Our summer calendar is filling up with celebrations for our family and friends. We have seven weddings, a handful of graduation parties and many birthdays to attend and host.
That's a lot of gifts to buy! One way I save on the cost of birthday presents is shopping the clearance aisle right after Christmas. It's a great time to buy reduced priced toys. I have a general idea of who I need to buy for - all my nieces and nephews and a handful of close family friends. I know my girls will get invited to classmates parties, as well, and so I grab some age appropriate gifts for them. By stocking up on gifts when they are on sale, I'm able to save a little and I'm not as stressed out trying to get to the store at the last minute before a party.
I also save the good quality gift bags my kiddos get their presents in and reuse them when we give to others. Those bags can get spendy, so this is a great savings.
Today we celebrated my daughter's sixth birthday. There were thirteen little girls at my house and we had so much fun! We started our celebration with face painting. I picked up a kit at a craft store with a step by step guide. It was an easy activity that all the girls loved! Then we went outside and broke open a pinata and everyone filled their treat bags. Next we decorated cupcakes - this is another fun activity that the girls enjoyed. After that my little charmer opened her gifts and was in seventh heaven with all her friends circled around her. Before the moms came to pick up their kiddos, I had my daughter take a picture with each little girl, which we'll send out in the thank you cards.
What about you? Any celebrations planned this summer? Do you have good money saving tips for gift buying? What do you do for birthday parties in your home?
