If you’re thinking of planning a birthday party for your little one then we’ve got lots of top tips that will save you £££.

Don’t forget

You can spend your Love2shop vouchers and cards in Iceland and Wilko’s!

Share the party

Join together with another family and you’ll split the costs in half. It’s silly to spend more than you have to and your children won’t mind.

Don’t make too much foodSausage Rolls and English Mustard

Children never eat lots at parties so if you decide to do a buffet make sure you don’t do too much as it will just end up going to waste. Iceland has a great range of buffet food at great prices so you can keep your costs down.

It’s a good idea to plate up the food ready so each child can just be given a plate. Even better you could schedule the party to start at 2pm and finish at 4pm so you would only have to provide a snack and a drink.

ISS_6503_01018Home is best

Reduce your costs by holding the party in your own home. Soft play centres are very expensive and charge per child – you might not know numbers so could up spending more than you’d like to. If you can hold the party at home it won’t matter if a few extras turn up!

03B70002Make your own fun

Children’s entertainers can cost a small fortune so don’t book one for your party and instead make your own fun. You can print pictures for the children to colour in and stick on a favourite DVD for them to watch. Buy some cheap fairy cakes and let the children have some fun decorating them.

Create a treasure hunt in the garden to keep them busy and for the prize why not hide a box containing their goodie bags/gifts. That way you’re not spending more than you have to.

Buy some face paints from Argos and have a go at painting their faces. You don’t have to be a fabulous artist – you can simply draw a butterfly or write 1D on their cheeks and they’ll be happy. You could always ask an older child or another adult to be the face painter.

foam swordGoodie bags

Don’t fall into the trap of spending a fortune making up goodie bags as all the little bits you buy will soon add up. Instead set yourself a budget and make sure you stick to it.

You can get lots of great toys from Wilko’s for a pound or less so buy as many as you need, wrap them up and then let the children have a go at ‘lucky dip’ as they leave. We recommend Magic Bubble Wand (50p) Badminton Set (£1), Foam Sword (50p), Golf Set (50p) and Foam Tiara (£1).*

flexecash is the pre-paid card platform which issues the Love2shop cards. This facility is provided by Park Card Services who are Authorised and Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority to issue electronic money. (FRN: 900016)

*Prices correct at time of writing (11/09/14)