to see how this worked out for you. Share your cheap party ideas.  Leave a comment here or on Pinterest!

WHAT’S TRENDING? Looking for a few engaging activities? Grab Minute to Win it Games – Traditional, Holiday, Group, and more! Use these fun activities in the office, classroom, or at your next birthday party.

Last Updated on November 15, 2022 by Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living