Birthdays during lockdown are obviously far more simple affairs since we are unable to get out and about.
However once lockdown lifts and more COVID vaccines are administered and life slowly starts to gain price again. Birthday will I have no doubt become bigger and more flamboyant than before. After this last year it’s easy to see how that can happen.
This does mean that we will be wasting time and money going over the top when there really is no need and it’s not ideal if you happen to be on a budget.
There are ways, however, of holding a birthday on a budget so you don’t have to break the bank.
Don’t Opt For A Theme
A theme may be tempting but this is where the costs can creep in. Whether you are having a birthday party or not, a theme for everything means the cost can rise.
Try to keep it simple in regards to the party and only stick to a theme if you are buying presents for a little one – they may love Paw Patrol, for instance. You don’t need the fancy cakes and the party wear.
This also means you don’t have to think too much about decorations. A few balloons should suffice!
Do Plenty Of Free Or Cheap Things
If it is a child’s birthday, play plenty of games to keep the kids entertained. Pin the tail is always popular and you could even do Pass The Parcel really cheaply with pocket money toys and musical statues.
For an adult’s birthday, a small gathering at home where everyone brings their own is a great way to keep prices down but still have an enjoyable time.
To celebrate in other ways, utilise any loyalty card rewards and annual passes to attractions you may have to also have a great day.
Haggle!
If you are hosting a birthday away from your home, don’t forget to haggle. Try and get the venue price down. If you are opting to have the event catered rather than cooking yourself, try to get yourself a discount there too. If you don’t ask, you don’t get!
Don’t Fall Into The Trap Of Buying Too Much
Many people are guilty of doing this. The odd extra present is no problem but when you are shelling out lots of extra money on items it can become super expensive.
Sometimes less is more. Buying just one gift that is super special can be better than getting lots of cheaper gifts. Personalised gifts go down well and I even shared a post on some festive personalised gifts but they could work for birthday personalised gifts also.
Plan in Advance
Although planning for anything right now can be costly in terms of having to cancel things. What about looking at the things each year you know we can certainly book or sort in advance? Look around early for the cake maker if you aren’t doing it yourself.
Also buy cards in bulk! Yes, thats right buy them in bulk. Every year between Christmas and New Year I take advantage of the sales and use a personalised card company. Normal prices on those sites cost around £3 ish for a personalised card. However, I buy all my cards for the whole year for everyones birthdays upfront and actually with this years cards bought from Moonpig once I bought over 50 they drastically reduced! … Although there are other discounts for 10 card or more, 20 cards or more and so on.
The year before I used Funky Pigeon and they offered a similar style of discount so do shop around.
Do It Yourself
Finally, do it yourself – that could include making the decorations, making a simple kids birthday cake, cooking the food. If you don’t want to spend out on any of these but still want them, the only option left is to do it yourself. A homemade birthday cake often goes down a treat especially as you know the recipient best!
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