We understand as parents that planning a birthday party for your child can be a yearly headache! For parents with several children, this means planning a party multiple times a year, every single year! We totally understand the exhaustion and stress that comes into play when worrying if it will burn a hole in our pockets to what if the children are not entertained but don't worry! We got your back!
This article focuses on the 3 key main factors when planning a fun yet affordable birthday party; venue, food and entertainment!
When going on a budget, the only thing to consider is what is needed. Children are simple, the only thing they want is a fun and memorable experience. Thats it! Forget all those lavish commercial birthday venues with overpriced packaged activities that charges PER PAX, and instead put your budget to better use on a simple party that you have complete control of! With that, lets start with:
Venue
Base on our experiences with attending hundreds of children's parties, we find that these are the few of the most affordable or FREE birthday party locations in Singapore:
1) Home or backyard
Let's face it, its the most convenient location. An average sized HDB apartment can easily fit a party of 20 - 30 children! We've seen it! Just shift the sofa or coffee table out of the way, hide your valuables and glasswares, set the dining table as the 'buffet area' and you'd already have a pretty good set up!
For those living in landed properties, your very on backyard could be a fun place for a party too!
Price: Free
2) Void deck and multi-purpose hall
For a little bit more space, renting out your nearest HDB void deck or multi-purpose hall is ideal. Children will have the freedom to run around and you can also fit our bouncy castles here for more activities! To save money on renting tables and chairs, you can instead bring out some mats to sit and a folding table to put all the food and drinks.
Price: $50
3) Parks and beaches
For a more picnic and outdoor feel, have a birthday party in the park or by the beach! The top few among parents are East Coast Park, Botanical Gardens, Marina Barrage and Tiong Bahru Playground.
Price: Free
FOOD
Whats a party without food, drinks and snacks?!? Here are a few simple, quick, cheap and yummy options that will SURE WIN all the hungry tummies.
1) Fried Bee Hoon (AKA MEE PICNIC OR MEE BIRTHDAY)
You're not a true blue Singaporean if you've never attended a birthday party or picnic that has this iconic dish! Call it mee picnic or mee birthday, this dish is a favourite for mommies to cook during family or social events. Hmm I wonder why... Well maybe because it's SO EASY AND CHEAP TO MAKE???!!!
Courtesy of Mommy In The Kitchen, here is the recipe and ingredients
Firstly, soak a packet of vermicelli noodles or bee hoon. I like to soak mine in cold water first and once the noodles have loosened, add warm water to it.
Blend 1 onion and 4 cloves garlic. Sauté in oil until fragrant. Add about 1/3 cup oyster sauce and mix well. Add the following ingredients.
1/2 cup of water
1 carrot, julienned (optional)
200g sliced beef
10 pieces prawns (or slices of hotdogs)
1 tablespoon black pepper
Salt to taste
Once the beef is no longer pink, add your soaked bee hoon and continue flipping your bee hoon making sure every strand is coated with the seasoning. Add some chopped sawi or chye sim and continue cooking until the fluids are dried and the noodles are soft. Sprinkle with fried shallots and sliced red chilli . I also like eating them with pickles green chillis... Yummmmm
2) Tumeric Fried Chicken
If you're like us and you don't want to go over budget by buying packets of ready to fried chicken wings, but at the same time too lazy to dip and re-dip your chicken in flour and batter, here is a more simpler recipe from Christina Arokiasamy that is equally yummy!
1 whole chicken (4 pounds), cut into 12 pieces
1 1/2 teaspoons ground turmeric
2 to 3 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
oil for deep frying
Put the chicken pieces in a large bowl and sprinkle with the turmeric, salt, and pepper. Rub the chicken thoroughly with the spices. Cover and refrigerate for at least 3 hours, or preferably overnight.
Heat 4 inches of oil in large wok or a deep pot over medium-high heat.
When the oil is hot (you can test the oil with a chopstick — if the oil bubbles around the stick that means the oil is ready), add the chicken, a few pieces at a time, without overcrowding the wok.
Cook until the chicken is thoroughly cooked through and golden brown, 12 to 15 minutes, turning the chicken after about 5 minutes.
Drain on a paper towel–lined plate or rack and repeat with the remaining chicken pieces, taking care to bring the oil back to temperature before each batch.
3) SNACKS
DON'T OVERTHINK THIS. Find your nearest Value Dollar Store and check out all their chocolates, candies and chips! You can easily fill out a table with under $20 worth of goodies!
ENTERTAINMENT
If you are unsure about activities and entertainment for the children, you can book our affordable packages and services that are catered to children's birthday parties.
The Mr Egg 2-in-1 package @ only $299 offers 3 - 4 hour bouncy castle rental + an hour of any one activity such as fun & games, face painting, glitter art tattoo and balloon twisting!
But kids also love munchies so you can swap the activity with an hour of free flow snacks like popcorn and cotton candy! These are very high in demand!
If your budget is a little bit more, you can opt for the Mr Egg 3-in-1 premium package @ $349 where you can have a lot more freedom to customise and pick any 3 activities with a wider range compared to the previous package such as the inflatable game booths, electronic game booths, mascot and any sized bouncy castle!
Oh and not to forget, you can also rent kiddy tables and stools, speaker with microphone and industrial fan.
If you would like something more of an entertainment rather than activities, you can book Mr Egg himself for a deluxe birthday package @ only $329.
In this fun filled 1 hour and 30 minutes package, Mr Egg will perform a comical magic and puppet show where your child will be the star of the show, have the children participate in fun and games, do balloon twisting and even host for the cake cutting ceremony!
For bookings or more info, visit www.mreggmagic.com or call 97955766 for a free consultation.