If you have kids then it’s probably hit the panic period, when it comes to the annual Valentine’s Day party your children’s school puts on. Depending on the class and the school, you’re probably required to bring in Valentine’s for the entire class. You may even be asked to participate in the party or bring something special for the class to enjoy. If you’re on a tight budget, then this may be hard to do as the price quickly begins to add up. The price tag can be even worse if you’ve signed up to be one of the classroom parents for the school year. Luckily, there’s a few ways you can get around the price of your party, which may even leave a little budget for you and your special someone to enjoy.
1. Find Out What’s Going On
Sometimes, it’s easy to get worked up when it comes to school parties. The notes may imply that snacks, cards and attendance are required, especially if it’s your child’s first year of school. Before you go out and spend a small fortune on things for the party, you may want to stop and check out the party notice one more time. If you’re still uncertain of what’s required, talk to the teacher. You can set up an appointment or ask when you pick up your children or drop them off. Of course, if you do want to participate in bringing goodies then it might be wise to feel out what the other students’ parents are bringing. This will help you bring a more original snack, so your food doesn’t end up getting thrown out. If you’re signed up for decorations then talking with the teacher is still a wise idea, so you’ll have a general idea of what you need to spend on the party. You may want to check out the requirements for valentines, as some schools won’t allow characters, require them for the whole class and other rules that may not be written down for you to follow.
2. Double Duty
One thing you may want to try out when it comes to your child’s party is purchasing items in a combo pack when you can. For instance, if you want to give out valentine’s day cards and candy then look for the assortment that sells the two together. Most popular candy brands do this, so it shouldn’t be hard to find the right price for you. This will definitely make things cheaper, unless you choose to DIY your valentines. Another thing to keep in mind, when buying items for the party, is to purchase with a coupon that allow you to get something free with your initial purchase. When it comes to treats, these BOGO deals can really make a difference in how much you end up spending. You may even get lucky and find a snack and beverage deal that will take away most of the cost of the party.
3. Use the Printer
Sometimes, the party slips people’s minds and they wake up remembering that their child will have to bring 30 or more valentines to their class in the morning. If you’re broke, busy, tired or all three then you might want to turn to your old friend: the printer. You can quickly find free templates online for free that will make the kids in the class smile brightly. You can even print out multiple valentines on one sheet of paper, so you’ll minimize waste in this activity too. Of course, if you have plenty of time to get the cards printed out then you may want to look for exciting valentines that allow your child to show off their art skills or personal interests. This could bring more fun to the party and will help your child feel like they have a greater understanding of the holiday. Plus, it’s a whole lot less work for you.
4. DIY Cards
It seems like valentine’s day cards used to be made with love, rather than bought in a store. Now, you can easily take a step back and have your kids go retro for the holiday. Making your own cards can be a real treat that will help you get to know how your children feel about their classmates as well as their artistic tendencies. You might want to start out with helping the kids cut out a bunch of hearts. This is a great way to start off the DIY valentines and, if you use bulk construction paper or printer paper, it won’t cost you a lot of money. From there, you have the kids color the hearts, with paints or crayons, add glitter or sequences and other fun add-ons that will make each valentine special. You may also want to help the kids come up with cute valentine’s slogans. If you’re running dry on these then the internet will certainly help you find the perfect messages for each student. You might also buy a bag of snack candies or lolly pops to add the final touches. Without a doubt, the kids’ DIY valentines will be the star of the occasion.
5. Shop Carefully
A lot of people quickly head to the dollar store of choice when they get their list of Valentine’s day names. This can work in your favor sometimes, but often you end up spending more than you should on the cards. Although the initial price tag may seem smaller than department stores, you’ll probably find that the boxes also have fewer cards in them. This means you’ll have to buy two or three boxes, which will add up to even more money than you’d likely spend at a department store. Sometimes, you can find a great deal here though, but don’t go with your first option. Instead, shop around to see if you can work out a better overall price. The same thing goes when it comes to shopping around for items to go with the valentines. For instance, candy and balloons are probably best purchased at a bulk store, so you won’t have to stress individual prices.
6. Save the Extras
Without fail, it always seems that there’s a few extras in every single box of valentines bought. Generally, these end up winding up in the trash, which is a waste of money. The excess valentines can grow quickly if you have more than one child too. So, instead of tossing them away, put them in a safe place and pull them out next year. You may find you have enough mixed valentines to pass out to your child’s entire class. This will also allow your child to give a wider assortment of valentines, which may be more fun and suit the classroom better. Of course, you can do the same thing for some candies and accessories. For instance, if you had a birthday party at some point then you may want to use the left over balloons to add to the valentines. Themed pencils also add up in the home and make a cute little gift for the kids to enjoy during the school year. With all of the extras, you may end up paying nothing out of pocket for your child’s Valentine’s Day fun.
7. Take to the Kitchen
Whether you’re required to take Valentine’s Day snacks or you just want to do something nice, buying snacks can be a huge costly burden that will send your budget over the edge. One of the best things you can do here is make your foods from scratch. Cookies can be one of the cheapest items to make, especially if you keep them simple. Another great option is cupcakes. You can whip up the batter with just a few ingredients and red or pink icing is a breeze to make without forcing you to spend a penny. Kids are pretty easy to please, so you shouldn’t have to go to extra lengths to make them feel loved with treats. Of course, you may want to ask your child’s teacher ahead of time for a list of known food allergies before you take to planning. Once you’re cleared to try out your recipe, you may want to bring the kids in to lend a helping hand.
8. Go Natural
Another way to keep your Valentine’s Day treats frugal is to give the kids natural goodies. You can easily cut apples and serve them with peanut butter for a healthy snack that won’t leave them with ants in their pants. Vegetables with dips are another great option that won’t cut into your budget either. If you want to get creative, then ants on a log are usually a favorite for little kids that love a little fun with their food. Sure, you may not be as cool as the parent who splurged with ice cream or pizza, but the other parents will thank you when their child comes home slightly less hyperactive thanks to your snack. Plus, you may not want to add on to the calories the children are taking, which will show them how to make wise eating choices.
9. Utilize the Wardrobe
Many parents love to go out and buy their child a whole new outfit for the holiday party, when there’s really no reason to do so. Most kids have something red, pink or white in their wardrobe so you might want to start there. You can always add to the child’s attire by using heart appliques, as well as little cupid cut outs. You can print these and cut them out to place on the child’s clothing. Plus, your child might love sharing their holiday accessories with friends who admire the wardrobe add-ons. If you love to spice it up with a Valentine’s Day outfit, then make one yourself. Have the kids choose an old shirt, turn it inside out and use colored paints to write love messages, hearts and anything else that shows off the holiday fun. It’ll be a great rainy day project that the kids will love to show off at the party.
10. Consider the Teacher
A lot of students love to get their teachers gifts, especially when it comes to the holidays. So, your child may want to pass on a little love to the person who works hard to teach them every day. This doesn’t mean you have to go all out for the gift though. In fact, you may want to keep is as simple as a special cupcake or cookie made especially for the teacher. Your child may also want to make a special valentine, which is another great option. However, if you do want to splurge here, you might want to consider creating a cookie or soup in a jar or something else you can easily make at home. Your child’s teacher will be especially pleased to receive the thoughtful gift, especially if it’s homemade.
Your child’s Valentine’s Day party at school doesn’t have to mean you need to spend a small fortune to keep the event fun. There’s lots of ways you can cut back on spending while also ensuring your child has everything needed to fit in with the class. With a few simple tricks, you should be able to have a little extra money for the babysitter, so you and your special someone can have a Valentine’s Day celebration of your own, without having to worry about pinching pennies.
