We want to plan our 6-year old girl's birthday party without breaking the bank. Any ideas?!!??

If you have it at home you could have hot dogs, hamburgers, potato salad,chips, baked beans, kool aid, tea , & soda. Its cheap (especially if you make the sides & drinks yourself -- Elect family helpers of course!!), & feeds a good amount of people.

As for fun-- My girls love getting the slip & slide out, or filling water balloons up & playing "dodge waterballoon", or making homemade games. Ex. musical chairs or some fair games-

1. Fill big container with water , add numbered rubber ducks & kids pull a duck. Certain # wins a prize.

2. Cake walk- Buy boxes of snack cakes , lay down # sheets 1-5 , play music then stop it & call a # , they win a cake.

3. Get a sheet of plywood, set of darts, & a bag of waterballoons, pin air-filled balloons to plywood, let kids pop with darts, popped one wins prize.

4. Buy 2 liter sodas & plastic rings, set up ring toss, ring on bottle wins soda.

Have adults help at different game areas so that they feel a useful part of the party & you dont feel so overwhelmed!!

Hope it helps!

My all time favorite birthday party was a Carnival Birthday Party for my 7th birthday. We basically had game stations all over the backyard. 1) Bean Bag Toss -- we had a large piece of thick cardboard with a drawing of a big clown. Cut out the clown's mouth and you have to toss the bean bags inside.

2) Dart Throw -- (make sure adults are supervising) Had another board decorated with cartoon characters. Each character looked like they were holding a balloon. Stick balloons to the board, and three tries to pop balloons.

3) Ping Pong Toss --just took plastic cups and bowls and the kids had to throw the ball into the cup (we bought cheap goldfish from the pet store as prizes! so it's like you are at the real carnival for this one--only get goldfish if you get in the cup)

4) Face Painting Station -- We bought face paint and my aunt did face painting (flowers, cat whiskers, whatever)

All the kids got a bag of pennies, and it cost a penny to play each game. And if you win the game (example you make 2 out of 3 bean bags) you get a good prize. And I think even if we didn't win, the parents gave the kids some sort of cheaper prize. Whether it be candy, or like party bag toys, etc. We did home made invitations out of construction paper and decorated them. And I think there were more games, but I'm 24 now and can't remember back that far!!! But you could do a ring toss, pin the tail on the donkey, etc.

This is I'm sure way out of budget, but I lived in a really rural neighborhood and some of my neighbors had farms...so one of the neighbors brought her horse over and did "pony rides." Which was amazing...but if you live somewhere more suburban that probably would not work out...

But this was by far my favorite bday party ever!

Have a potluck BBQ ..... You supply the meats to be grilled, the drinks and the desserts. Let everyone else bring side dishes or appetizers. Pick a theme (Dora, Kung Fu Panda, etc) and decorate in that theme. Michaels, Walmart, Big Lots or even a dollar store would have decorations. A pinata is good for the kids; and the adults shouldn't be expected to be entertained:) If you don't have a pool, you can get some fun sprinkler attachments for the kids to play in (and they'll be on sale now - check Walmart) ....

Home party is the cheapest. You can get party supplies also at www.orientaltrading.com and you may want to google it to see if you can find cheaper party supplies www.birthdaydirect.com is another place I have ordered from before. Simple meal would be $5 pizza's at Papa Johns or Little Ceaser or $5 subs at Subway. Chips and dip. You can rent inflatables for around $100, or go to www.familyfun.com for birthday party game ideas.

If your house is to small, McDonalds and only pay for the kids happy meals.

I have a great idea its KIDEOSYNCRASY themed party!

there is a new video out called kideosyncrasy 2. It teaches kids to dance and stresses the importance of nutrition and exercise. It is geared towards kids ages 5-11 and may be a little challenging for 6 year olds, but i think they would have a great time doing it and everyone will be able to join in and have fun! It is such a great video with friendly kids teaching kids some dances. You will need to rewind a couple times but it could be a really fun party! If you go to their website you can get more info... here is some tips i got on a website regarding a kideosyncrasy party

Tips for Throwing a Kideosyncrasy Birthday Party

One Week before Party:

1. Preview the Kideosyncrasy DVD to get some nifty ideas for staging the event, finding cool costumes and props and preparing yummy but nutritious snacks and drinks.

2. Create customized invitations on your computer. Remember to ask your guests to bring props and costumes!

3. Fill a large dressing trunk or box with hats, boas, sunglasses and other costume accessories. Choose bright, colorful items to mix and match!

4. Recharge video camera batteries; buy film for cameras. You're going to create a video of your Kideosyncrasy show!

Day before Party:

1. Shop for healthy snacks and drinks. Buy paper goods.

2. Choose one room in the house to rehearse and stage your Kideosyncrasy show. Move furniture to create a "stage" and a seating area for the audience. Make sure you have adequate lighting for the cameras!

3. Prepare goody bags, including a copy of the Kideosyncrasy DVD for each guest to take home.

Party Time!

1. Cue up the Kideosyncrasy DVD to watch the Behind-the-Scenes footage. Pump up your guests to learn, rehearse and perform by watching the Kideosyncrasy cast as they run through the show!

2. Watch the dance numbers on the DVD, and chose which cool dances you want to learn and perform.

3. Dig through the costume trunk for neat accessories and props. Remember to be colorful and creative!

4. Start rehearsing! Stop and start the DVD as often as needed to help you learn the dance moves.

5. When you're ready to start the show, make sure the video camera is ready to record the action! Seat audience members and it's time for "Lights….Camera….Action!"

6. After your show's finale, take a breather and congratulate yourselves on a job well done!

7. Grab your healthy snacks and drinks, rewind the video of your Kideosyncrasy performance and sit back and enjoy the show!

Volume 1 now available for $19.99 in both DVD and VHS format at www.kideosyncrasy.com or by calling 1-866-kideo-tv.

Note to Editors: Please visit us at http://www.kideosyncrasy.com/press/ and use this code: and5678 - to access additional background information, biographies and photography.

Mulholland and Warnick available for interviews.

Performances possible.

and as it says at the bottom performances are possible, you may even get to have some of the kids perform for you depending on your location!

hope this helps!

Go to the park, make the party right after lunch so that all you have to provide is ice cream, cake and drinks. The kids can play on the playground and the adults can talk. You can get a pinata also for like 25 at walmart.

Cheap is my moms middle name. She knows how to do cheap partys. Heres a fun idea I did it for a going back to school party, wacky hair party. It was awesome. Everybody came with crazy hair with color . And some fun games are you scatter paper plates across the house. Each one has a number on one side you have each kid stand on a plate and then you draw a number from a jar. who ever's number you call gets a prize. And also another game is balloon pop and musical chairs.

And for food do macceroni and cheese and add food coloring to it. My niece and nephew love that. Oh and get dollar store prizes and ribbone. Good luck

can you throw it at home? do you have a pool? Party City has great party supplies at a good price... ooooh sometimes Ebay had used cheap supplies...... have a theme party on something she enjoys... play some games, go to the dollar store buy cute little toys, give them out as goodies to the kids or winners of the games.... bake a cake....

go to Orientaltrading.com,

Its better than party cirty because it sells everything by the dozen. Its also cool because they have every kind of theme and all the decorations to go with it. Pick a theme, then from there buy everything you need. I suggest having it in your backyard or at a park.

Oriental trading has ton of party supplies. They offer very cute themed items, you can purchase all matching items. The prices are fantastic.