ins (Tip: It is a good idea to super glue these shut). Buying a few Stomp Rockets would keep the kids entertained and active, too. ADDITIONAL MONEY-SAVING TIPS! Be tech savvy! Keep it simple when it comes to invitations. Websites like punchbowl.com are free and eco-friendly, too. Spending money on fancy invitations and stamps only takes away from the budget for fun activities. Be selective! The same budget can be spent more freely with fewer party guests; keeping the guest list low allows more dollars available per partyer. Be thrifty! Hitting up local thrift stores, Facebook Marketplace, or even garage and yard sales is a great way to stay fiscally responsible. From party decor, games, craft supplies, and the truly miscellaneous, it is amazing what treasures can be found with a little searching. Be a planner! Throwing a party during meal time means feeding an army (spaghetti, anyone?). However, planning the party
during a non-meal time can help lower the budget. Instead of a meal, a wide variety of snacks can be offered! Be a baker! Save the lavish cakes for weddings. Most kids want to devour their cake and get back to playing, anyway. If the budget allows, grocery stores have adorable themed and licensed character cakes. But if the budget is tight, rest assured that kids will enjoy eating “homemade” box cake cupcakes just as much as a fancy fondant cake—funfetti will always be a hit! Staying within a tight budget for a party doesn’t automatically mean cutting out fun. Take a cue from the kids and shift the focus to spending time with cherished friends and doing things together. Sometimes, simple truly is best! Happy partying, and most of all:
fairy wands can be designed with paint pens and cut-down dowel rods (most hardware stores will cut them for customers if they simply ask!). Another cute activity would be painting small terra cotta pots (less than a dollar apiece at Wal-Mart) and planting seeds, or craft paper flowers out of tissue paper for the pots! Serving up drinks in mix- and-match thrift store tea cups would be an adorable addition! Crafty and fabulous, the fairy party uses more creativity than cash! MAD SCIENTIST PARTY Get the party animals ready for some scientific inquiries—Amazon has kits complete with lab coats, goggles, magnifying glasses, and more (only $33 for four complete outfits). Beyond that expense, the common house already has many ingredients to create experiments! Crowd-pleasing chemistry experiments like elephant toothpaste, slime-making, and baking soda/vinegar volcanoes would make for some ooo’s and aaah’s! A great party favor for this theme is sensory jars; save jars and bottles so guests can whip up their own creations using baby oil, glitter, googly eyes, pom poms, food coloring, and other add-
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Love, Colorado Parent Magazine
JULY 2025 COLORADOPARENT.COM 17
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