Budget Birthday Goodie Bags

[pam95]

I got our goodies at the Dollar Store, Party City, Oriental Trading and the grocery store. Our theme was Toy Story, so I bought Toy Story gummy fruit snacks from the grocery store. For the other goodies, I tried to stay away from "junk" items and instead went with crayons, mini-coloring books, etc. - things that would have some "use" to them.

 

[DisneyAndRedSox]

This weekend Target had a ton of Littlest Pet Shop and Polly Pocket clearance. There were LPS sets you could easily break up. One store near me was at 75% off, the other store was still 50% off. Wednesday should be the next round of mark downs in the toy department.

Target also has the plastic movie theater popcorn containers in the dollar spot (so does Dollar Tree) and you could put a pack of microwave popcorn in them. I keep these containers in our basement and when the neighborhood kids come in to watch a movie they always ask if they can take them home (no...)!

 

[mhawk4]

For both of my DDs birthdays I went to the dollar storeand bought multi-set nail polishes (think there were 3 or 4 in the pack), those scrunchy body scrub mits, and a body wash. I found multi-pack clear bags with dots on them and seperated out the sets and put one of each item in the bag and tied them with a ribbon. I think I paid about $3 a kid.

 

[diamondpixienc]

I didn't get all the way through the thread but the first 2 pages pretty much said it all -The Dollar Store is your friend. Also, depending on how manyy kids you have Burger King still have those $1 or a "Buck" gift cards. Just give them each one of those attached to a piece of candy. Kids love to whip out their cards too!

 

[kaytieeldr]

I don't remember having goodie bags for my parties OR getting them from any parties I went to. So either we didn't do it or this just proves the theory that, really, how important cant they be...no one remembers them anyway!

You don't remember because you didn't have/get them

This is something someone started because, well, they felt they had to 'outdo' the other parties or hosts or, well, kids (least likely).

 

[Familyof4lovesDW]

I always look after the holidays and see what I can find for 75% off that is not seasonal. I just bought a 12 pack of pins at walmart for .25.

There are some great ideas, but seem geared for girls. When my kids have parties they invite boys and girls (and each other) so I need favors for both.

I have rings and bracelets from valentine's mark downs, pinbal machines from easter mark downs, playdough from halloween. I have a bag I put it all in and when it is party time I see how much I have of what and how many kids are coming to make the bags.

Look for things in bigger packages to break up. My DD bday is at the end of Feb, I use valentines clerance candy! Go to party stores they seem to change themes this time of year and may have some stuff marked down.

 

[RachelsMommie]

I've got the same dilemna for my DD5's (soon to be 6!) bday party in March. I picked up 20 packages of Hello Kitty markers (sets of 8 or 10) at Target after Christmas at 75% off...nothing on the packaging to indicate Christmas or holidays! Then I'm going to go to Dollar Tree and pick up 20 coloring books, and somehow attach the two and tie with a ribbon and a cute tag about thanks for coming to her party. Should be $1.25 (or less if I can find cheaper coloring books!) per kid.

 

[MeekoB]

I get one nice item for a dollars or two and give a couple of pieces of candy.

I hate all the cheap plastic junk items so I'd rather give something nice depending on the theme.

I usually haunt the Target Dollar section and pick up something.

I've also given just a small bag of snack items (fruit rollups, small bags of pretzels) with a couple of themed pencils.

 

[emma'smom]

Favors We've Liked (when we received them):

mini-terra cotta pots and seed packets
paper whites in small dishes (the party activity was to plant them)
water bottles
grass skirts (which the were given to wear during a luau party)
webkins (full size ones...which I thought was a bit much...but my kids liked it)

Stuff That Got Tossed:
coloring books
mini bubbles (cause they usually end up spilling all over the garage)
pencils
crazy straws
plastic sunglasses
plastic rings
mini-slinkies


I think just buying balloons to decorate and letting each child take one home is a fun idea. You have your decorations, they are easy, my kid's love them and I don't buy them except for special occasions, and when it's all done-- you don't have to take leftover balloons home in you car!

 

[libinatorsmom]

What is the theme of her party?

Probably horses and just all things girlly - no real theme - just having three girls and then my daughter - trying to keep it small and smiple

 

[libinatorsmom]

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!

I was actually thinking about doing cupcakes!!! and the Decorate your own is a great idea THANKS so much - the Party is only 2 hours but I know my daughter loves to "cook" so I bet the other girls would enjoy it too

 

[libinatorsmom]

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!

OMG what a great idea... I will have to google search a wrapper... My daughter LOVES Hersey Bars so I bet she would love this idea!!!

 

[libinatorsmom]

Thanks for the help everyone - the bags my daughter really wants to give out - that is why I am doing it! She has already started putting the bags together herself. She has the bags and shes put some fun things in there that I think the kids and parents will like - I do love the music hot potatoe game - I think I might do that! What a great idea... We only have three girls invited so it will be 4 total so a pretty small group - to keep costs down and my sanity at a low level...

 

[KibbyCat]

Probably horses and just all things girlly - no real theme - just having three girls and then my daughter - trying to keep it small and smiple

In that case, I'd do a horse or unicorn beanie baby (or get a couple packages of Littlest Pet Shop horses or Pony in My Pocket). It would cost you slightly more than you'd pay for goody bags, but it would: A) go over better, B) last longer, and (most importantly for you), C) be easier.

You could even wrap it in a cute bandanna or scarf, throw in a cheap lip gloss and a couple pieces of candy or gum, and wrap it with a cute ribbon or hair-tie.

