Inexpensive Ways to Make Some Feel Special on Their Birthday

Who doesn't want to feel special on their birthday?

It doesn't have to cost a small fortune to have a nice birthday party that your special girl/guy will remember for years to come.

To start off with there are 3 main things you need at any good birthday party: food, activities, and gifts. However, you also need one very important ingredient - attention.

The main thing people want on their birthday is attention and to be made to feel special, loved, and appreciated. That doesn't take much to accomplish but it does take some of your time. Birthdays only come once a year and it's a time to celebrate their life so far.

Food
At the minimum, you will need cake or cupcakes with a candle or two and don't forget the ice cream. Cupcakes made to look like cakes are all the rage right now, but we still use an old-fashioned homemade cake. Homemade is so much cheaper especially when you can find a boxed cake mix on sale for $1 and icing is also $1 at your local dollar store.

If you are having the party at your home it is common to have some other finger foods or snacks for people to munch on along with a small variety of drinks. We make it easy and put out a couple 2 liter bottles of soda that we purchase when they were on sale.

Another option to having people come to your home is to have the group meet somewhere for dinner. This works best when you only have a small intimate group otherwise it could get expensive real fast.


Activities
Treat the birthday girl/guy to a fun activity. Some suggestions include: going to the movies, roller skating, horseback riding, camping, fishing, etc.

Inexpensive activities could include having a picnic, hiking, have guests create a "favorite memory" book and then reminisce, go to a local park, or go for a bike ride if you own a bicycle.

Gifts
Gifts don't have to be expensive, but they should be thoughtful. Think about what that person would actually want or need.  Don't always take the easy way out and buy gift cards unless they specifically ask for one. Gift certificates say "Hey I have no idea what to get you and don't feel like trying to figure something else out".  A small thoughtful gift will be more memorable years from now.

Let your guest of honor be the focus of the day. Do things they like to do and eat what they like to eat. They only have one birthday a year - help them feel special and loved.

Now that you have the food, activities and gifts figured out go plan a terrific birthday your friend or family member will remember and enjoy.