Whether you are planning your own birthday or a birthday celebration for someone you know, working within a budget does not mean you have to sacrifice quality and fun. If you choose the right activities, foods and gifts to fit the resources you have, the birthday that you are planning can be just as special as a big-budget celebration. Does this Spark an idea?
Birthday Activities
A movie night consisting of the birthday person's favorite films or film genres is an inexpensive birthday idea that's fun. If you have DVR service, record movies off cable for a couple of weeks prior to the birthday. Otherwise, borrow movies from friends' collections. For popcorn, cut the price by buying popcorn in kernel form instead of buying the microwave bag version. If you want to avoid making it on the stove and don't have an air popper, pop the corn in a brown paper bag. (See Resources below for details.)
Invite friends and/or family over and play board or card games. Party games, such as Apples to Apples or Taboo, will keep things energetic and exciting.
Birthday Foods
Try a tea party. Regular grocery stores have many different types of bagged teas that are not expensive. For the tea party sandwiches, skip the gourmet cocktail breads and buy your luncheon meats on sale. You can freeze the meat so it stays good until you need it. Buy sliced bread and use cookie cutters to make tea sandwiches in interesting shapes.
Try a birthday potluck. Make sure to have everyone say what they plan to bring in advance, so that there is a full meal and no doubling.
Birthday Gifts
Search thrift stores for inexpensive vintage pieces, such as vases, old wooden picture frames, or collectibles.
If you have a skill, use it as a birthday present. Offer graphic design services, write the birthday person a story featuring him as the heroic main character, or bake her a magnificent cake. If you know fix computers, give him a coupon for a free computer repair.
Compile a cookbook tailored to the birthday person's cooking skill level and personal taste. Give your cookbook a humorous title such as "25 Microwave Recipes for the Person Who Burns Toast" or "30 Savory Recipes for the Onion-Hater". Put the recipes in an inexpensive binder with a cover sheet and the gift is complete.
Tags: birthday person