Once upon a time the only requirements for a birthday party were jelly and ice-cream, and perhaps a 'lucky bag' to take home afterwards.

Nowadays children are upping the ante with demands for karaoke, professional entertainers, fireworks, and expensive days out at theme parks... with a select group of 35 of their closest friends. So how can you make birthdays fun without breaking the bank?

Keep it simple
'We don't do parties at home because everyone lingers after the party. AND I always end up spending more. If you have a fixed price at a play place you know exactly how much each child will cost and most include the food and party bags/present. I always seem to spend more when I do a party in a hall as well!! I suppose I just go over the top!!'
jimblies

'We've done lots of silly things like fancy dress, or making paper masks and letting them draw their own designs. It's more fun to have a video and make ice-cream cornets at home (with me dressed up as an usherette with a torch and a tray!!) than to make little ones sit still in the cinema.'
Allie

A different venue
'Two of my three sons have birthdays in September/October and it's always wet and muddy underfoot. I tried once to have a party at home and I couldn't keep them in the house, they were all out in the garden playing football and rolling around in the mud and then traipsing through the house with their muddy feet, that I vowed never again! So ever since then we've had their birthday parties at the local sports hall, where they can let off steam, run around, and somebody else clears up.'
jenniferd

'The best children's party my son has had were at McDonalds. He had two parties there (4th and 6th), costing £4.99 per child. You book a minimum of 10 children although, for one party only 8 children were there so they only charged for 8. You can order a cake for an additional amount or bring your own. Your £50 buys you two party entertainers who do everything (organise food, games, clean faces etc.), food and a present of your choosing for your child. The birthday child gets to take one friend with him/her on a 'mini-tour' of the counter area. I once tried to organise a party myself, it cost £80, didn't work very well and caused me a lot of stress. By comparison the 'mcparty' was amazing.'
monsty

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