Well I have been gone a few days, sorry I meant to blog sooner. So today is my sister Jackie’s birthday. She is living in California, and I am missing her very much today. She went through something very serious earlier in the year. I’ll spare the details, but what I will say is that she had to consult with birth defect attorneys. It was a terrible ordeal. The legal case was mostly handled by the attorneys, trying to make the situation the least stressful as possible for her. That was so understanding of them. They must deal with cases like these often, and still they don’t forget to be tactful. I would of course not mention that during her birthday, or in any situation where she did not bring it up herself first. So I sent her a birthday text early in the morning and I think mine may have been the first, yay! lol.
So today, we watched part of the Bruins hockey game, it was great, they went into overtime and then shoot outs. It was an awesome game. The Boston Red Sox play today as well, last I seen we are winning. Unfortunately it’s an away game so I can’t hear it on the radio, and I don’t have a TV in the room I am in. I would turn the TV on in the other room, so I can hear it, but I don’t know if that’s a good idea. Maybe I’ll just pop over there, turn it on and see what the score is every so often. Gooo Red Sox!
Want to throw your child an awesome celebration without breaking the bank? We’ve got you covered! Here are our best tips for sticking to a budget at your next kids’ birthday party.
Kids’ Birthday Party Logistics
Timing is everything. Plan your party bus from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., says Danielle Walker, author of Against All Grain: Celebrations. After lunch and before dinner is the best time to party, when guests don’t expect a full meal.
Where is everyone going to sit? You’re going to have a lot of kids running around, but they’ll sit down to eat at some point. Not to mention the adults. You probably don’t have enough chairs do you? Hire an event seating rental service, and have them take care of this for you. Now you’ll have enough chairs for everyone with plenty to spare!!
Share the party with a friend. If your kid’s birthday falls close to a buddy’s, consider a dual party. You and the other child’s parents will split the cost and responsibilities. Just make sure each kid gets her own cake and presents!
Opt out altogether for younger children. When kids are still little, consider skipping a traditional birthday party altogether, suggests Simple Matters author Erin Boyle. “My husband and I celebrated our daughter’s first birthday with a picnic.”
Price out kids’ birthday party venues. Not up for hosting at your casa? It may be more cost- and time-effective to let a venue do the work. Check out our top kids’ birthday party places here. Take a look at these awesome party stickers.
Supplies and Favors
Hunt for on-sale supplies all year. Start supply-hunting early; it’ll give you time to comparison shop. Plus, you’ll save yourself from running out at the last minute to buy overpriced things you’ve forgotten. “I’m on the lookout all year for party items that go on sale, usually in the dollar bin at Target, Dollar Tree, or the 99-cent store,” says Helen Holden, author of the blog Counting Candles.
Go digital for kids’ birthday party invitations. In a Parents survey of nearly 1,500 parents, 73 percent of you said you sent paper invitations for your kid’s last birthday party. Next time, send your guests a free electronic one; you’ll save what you’d normally spend on paper invites.
Avoid party-store traps. Don’t pay a markup for party-store items that you could find elsewhere for less. For example, chocolates may be sold five for $1 (20 cents each) at party shops, but a bag of minis from a big-box store can be half as much.
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