Birthday Party savings / tips??

[LYLLJellyTots]

Hey everyone, not really sure what subforum to post this in so sorry if it;s in the wrong one x My son turns 4 in December and is having a Lightning McQueen / Roary birthday party x The only thing is that my finances have changed for the worse this last few weeks and I will now be nearly £200 down to where I thought I would be come his birthday / Christmas.

There will be about 18 children and luckily?? I have already bought a few of the decorations / the pinata earlier in the year but was wondering if any of you could share some money saving tips for the rest of the party at all please? He had a pirate party last year and it ended up costing a fortune! Mostly the food and the party gifts really?? I was thinking maybe this year I could give a mini menu out with the invitations and do the childrens food to order that way I don't have to cater loads for the adults too?? Does that sound stingy?? =(

Theme - Lightning McQueen / Roary the raching car
Age - 4
Venue - Hired out my church (As I'm a committee member it's very cheap I just need to clean it and pay for tea & coffee for the adults etc)
Entertainment - No idea?? Maybe put lots of TJ's Mcqueen toys out?
Games - ?
Food - ?
Cake - Being made by a friend of mine as my son is lactose intollerant x
Party bags - I already have but no idea what to fill them with that wont cost the earth xxx



Any help would be appreciated xx I will upload some pics of what I have already when I can xxx

 

[Me, My Girls & I]

Entertainment, do you have an iPod and docking station?

K was at a party the other week with s superhero theme and they decorated their own cloaks, played a few games and then went on a treasure hunt to find their party bags! I dunno if something could be adapted like that? Maybe print off some cars masks and decorate?!

Games, I think the best ones are musical statues/bumps and pass the parcel!

For food, could you get cars boxes and just put a sandwich, bag of crisps and some sweets in? And buy some fruit shoots?

I'm taking the cheats option and having a pizza express party

 

[LYLLJellyTots]

Thanks for the reply hun xxxx

You'd think I'd have learned from last yr that hiring a play centre for 10 children or so end up cheaper in the long run?? =(

The masks idea sounds great, TJ has some big plush lightning mcqueen teddies so I can do a mini soft play area for the babies I guess? Was thinking of havin a few sit on ride toys bit they might scratch the floor a bit

How many gifts do you think is fair for pass the parcel etc? Last time I went crazy and everyone had a big gift xxx

 

[daniph1]

I find iceland really cheap for party food - its the only time I go there!! Also if yu have any space hoppers etc wack them in there too!! x

 

[Me, My Girls & I]

Pass the parcel is usually a small pack of haribo in each level and then a bigger gift in the middle! Food as well, I remember watching that miss moneypenny programme and they were using value dogestives and icing them to male pretty biscuits for the kids that cost hardly anything!