Several months back SDBM asked other "bargain mamas" to share creative ways to celebrate their kids' birthdays without breaking the bank. Here are some of their great replies. Have some? Please share!

Garden Party Theme

We had a garden party theme for my daughter's 4th birthday at Quail Botanical Gardens [now San Diego Botanical Gardens], Seeds of Wonder Children's Garden. Purchased flower invitations from Target and bug stickers from Michael's. They provided craft of painting ceramics and big plastic bugs on the hill. We had pizza delivered from Manhattan Giant Pizza and cake from VG's. Each child received a bopper headband at the beginning of the party. Goodie bag was a bug jar filled with plastic ladybugs, glow worm candy and butterfly stickers.

~ Carina, Encinitas

"Back to the Basics" Yard Party

By incorporating these ideas I had a party with 40 people for under $200:

We utilized our neighborhood's common area (grassy area great for picnics) that residents can use as a FREE place for a party. To add color and fun we used tons of balloons, both for decoration and as water balloons for games! They are especially fun outside, do not cost much, and children love to toss them and pop them...making clean-up easy!

We got our friends involved! Many friends like to lend a helping hand. Instead of renting tables and chairs we borrowed them from our friends. We used our extra party supplies from past parties. I had so many different birthday decorations, plates, balloons etc. that I used them all to make one big multi-themed party. The kids loved it!

I remembered my coupons in planning. I used my $5 Party City coupon, and because I had signed up for the Toys "R" Us Birthday Club, I was able to use the coupon they had sent us as well.

We got back to the basics with sack races and water balloon toss contests. The little ones enjoyed balancing a ball on a spoon while walking around plastic cones.

~ Tina, Carlsbad

Party Birthday Backwards

We had a "backwards birthday party" for my son's upcoming 8th birthday. Because he has a December birthday, we decided to celebrate it in October and call it backwards. The invitation flyer said, "He is not turning eight! His birthday is not October 21, but...he would like you to join in on some backwards fun at his very first backwards birthday bash." We printed the words to "Happy Birthday" on the flyer backwards and asked the kids to practice singing it that way ("You to Birthday Happy..."). The kids were asked to dress backwards, and when they arrived they were given their goody bag (1 big box of Mike 'n Ikes) with their name written on it backwards. Now everyone at the party was to greet each other by their backwards name. Next, we opened presents, then sang the "Birthday Happy" song and ate cake, then pizza, then played backward games such as backward soccer, backwards obstacle course, etc. All the kids had a very fun time and thought it was so funny that all the events of the party were backwards (cake before pizza, etc.) and it wasn't even my son's real birthday! This party set me back only $75.00 for 16 people. I bought frozen pizza, made the cake from a box mix and had Albertson's write "Birthday Happy" on it FREE, decorated with regular balloons hung upside down from streamers, gave candy away for prizes, etc.

~ Theresa, Carlsbad

Creative on a Budget

Our family of seven just does not have the cash to spend even $100 on each kid's party; a gift and a small gathering is just fine. But we throw a festive party for each kid every year by getting super creative and keeping things simple. Here are some of the things we have done:

1. Kids get creative with premade jello squares and they create their own concoctions and also decorate their own cupcakes.

2. We have "old school" races and balloon toss games, bubble gum blowing contest and fun outdoor activities that the kids always love.

3. We buy the kids a new outfit for their birthdays (they likely need one anyway- hence a two-fer)and let THEM pick out one of their gifts, as to be sure they get what they want.

4. We do not worry about goodie bags, rather each kid goes home with a craft or decorated frame, shirt, etc.

5. The kids choose if they want fewer invitees and more food (meal, cake, etc.) OR if they want more invitees and no lunch is served. Keeps cost down!

Hope these ideas spark creativity in others who have large families.

~ Mary Ann, Santee

Inspired? Check out Birthdays Without Pressure!