 

[Mommy2cody]

My son's birthday is Feb 13th. I hate getting treat bags filled will junky little toys that he wont even play with. We mostly end up tossing the stuff. He is turning ten, so most of that stuff is useless. I am doing a candy bar at his party. I am going to use this as his "goody" bags. I am making stickers with his name and a thank you for coming and putting them on bags the kids can fill with whatever candy they want!

 

[mickimousemama]

I tend to be one of those moms that goes overboard, but I am always very frugal about it.

I have three kids favorite parties we've done...

*Fear Factor age nine-boy, I bought cheap white t-shirts and did iron on transfers that said "I survived Zack's Fear Factor Birthday" on the back I put little bugs/worms and the names of the things the kids had to do/try The t-shirt was their goodie bag and cost w/t-shirts and iron on paper was about $2.75 per child

*Pokemon age 10, boy-I used recycled lemonade containers and spray painted them yellow to look like pika-chu inside the kids each got a pokemon ball (golf ball colored with permanent markers) fruit snacks, and an apple that I'd dipped in candy coating also to look like the pokemon balls, I basically only bought the apples, candy coating and fruit snacks, golf balls were recycled from a field my BIL owns near a golf course, and the containers were recycled over summer

*Letterboxing age 11 boy- I made each child a letter boxing starter kit, and a drawstring back pack from scrap fabric, the kit included a stamp, notepad, and info about letterboxing and we went on a letterboxing adventure

*Home Depot age 6, boy-I bought scrap lumber and cut peices for the kids to build tool boxes, inside they got fruit snacks and they were each given a home depot apron and safety goggles. (This was one of our kids/family's favorite parties) The wood was $.75 per child, the safety glasses were donated from my husbands company, and the aprons were donated from home depot, so I just bought fruit snacks which they won as a prize to a game.


*Chef party boy age 7, I made aprons for all the kids from left over fabric I had, I bought ice cream cone shaped bowls 3/$1 at dollar tree, and take out type boxes on clearance that were 6/$.75 at walmart, the kids made their own trail mix, and decorated cookies that went in the take out box to go home.

*Lego party boy age 8, I made boxes from colored poster board (dollar tree 2/$1) one sheet made 8 boxes, I needed 12, inside I made keychains from 6 peg lego bricks, just drilled a hole and attatched a keychain, I bought my son a box of legos for $14.99 and picked out 12 of them to use for these. also inside was a package of lego fruit snacks, and we had a candy bar with clearance halloween candy (His bday was November) we had red licorice, actual lego candy, star bursts, and some square sour candies. I spent $8 on all of the candy (because the lego brick candy was very expensive and I splurged.. tasted HORRIBLE tho) Every one loved their goodie bags they brought home

*Care bear girl 1st bday, I made candybar wrappers as favors for guests, bought hershey bars 6/$2 printed the labels myself.

*Strawberry shortcake 2nd birthday, girl. I used pink lunch sacks and guests got to take home home made treats we made anda bottle of strawberry soda that I replaced the label on! this was very well liked

*My little pony-girl, 3rd birthday, I collected the My little pony figures from McDonald's, my local McDonald's let me trade in other toys for left over figures they had we also did My little pony fruit snacks, and I bought cups from oriental trading that you could put your own insert inside of, I made my own with my daughters picture I'm not sure on the actual cost of the cups, they were on clearance.

*Monkey pajama-girl, 4th birthday, the guests decorated pillow cases as their goodie bag. they were 2/$3

*Chuck-e-cheese/zebra party 5th bday-girl, I used black paper sacks, mini m&m tubes that I peeled the label off of and replaced with address labels with each child's name and filled the tube with tokens for the kids to play, also inside their goodie bags were princess tiara's for all the little girls (valentine clearance) and super bouncy balls for the boys.

sorry this post is so long, but just wanted to share ways that I have saved and still had pretty fun goodie bags!

 

[MissAndrea]

This might not work in this particular instance but you may be able to use it in the future (or someone else on here might be able to). DD had a Halloween party at our house. I'd bought some black posterboard and orange posterboard. I'd also stocked up on super cheap little Halloween stickers from Walgreens or just from clearanced stuff at other stores. Since all the kids are dressed up in their costumes, we gather them all up for a group picture and take quite a few so we have some to choose from. Then while DH runs in the house to pick the best one and print one out for each child, I stay with the kids and work on their project. I'd precut the posterboard to about 5x7ish then had the kids decorate the outside edge with the halloween stickers. By the time they were done, DH would be done printing all the pics so he'd bring them to us and we'd use double stick tape to attach the picture to the middle of their new frame. It's not trinkety (even though I still did give out goody bags), it's something they can keep as a memory of the party, and it's a craft to keep them busy! The parents really seemed to love them too! The stickers were super cheap, the posterboard was cheap, and the picture themselves were free because we'd gotten a package free after rebate years ago and still have a bunch since we rarely print pics from home. I just try not to think about the cost of the ink.

 

[MissAndrea]

One additional thought. You know how over the course of a few years you end up with extra bits and pieces of goody bags because you had too many or just extra "goodies" from a package. Like if you need 12 but a package of something only comes in 16, then you have 4 left over. I've been keeping all of this stuff together in a bag, and although I haven't done this yet, my plan is to put them all in a piñata so that one party that will be part of the entertainment/game and the goody bag. That way I don't have to buy anything for the inside (except maybe some clearance candy) and it's a large variety of stuff. Just an idea!

 

[Ericandjenng]

Someone just posted the cutest Disney themed idea on the Creative Community board. It's a Minnie themed necklace made on small glass tiles. Here's the link: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2632340

 

[MissAndrea]

Those Minnie necklaces are adorable!