No matter how old you are, celebrating a birthday can be a whole lot of fun. It’s a great time to not only celebrate your life, but the people who have made it fun and filled with love. Of course, affording a birthday celebration can be tough if you’re on a tight budget. There’s a few ways you can enjoy your special day though without having to spend a small fortune. With a few simple tricks, you’ll find a few new ways to make your day special without having to go to great lengths to work around your budget. So, get ready to celebrate without the stress when you try on these tips for size on your big day.
1. Plan at a Public Park
If your birthday generally falls on a day when the weather is cooperative, then planning in a public park may be your best way to host a get together with friends and family. Usually, if the party is in a public place then you shouldn’t have to get a permit, especially if the party is small. Parks are great for having barbecues, which can be arranged for a cheap price, especially if you invite people to bring their own food too. You can also organize a hike, which will allow people to be active while celebrating the big day. If there’s plenty of room to play then you may also want to consider organizing a few games like relay races, sports or Frisbee. You could even set up a game of croquet for a more relaxed afternoon.
2. In-Home Movies
Another great way to celebrate is to host a movie evening in your home. You can easily grab some snacks and invite some of your favorite movie fanatics for an evening of fun. To save money, you can use movies you already own, but renting from a kiosk or online won’t cost too much either. Snacks can be made from whatever you have lying around, or you can stick to the classic movie theater snacks. You could also ask your friends to bring in their favorite snacks to help make the evening more fun. If you plan on playing fandom movies, like Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, Star Wars and so on, then you may want to ask everyone to dress up to make the night even more memorable.
3. Turn on the Music
Dancing and listening to music are great ways to celebrate another year with the people you love to spend the most time with. The best thing about having people over to dance the night away or to share in your favorite music is it won’t cost you a thing. You can stream music from an online radio, which will allow you to easily enjoy a wide variety of music without having to get up and change the song. You may also request people bring in their favorite albums or simply play your own. As you hang out and explore the music with your loved ones, you’re sure to feel like your birthday is absolute magic. Another way to get more out of this party is to push the furniture to the side of the room and let everyone dance. You can even bring out a dancing videogame to ensure everyone has the time of their life while celebrating your existence.
4. Stay in Bed
If you’re the type of person who is always on the go, or you rarely find time for yourself then use your birthday to get in some you time. Call out from work, cancel your plans and simply hop right back in bed. Try to sleep in for a little while to allow you to catch up on the beauty rest you’ve been longing for. Once you’re fully rested then grab your favorite book or catch up on some TV shows you’ve been longing to see. Before you know it, you’ll feel incredibly relaxed, which is sure to make your birthday feel like the highlight of the entire year. You may even want to order in some of your favorite foods, so you’ll never have to leave your pajamas or your home. If you’re still feeling a little bit social, then have the family curl into bed with you or invite your closest friends over for a marathon of your favorite drama. If you’re lucky, someone may even bring along the ice cream.
5. Potluck
Nothing makes a birthday special quite like the people you share it with and the delicious food you get to eat. Thus, a potluck is one of the best ways to share your special day with those who can make the time to be with you. The best thing is, a potluck doesn’t have to cost a fortune. In fact, you may not have to spend anything at all, depending on what people bring to your party. When it comes down to it, a potluck is less of a burden on your family and friends too, as they won’t have to spend much of anything to come to your party. You can even set the theme of party to include dishes that won’t cost much to make. Of course, this will allow everyone to show their creativity though. You may even find that having people bring their own dishes in will help spark conversation, which should keep the party going strong for hours on end.
6. Hit the Water
Although taking a vacation might be a bit out of the budget, you can still find a way to get away and soak up some sun. Finding your nearest source of water may be one of the best ways to kick back and relax to enjoy your big day. It doesn’t matter if it is a pool, beach, lake, river or stream, you should be able to find some way to cool down and enjoy yourself without spending a whole lot of money. Checking out public swimming holes will help cut down on your costs too, especially if you’re planning on taking people to go for a swim with you. You may want to look and see if you need a permit before you host a get-together there though. Of course, a pool may be one of your cheapest bets for a party as many pools will open their doors to a specific number of people after hours for a fee. This may even allow you to have a full blown party without having to stress about going over your budget. Although, if you’re just hanging out with a few friends, you may want to keep it simple and just go to the pool during hours. If you have your own pool, then you’re all set for one of the cheapest birthday events ever.
7. Game Night
You don’t have to come up with a lot of ways to entertain people, if you’re wanting to have a low budget party. All you need is a few games to have a good time. Card games tend to be a hit with most adults. You may even want to start a pull of money if you’re feeling lucky on your big day. Of course, board games are another great option and you can even ask people to bring in their favorites to help make the night go smoothly. If you’re looking to kill lots of time, then Dungeons and Dragons or other role playing games may suit your evening perfectly. You may even ask your friends to cosplay their character for a birthday night you’ll never forget. If you’re entertaining a more active group or children, then you can easily set up water balloon wars, relay races or giant versions of popular games outdoors. If the weather is on the fritz, then a sock war may be in order to help keep everyone occupied indoors.
8. Travel Deals
Of course, if you do have a bit of money to splurge on your birthday and you’re looking to getaway, you may want to head to your favorite travel website. A lot of websites will host flash sales as well as getaway deals that can save you a whole lot of money. These deals are perfect for anyone who doesn’t have a specific destination in mind. Generally, you can find a deal for a domestic travel plan or one that will take you abroad. Sometimes, these plans will include flight and hotel, while other times you’ll merely be able to purchase a tour or other amenity abroad. However, by choosing to travel this way for your birthday, you’ll not only get the enjoy a new location, but you’ll be broadening your horizons, which is always a great gift to yourself.
9. Visit Loved Ones
Another idea for a quick and frugal getaway is to head out to see a relative or two. Whether they live in a different state or a nearby city, getting away to hang out with a loved one can easily become a great way to celebrate your big day. You may want to consider heading home to spend time with your parents, so you can thank them for the life they gave you. Or, simply go visit a college roommate or best friend from childhood. No matter where you choose to go, make sure you have a sofa or a guest room you can stay in so you can forget all about the price of a hotel and food. The key, is to enjoy yourself and surround yourself with love and fun so you won’t let such a special occasion go to waste.
10. Freebies
If you’re really down and out on your birthday, or you simply love getting free thingsthen you may want to hit the town. You will be surprised by how many chain restaurants are willing to hand out freebies so you can celebrate your birthday with even more joy. For instance, Denny’s is known to give out Grand Slams to anyone who can show an ID proving it’s their birthday. Other restaurants, like Starbucks and Subway, will hand out freebies if you sign up for their membership club. This is obviously free and well worth the 30 seconds it takes to fill out the form. You may also find local venues will give out freebies, so feel free to call around and ask to see what your options are. Some grocery stores will give our free cupcakes on your birthday if you’re on their rewards plan. Apart from restaurants, you may be able to get a free game of bowling, time at a roller rink or discount on a movie or snack from the concession stand. With a little research, you may be able to spoil yourself on your birthday without having to spend a penny.
Celebrating the day of your birth is a great way to feel confident and loved. These ten tips should help you fund the best way to meet your budget needs without cutting corners on the amount of fun you have. So, get ready to celebrate in style, as your birthday should make you feel special rather than in the mood to count pennies.
