Out of the Box Birthdays
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We have a birthday today. Birthday Child saw the start of this post and said, "Oh Mom! You're not going to blog all about my birthday are you?" and sighed. Well, no. But I did want to talk about frugal birthdays.
Because we save a lot of money by not giving gifts on all the "appropriate" holidays, we have always made birthdays extra special. This is the time where we'll spend extra $$ and get something that the child (or parent) has really wanted and will really enjoy for ages to come. We don't set dollar amounts to "be fair." We evaluate what will most benefit the birthday person at this time in their life and what they'll enjoy. Some years we spend a lot, others not so much.
It's always hair pulling to find the "right" thing each time, but everyone always seems to be thrilled with what we dig up. We ask for a birthday wish list and start our search from there. A lot of times what we finally decide on is not on the wish list, but what Mom or Dad noticed as an interest or off handed comment. This year Birthday Child has a low end, but decent, digital camera coming in the mail along with 5 how to books on photography from the 50¢ pile at the library. It was a bit more than we wanted to spend right now, but it's something that will hopefully foster a career choice or a life long hobby. These are the types of gifts we try to choose.
Some birthdays the recipient will get new clothes or a pile of books and a toy that costs less than $15. Other years we'll invest in the digital camera or Mindstorm Legos with the help of grandparents. In the end, the cost evens out but the joy, interest and learning some gifts bring are priceless and well worth the investment.
Birthdays around here are always completed with a birthday dinner menu. Today's menu includes sweet potato French fries, hamburgers with homemade buns, peas, carrots and a big salad. There will be a chocolate cake with chocolate butter cream frosting decorated with a smiley face. We get specific around here. The kids revel in the fact that they get their heart's desire for food, down to the detail. We don't do special dinner plates, but there will be lots of bowl licking really soon.
The birthday person gets to skip doing their school work too. Actually, most everyone gets a homework holiday. I'm generally too busy chasing down sweet potatoes or elaborate pasta dish recipes to make sure school work gets done. That's OK though, the day is special. For me, on my birthday, I get to do nothing or whatever I want and the kids cook. Life is GOOD. 
Some times, Dad will take off work as well. It's been fun today. He was able to work from home because of the snow. There's nothing like stopping for a game between problems.
Of course, no birthday would be complete without lots of hugs, happy sentiments and "We're soo glad God put you in our family!" There's lots of that too. By the end of the day, everyone has had a good time and we feel closer as a family.
What are some of your frugal birthday traditions?
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5 Responses to “Out of the Box Birthdays”
February 27th, 2008 at 12:22 pm
We’re on the same wavelength today! I just posted some photos of Andrew’s birthday table.
We keep birthdays low key, party wise, but I like to pamper the birthday person from dawn to dusk–food,decorations, gifts gathered throughout the year.
I also like to cut out paper numbers of their age and stick them all over the house, inside the car, etc. It’s kind of a fun way to recognize that they are a different number now!
February 27th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
My daughter is only 3. We haven’t had a birthday party for her yet. Why bother when they won’t remember it anyway? My husband is an Eagles (football) fan, and wanted to give her an outfit/jersey to wear each year when they watch TV together. So that’s what we’ve done each year and called it her birthday gift from us (it comes months early, too, so that she can wear it from the first day of the season). So it’s something we’d buy anyway, turned into a b-day gift.
We’re only going to have one party for her–this is from my Mom’s family where there were 14 kids. They could only afford to have one party per kid! Mom continued that with us (just two of us) and let me tell you–I remember my birthday party! (I was also allowed to have them as a teen–but I had to do the work, and would just invite some friends to hang out and bake a cake together.) The birthday person does, however, get to choose dinner on their day. As a kid, it was “what Mom would cook” but we tend to go out to eat now. Either way makes it special.
February 27th, 2008 at 12:48 pm
Both my kids were born near Christmas so birthdays could be especially challenging.
When we had the funds, we let them choose a (reasonable) restaurant. Other years they got to choose their favorite homecooked meal.
We only had birthday parties with guests on “special” birthdays. They both got to choose what birthday was the “big one” where they were able to have friends over.
My daughter had a big party when she turned sixteen and we went someplace “very nice” when she turned twenty-one where she also brought a special guy (who soon became her fiance).
My son’s big party happened when he (finally) became a teenager.
February 27th, 2008 at 2:59 pm
For the 5th birthday, the child gets to go with Daddy for dinner and a movie and to Chuck-E-Cheese (they could eat at CEC but it would increase the cost). For child #1 this was the first real movie (infancy excluded) and first real time to CEC!!
For the 6th birthday, we threw a party. But low-key of hamburgers/hot dogs at a park. Our first try got rained out
but the second try was at a brand new park and went great. We tried to make it a “family gathering” and less of a child-emphasis party. I think everyone had a great time. Several $1 store trips helped with decorations and take-home gift (inflatable ball).
Not sure where we’ll take it from here (we have a few months).
February 27th, 2008 at 5:48 pm
for a first birthday it’s a big thing here but mostly to say thanks to all those who helped us with things throughout the first year. As for a gift for the wee one we ask people to make a scrapbook page with thier photo of them and their family and what THEY wish for our baby. Since the baby can’t make a wish on thier own our family and close friends get to make a wish.. a healthy life, a world full of flowers… whatever… I get photos of families I might not have in the scrapbook for whatever reason and no money is spent since they can come over and use my stash
It doesn’t take anything but time…
as far as dinner.. it’s what the birthday girl/boy wishes.. and for cakes- on the real birthday it’s a round cake- any flavor- but we use a birthday cake plate my father used as a boy. When we have the cousin get together it is as creative as the kiddo wishes.. ladybug, princess, treasure chest, polly pocket pool side.. they are suprised and I love to play with the food! lol!
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