Budget Birthday Goodie Bags

[libinatorsmom]

I am going to have a very small birthday party for my to be 7 year old - Need some ultra bidget friendly goodie bag ideas... I am needing a totaly budget party - its very tight but I dont want to not have my daughter have a little party

 

[KibbyCat]

What is the theme of her party?

 

[PA Princess]

Our yougest dd has a 12/20 b-day, so I know what a budget cruncher those close to the holiday season birthdays can be!

For the party we had this year for dd who turned 6, I think we had the cheapest "goody bag" ever (and I have three older kids).

I simply purchased those craft sets (Disney themed) they sell at AC Moore and places like that (I have also seen them at the Dollar Store and in the Dollar Spot at Target). They include a hard (like sturdy cardboard) surface with a scene to paint (usually 2 or 3 scenes included in each box), waterpaint, and a brush. Both of my dds enjoy these (older one is 10) and they are great to pull out for a special craft treat now and again.

Usually these are a dollar, I bought during a special promo so they were 75 cents. I taped a candy cane to each one (box was 12 for a dollar), so total cost was about 83 cents a kid.

 

[KellyNY]

I am going to have a very small birthday party for my to be 7 year old - Need some ultra bidget friendly goodie bag ideas... I am needing a totaly budget party - its very tight but I dont want to not have my daughter have a little party

Depends on how many kids but you can go with Party City(they have items in sets and single items as well) or 99C store. I would buy something like plastic rings(if girls), pencils(very cheap at Party City), lollipops, erasers. You can buy a set of those rubber bracelets and devide and put one in your party favors. Buy stickers from 99C and cut them separately for each kid. 3-4 items is more then enough. Buy clear, wrapping paper and do bags yourself, cut circle, put goodies in a center, push edges up and
secure with rubber band.

 

[slamzim]

I had read about someone giving a Littlest Pet Shop to each kid. I thought a great idea, especially who needs anymore little trinket things! Girly stuff is fun too, lip gloss, etc.

 

[Liltx]

I always buy a dollar item instead of a bunch of junk. Examples: hula hoop, jumbo bubble wand, lip gloss. You could also go to Ulta and buy a bunch of those 99cent nail polishes and let the girls pick one as they leave.
I think parents will appreciate not having all the junk.

 

[momtosam]

Well here's my 2 cents for what not do. I bought a bunch of stuff for my DS's birthday party at the Dollar Tree. People are so horrible about RSVPing and I really wasn't sure how many kids would show up. I bought extra, planning to return what we didn't need. I didn't realize the Dollar Tree's policy is to not give cash refunds. They don't even give a real store credit. You have to swap out the items you don't want for new items on the spot. I was so mad!

 

[disneymama83]

What about a coloring book from the dollar store or the dollar section at Target and a pack of crayons. My boys love to color and they are 4 and 7. One year I did playdoh and cookie cutters(We had a playdoh party). I bought a party packs of playdoh for around 10.00 total and a bucket of cutters for 9.99 That was a big hit! What about a goodie bag full of different kinds of fruit snacks.


Just an idea - instead of a b-day cake do cupcakes and have the kids decorate their own. Very inexpensive and it provides an activity for the party. They love that!

Have fun and enjoy! Happy B-day to your DD!

 

[disneychrista]

I know this may not be what you want to hear but JUST DON'T GIVE THEM OUT!! They are in most cases a waste of money. How may birthday goodie bags have your son brought home that ended up in the trash? They ususally contain junkie little toys that break after a day.

Join the revolution and STOP giving them.

 

[bigmama67]

For DS' 7th birthday party I got wooden animal kits in the Michaels dollar section and wrapped them so each kid got a gift as they left!

 

[kaytieeldr]

I know this may not be what you want to hear but JUST DON'T GIVE THEM OUT!! They are in most cases a waste of money. How may birthday goodie bags have your son brought home that ended up in the trash? They ususally contain junkie little toys that break after a day.

Join the revolution and STOP giving them.

I'm with disneychrista. Somebody, somewhere, started the trend of goody bags.

Be a trendsetter. Stop the insanity!

 

[rusty4]

For my DS's Christmas party at school we gave each of the kids a puzzle from Michael's. Something that they would keep instead of just throw in the trash. I am trying to come up with some idea's for his 7th Bday in February myself. I hate all the junk that kids bring home. Since we are going to Disney in 4 days we may look there for something unique.

