With three growing children, I usually have birthday party ideas on the brain. About 6 months before their big day, I am questioning my kids for birthday ideas. My son chose a baseball theme, and my oldest daughter picked Strawberry Shortcake. Though these themes may change (more than once), I have an idea of what they want, and they are working to choose a theme.
Why do I have them choose so far in advance? To help me save money, time & energy! With an early theme, I can:
- Research party games and gather materials. Using a search engine (like Google, Swag Bucks, etc.), I can find a wealth of birthday party ideas. As I have spare minutes, I can quickly research some ideas.
- Plan the cake. Since I bake and decorate the cakes, I need to be prepared with the cake pans, ingredients, directions, and estimated time frames.
- Select party favors. With advance notice, I can keep an eye out for great deals. For example, the $4 pack of 100 baseball cards found during a shopping trip to Walgreens, or the $1 items in the Dollar Spot section at Target.
- Purchase birthday gifts. While scanning the weekly flyers, I can look for great deals on items that fit the chosen theme. A year ago Christmas, I found my oldest daughter’s birthday present for this year. The item was on clearance, and I thought she might like the Strawberry Shortcake collection. The item has been stored away, and I will be wrapping it up within the next few months. By purchasing in advance I was able to use my time wisely. I do not need to consider her birthday gift. I can cross it off my To Do list for her birthday party. Having an item already completed before the serious planning begins is a great time saver.
The advanced planning helps me to save money by finding items on sale prior to the week of the event. By purchasing early, I can spread out the cost and save myself from paying full price. I save energy from worrying about what to add to the goody bags or feeling overwhelmed by all the planning and organizing that needs to be done. Then I save time by gathering items as I am shopping. I won’t need to spend a day running around for all the party decorations.
Do you plan your parties in advance? What tips can you offer to help us save money, time & energy while preparing for a party?