A baby’s first birthday is a major milestone that deserves celebration. However, parties can be expensive. With some planning and creativity, you can throw a fun first birthday bash without breaking the bank. Below are some tips for throwing the perfect party on a budget.
If you are hosting a party for a foster child, keep in mind that large celebrations with lots of presents may feel overwhelming for some children.
Choose a Theme
Selecting a theme helps tie all the decorations and activities together. Classic themes like animals, colours, or storybook characters are easy to do affordably. Or get creative and choose a theme based on your baby’s personality like “William’s Sports Party” or “Olivia’s Dance Party.” Avoid anything too complex or specific to find budget-friendly supplies. For foster children, avoid overly stimulating themes and keep the decor simple and minimalistic to create a comfortable environment.
Make Your Own Decorations
Homemade decorations personalise the party without inflating costs. Make easy paper garlands by stringing coloured tissue paper or crepe streamers. Print and cut out letter or number decorations using cardstock. Turn inexpensive frames into custom photo displays. Craft handmade signs for food, photos, or to identify activity areas. Display baby photos or artwork by the birthday boy or girl. Balloons, streamers, and tablecloths from the dollar store add festive touches on a budget.
Select a Simple Venue
Hosting the party at home eliminates venue rental fees. For more space, use an outdoor area or host the event at a park shelter. Local community centres, places of worship, or childcare facilities may offer affordable rental options. Wherever you hold the party, decorate the space with colourful budget-friendly accents.
Send Creative Invitations
Evites and online invitations are free. For physical invites, print your own onto cardstock or design a template that the children can colour and decorate. Showcase the birthday boy or girl with a photo card invitation. Set a festive tone without spending much on store-bought invitations. Include party details like “no gifts please” if you prefer.
Offer Child-Friendly Foods
Cater to kids’ tastes with bite-size snacks and finger foods they’ll enjoy. Cupcakes or a sheet cake keep costs down compared to a large sculpted cake. Fresh fruits like bananas or strawberries dipped in yogurt make easy treats. Serve popcorn, veggie trays, cheese cubes, or other simple bites. For beverages, mix up a fun “signature” punch or serve water and juice boxes. Buy party supplies like plates, cups, napkins, and utensils in bulk, or use colourful paper products. You may be able to use some of your foster carer pay for this.
Plan Fun Activities
At this age, kids enjoy simple games and entertainment. Fill a kiddie pool with plastic balls or blow up balloons for them to play with. Play age-appropriate music for dancing and movement. Set up a bubble machine outside along with sidewalk chalk. Craft personalised picture frames kids can decorate themselves. Just be sure activities match the abilities of the birthday child and guests.
Focus on Fun!
With close friends and loved ones, the birthday child is sure to have a blast. Remind yourself that 1-year-olds won’t remember party details. What matters most is soaking up time together. Follow this budget-savvy advice to enjoy the celebrations without overspending.
