Of course you want to plan a shindig your birthday boy or girl will love (and, who are we kidding, that all the parents will ooh and ahh over, too), but it’s alarmingly easy for a simple get-together to veer into Outrageous Kid Parties territory. Here’s how the experts suggest keeping your kid’s birthday party on budget -- without sacrificing any fun.
Save $25 (or More!) by Sending Invites and Thank You Notes Online
Sure, crafting the perfect paper invite and mailing it to your child’s 15 or 20 closest friends looks sweet, but buying all the paper and supplies and shelling out 45 cents per stamp can add up. So save easy cash by sending cute email invitations. Sites like Evite and pingg have fun, kid-friendly options. Another one we like: Punchbowl.com, which helps you plan all the party details, too.
Post-party, when it’s time to say thank you, it’s okay to send an email. (A generic thank-you blasted out on Facebook? Not so much.) Personalize your message by including a picture of your kid wearing or playing with the gift received. You’ll save -- again -- on the cost of the notes and postage, and your recipients will love seeing their gift being used.
