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Cheap Kids Party Ideas: How to Bring Your Party Under Budget

Party planning can be a really exciting time for everybody involved, but if you allow plans to spiral out of control, it can also get very expensive. 

Whether you’re planning an elaborate birthday cake, fretting about pricey party bags, or trying to find the perfect party venue, costs tend to add up without you even noticing. Next thing you know, you can find yourself paying off the party well into the next cycle of party-planning.

But it doesn’t have to be this way. If you’re looking for cheap kids party ideas, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve helped parents to throw thousands of memorable parties over the years, and we’ve seen our fair share of savvy hosts that stretch every penny to its absolute limit – creating exceptionally fun parties without sacrificing on the experience for your guests.

Cheap kids party venues

Your venue can sometimes be one of the biggest expenses when party planning, especially if you leave it until late in the game to find one. But cheap kids party venues aren’t just a fairy tale told by stressed-out parents past their breaking point; they’re an achievable reality with a little bit of preparation and thought. 

If you’re looking to keep costs down, here are some venue considerations to keep in mind: 

  • Use the great outdoors: Many kids parties can be held outside, particularly during the warmer summer months. And for events like our Sports Day or Teddy Bear Picnic parties, being outside adds to the fun. See if you can find spaces like public parks or picnic areas that could be used for free. 
  • Keep things local: Purpose-built party venues might be an attractive option, but they often have a price tag to match. Instead, choose a local community hall or school gymnasium to host your event and keep costs down. Many of these facilities will offer discounted rates for locals, and their location means it’s convenient for you and your nearby guests to attend. 
  • Stay at home: Just because you’re hosting an exciting kids birthday party doesn’t mean you have to travel far. We’ve helped parents to throw lots of parties in their own homes or gardens, which have been just as enjoyable as those further afield. If you have the capacity to host, save on venue costs and keep things very local. 


Outdoor teddy bear party
Typical finger food at a kids party

Kids party food ideas on a budget

Once the venue is settled, party food is another key consideration when planning your event. Do you go all-out, or just put on a simple buffet? What kind of allergies or dietary preferences do you need to cater for? 

Like your party venue, the food you opt for can be as cheap or expensive as you’d like. If you’re looking for kids party food ideas on a budget, try some of the following crowd-pleasers: 


  • Stick to the staples: Kids party food doesn’t need to be complicated. Mini sandwiches, pizzas, sausage rolls, chicken bites, or simple salads have been feeding groups of party-going kids for decades. And the best part? Lots of these treats are cost-effective! You’ll commonly find party packs of things like cocktail sausages in supermarkets, and a couple of these can easily fill a spot on your food table. 
  • Homemade is king: Making food yourself can often be much cheaper than buying in, whether that’s small snacks or more elaborate dishes. Cooking a large batch of pasta or homemade pizzas and then allowing kids to serve up their own portions can keep costs low, and let your guests feel involved in the lunch portion of your day. This goes for both your main party food, as well as your birthday cake.
  • Timing is key: Think about when you’ll be throwing your kids party, as this can mean you can provide light snacks rather than a substantial lunch. If the festivities don’t kick off until the mid afternoon, then it’s safe to assume that many kids will arrive already having eaten in the morning. Make sure this is clear to any parents attending, though, so they don’t turn up with ravenous youngsters on the cusp of a tantrum!

Cheap kids party bags

Party bags are a fun addition to keep your party going after the guests leave, but they aren’t always affordable for parents. You can easily expect to spend around £5 per bag, and if you have upwards of 15 guests, the costs can quickly mount. 

But how do you achieve cheap kids party bags? This can depend on the theme of your party, but here are some general tips: 


  • Buy in bulk: If you look online, you’ll often find bulk suppliers who can send large numbers of toys or treats for a fraction of the cost (compared to buying in-person). This can make cheap kids party bags a more achievable reality, provided that you don’t go overboard when planning the actual contents of each bag. 
  • Personalise (and save!): Sometimes, a personal touch goes much further than something you paid extra for. You could ask the birthday child to write a note to each guest that will go in their bag, telling them a reason why they wanted to invite them to the party. Or maybe you could bake a sweet treat for the bags, saving on the cost of buying lots of sweets or chocolates. A little ingenuity can go a long way towards cutting costs. 
  • Skip them altogether: Nowadays, party bags aren’t an expectation among all parents. We all understand how the costs of a party can mount, and parents shouldn’t look down on you if you choose to forgo party bags altogether. If you want something for kids to take with them – but don’t want to shell out for lots of individual bags – our parties include the option of adding a prize for every child who attends.
Colourful party bags

Additional cheap kids birthday party ideas

So you’ve sorted an affordable venue, picked your low-cost party food, and you’re skipping party bags. How else can you make your event as cost-friendly as possible? 


  • Team up! If your child has a friend born around the same time as them, throw a joint party to effectively halve the costs! This naturally works best if you’re close with the other parents, as you can plan everything together and split the cost of things like the venue right down the middle. 
  • Focus on one element. Are the kids really going to remember the artisanal sausage rolls you got shipped in just for this one day? Put yourself in their shoes and focus your energy (and budget) on the things that really matter, like super fun party entertainment.
  • Reuse and upcycle. When planning things like your party plates or the decorations you’ll hang around the venue, take a breather before rushing out to buy everything. If you’re having a smaller event, it’s perfectly okay (and more environmentally-friendly!) to use plastic plates that you and your friends or family have acquired over the years. Similarly, somebody you know might have also thrown a spooky Halloween party or Christmas bash recently, and may have decorations gathering dust in their loft that they’re more than happy to donate to your event.


Keep costs low and entertainment high

Ready to throw an amazing kids party everyone will remember? All of our parties feature transparent pricing, so you’ll never be blindsided by unexpected costs you haven’t budgeted for. Check out our full offering, or get in touch with our friendly team to book today. 

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