 

[maddiesmom0116]

What about a coloring book from the dollar store or the dollar section at Target and a pack of crayons. My boys love to color and they are 4 and 7. One year I did playdoh and cookie cutters(We had a playdoh party). I bought a party packs of playdoh for around 10.00 total and a bucket of cutters for 9.99 That was a big hit! What about a goodie bag full of different kinds of fruit snacks.


Just an idea - instead of a b-day cake do cupcakes and have the kids decorate their own. Very inexpensive and it provides an activity for the party. They love that!

Have fun and enjoy! Happy B-day to your DD!

Also, have them decorate the goodie bag itself for a craft- we did that one year.

 

[stefplus3]

You could find a template online for candy bar wrappers and give each child a full size candy bar with decorative label as the favor. They're easy to do and you could buy a box of candy bars at BJ's or Costco for cheap!

 

[cinnamon-sugah]

One year, I played a game at DS's party. Instead of treat bags, I wrapped dollar store toys and we played hot potato. When each child got "out", they got to choose a toy and give DS their gift. They and DS opened the gifts together. It was a huge hit...$1 per child and a game included! It also eliminated the crowd of kids in front of DS opening gifts so we got great photos of him with each child.

 

[here757]

I know this may not be what you want to hear but JUST DON'T GIVE THEM OUT!! They are in most cases a waste of money. How may birthday goodie bags have your son brought home that ended up in the trash? They ususally contain junkie little toys that break after a day.

Join the revolution and STOP giving them.

whew!! im so glad u said it.
my sons birthday party is next sunday and i have no intension on goody bags.
two reasons really. i always throw them away when he brings them home.
and the second reason is he just got a retainer. he cant have half the stuff in it.( why would i do that to my boy??) lol
ill join ur effort..
DOWN WITH GOODY BAGS LOL

 

[RangerPooh]

Do you have a theme for the party? If you tell us what it is we can help to gear suggestions towards it.

I'm one of those parents who goes overboard on treat bags. I add items that correlate to the party's theme, and usually purchase them through Oriental Trading Company. I like the idea of giving a Little Pet Shop toy to everyone who attended. You can usually get those on sale for about $3.50 each. Same with the coloring book and crayons

As for Budget friendly, why not go to the Dollar Tree and purchase a bunch of puzzles? Or you can purchase inexpensive nail polish like NYC or Wet and Wild at Target/Walmart/drugstores and toe spacers for ~$1 at the Dollar Tree or dollar spot at Target. What about an inexpensive package of Silly Bandz (if knock offs are ok I purchased some at Staples for $1 each today) and a box of fruit snacks (each kid gets one package), and a couple packages of stickers (each kid can take home one sheet).

I remember my mom buying a bunch of Babysitter Club, Sleepover Friends, and Nancy Drew books and gave 1 to everyone who attended. You can look for good deals online, at bookstores, or through Scholastic. Scholastic often has books for $1 or $2 each, and oyu can order them online

 

[Vacation Lover]

This is a great time of year to look for goodie bag items--Clearance Christmas stuff! I just bought red tutus at Claire's for $2 each for my daughters dance birthday party next month. Claire's also has a lot of kids necklaces in their 10 for $10 sale right now.

I love the idea of a grab bag of wrapped $1 items that a pp mentioned. Someone also mentioned Littlest Pet Shops--I saw a pack of 15 on clearance at Target yesterday.

My favorite budget party favor is play doh. Tie a couple of cookie cutters to a can of play doh with pretty ribbon and voila--instant party favor for about 50 cents!

 

[ceecee]

You could find a template online for candy bar wrappers and give each child a full size candy bar with decorative label as the favor. They're easy to do and you could buy a box of candy bars at BJ's or Costco for cheap!

I did this for DD's class in Kindergarden, it was a hit. Check Target's dollar spot for marked down items. I got water bottles once and decorated each one with flowers and the child's name. We did spa bags once with 6 items which were marked 75% off as well. I tend to stay away from the junk that get tossed in the trash or a bunch of candy. We did individual doll cakes (cupcakes with a Kelly doll) and put the outfit in a bag and they each got a Kelly doll to take home (her theme was Barbie that year).

 

[Carrie772]

We quit giving them out about 3 years ago. When kids would ask us about treats, I told them that the party was the treat and their coming was an awesome treat! Parents always thank me that I didn't give their kid more cruddy toys or any more pencils! Although, at my DD's slumber party, we did give the gals hershey bars. They were tickled to death!