Although you want to plan an extravagant birthday party for your child, your budget may dictate otherwise. You do not need to drain your bank account for your child to have a successful birthday party and have fun with his friends. Before planning a birthday party, set a dollar amount for your budget. As you think of ideas, estimate the cost so you can stay within your budget. You may need to choose less expensive options, but your child can still have a fun party to celebrate his special day without breaking the bank.

Before planning your child’s birthday party, think of your guest list and the child’s age. A bowling party is fun for children over six, but younger children will not has as much fun as this type of party. If you have a large family or your child wants to invite a lot of friends, you will need to think of an affordable party idea for a large number of people. If your guest list is small, however, you can choose a party idea that is more expensive per person and still remain within your budget.

1. Animals Birthday Party

Kids love animals, and since the theme is so broad, it will be easy to find decorations and activities for the party. Kids can make animal masks or hats as part of the party fun and these can be used as favors for the guests to take home. Getting a cake from a bakery is expensive, so you can make your own. One of the easiest cakes to make for an animal theme is a paw print. Simply make a double-layer round cake and frost it with a solid color. Set four cupcakes around the circle cake to make the paw print. This cute cake is great even for a beginning cake maker.

2. LEGO Birthday Party

Kids love LEGOs, so a LEGO party is a lot of fun. To make the cake, make a cake in a 9×13 pan. When cool, place the cake on a covered board or cookie sheet. Place six or eight large marshmallows on top of the cake to make a LEGO brick. Ice the cake with a solid color of your choice to make a block. For decorations, use solid primary colored plates, crepe paper, napkins and table clothes. Help your child create his name using LEGOs and LEGO minifigures for decoration. For fun at the party, have the children build with LEGOs. Older children will enjoy contests for the most creative creation.

3. Princess Birthday Party

Little girls love pretending to be a princess, so this party theme is a popular one. You can make it a general princess theme rather than using licensed princess decorations to stay within budget. Buy solid pink plates and decorations to set the mood. Buy or make crowns for the guests to decorate as part of the fun. Your guests can enjoy the royal treatment by getting manicures or a make over with help from adults. For an inexpensive cake, make a rectangular cake and use a store-bought crown for decoration. You can also print a solid crown image and cut it out to make a stencil to decorate the cake.

4. Sleepover Birthday Party

Sleepovers are inexpensive party ideas for older children. Often, the children will play with your existing toys and new gifts, so there isn’t a need to plan many games. Plan a movie and popcorn for the children to enjoy before bedtime. Just be sure to stock up on drinks and snack food that are easy for the kids to have. Plan a special breakfast of chocolate chip pancakes or doughnuts for the kids to enjoy the next day.

5. Playground Birthday Party

If your child has a summer birthday, having a party at the park is a lot of fun for younger children. Most parks let you use the pavilion for free or for a small fee. You will need to provide tablecloths and disposable plates, but decorations will be minimal. You will not need to plan a lot of games because the children will have fun playing on the park equipment. Cupcakes are a good choice because they are quicker for the children to eat and get back to playing.

James usually assists with the printer ink over at Cartridge Save but can also be found working with Brother toner. He also blogs and writes content.