As a middle class mom, I have to find creative ways to make my daughter’s birthday dreams come true while keeping to a tight budget. I feel like so far, I have done a pretty decent job – or my friends and family are all lying to me. Fortunately, my daughter’s birthday party always falls the week after Halloween, which means I can run in for the super clearance sales on costumes, accessories, etc. Depending on what theme she picks for the year, I can usually find great options at up to 80% off! Two years ago, it was a pirate-themed party. Last year was Frozen. This year was Scooby Doo. The Dollar Tree is one of my best friends. Birthday candles, bags, cards, party favors, party favor bags, tablecloths, plastic silverware, cups, napkins, plates, balloons… need I go on? The quality is the same as Party City or elsewhere, in my opinion.
For a free venue, we have always had my dad’s house to use, until he moved to Boston for work this fall! His house was completely rented out, so I needed to find a new option that wouldn’t break the bank.We chose to do the party at the McDonald’s in front of Northgate Mall. The Play Place is wonderful, and the store was still relatively new. The location was easy to find, and the restaurant reserved half of the play area for us at no charge. My daughter was so super excited to have her birthday at McDonald’s – oh, to be six years old again! The staff was really great, and they did a great job even though we were there during the lunch rush on a Saturday. We had plenty of space, the kids played, ate, played some more, watched the birthday girl open presents, played more, and ate cake and ice cream.
I was able to bring in whatever decorations I wanted and our own cake. I got the little invitees Happy Meals (instead of the usual snacks and drinks I provide at her parties). Another benefit to having a post-Halloween baby is I always get several of the Halloween Tricks and Treats Packs from McDonald’s before Halloween. I gave all the kids at the party free ice cream coupons from those treat packs and didn’t have to spend money on the ice cream!
For a special touch on the cake, I commissioned my favorite peg maker, the owner of Wooly Llama Pegs, to make customer cake toppers for the birthday cake. The birthday girl chose to have a Scooby Doo party this year, so Emily made the Scooby gang as cake toppers for us! Everyone was so impressed by them – and the best part is we wiped them off, and they are toys that will last forever! I just picked up a basic cake at Meijer and let Adilyn pick out the color sprinkles she wanted on the cake.
Everyone had a really fun time, there was no clean up to do, and no waiting on guests to leave, because they could stay as long as they wanted there whether we left or not! I’m not sure how long McDonald’s will be cool, but I’m sure I’ll continue to get creative and money savvy no matter what little dreams are presented to me in the coming years!
Valentine’s Day is coming up, so McDonald’s will sell the treat packs for that as well that are usually good until May 31st of the year. It’d be great for anyone doing a birthday party from Mid-February through end of May. 🙂