Family Fun
How to Have an Eco-Nomical Birthday
By Martha Miller
Giving your child a memorable birthday party is one of the many pleasures of being a parent. But it's easy to get carried away at the party supplies aisle where everything seems inexpensive…until you check out. Tossing disposable plates, cups, napkins, banners, table coverings, and decorations into your cart can easily add up to a hefty chunk of change before even buying a single birthday present and sadly, most of it will end up in the trash as soon as the party is over.
The good news is that kids' parties don't have to be elaborate or expensive (or bad for the environment). Keep these ideas in mind to avoid busting the budget on distractions that don't add value to your party and are destined for the city dump.
Party Supplies
Check the cupboards before heading to the store. Do you already have colorful plastic plates and cups? Remember children are looking at the cake on the plate — not the plate. And if you do need to purchase supplies, try to buy something reusable. Leah Ingram, who blogs about spending wisely (http://suddenlyfrugal.wordpress.com), says her daughter wanted cafeteria-style trays for her backyard barbeque birthday party. "We spied cherry red trays at Target and snapped up 20," says Leah. "So much of what we got for the party is reusable. I don't have to worry about anything dropping and breaking, and we don't create any waste because we're not using paper plates or cups. Plus, everything is dishwasher safe."
Cloth vs. disposable? No, we're not talking diapers, but table coverings. Is a huge plastic tablecloth necessary? At $2.99 they're cheap enough, but if it's thrown in the garbage following the party, is it really? Washable tablecloths and oilcloth (the plastic-coated kind) in colorful vintage prints are back in style. Wash or wipe 'em clean and use them again and again. Not only does the oilcloth retain its color, but when it is pulled out of the linen closet, you know it's time to party! 
Wrapping Paper and Cards
It's all in the presentation, or is it? We've all witnessed the lightning-fast opening of the gifts and the immediate trashing of the trash. Why spend a lot of money on wrapping paper, bows and greeting cards? I bought a one-pound bag of scrap card stock ($4) a few years ago and several decorative edge scissors. Using a hole punch, I haven't needed to buy cards or gift tags since. Plus, I love the homemade look. My four-year-old son also enjoys making cards for special occasions, adding to his excitement for the upcoming event. Cloth gift bags are growing in acceptance. They're a super smart buy — easy to wrap and easy to reuse. Sunday comics make great wrapping paper as do brown paper bags cut open. Wrap the present, and then decorate with crayons, markers and the gazillion stickers you've received in goodie bags in the past.
Favors
Or, in my case, no favors, por favor. My son is just tickled to have gone to the party, eaten cake and played with other kids. He would never notice not receiving a "goodie bag" but parents for whatever reason feel obliged. If you feel bad sending your child's guests home empty handed, find meaningful alternatives to a plastic bag filled with dollar-store trinkets that will only hold their attention for the time it takes to drive home. For the same cost, give something that ties into your party theme and will give kids something to do later. For example, a backyard party lends itself to natural wood birdhouses that can be painted at home. Craft Kits and Supplies (www.craftkitsandsupplies.com) offers birdhouses and butterfly house kits from $2.99. The price drops further for quantities of three, six and ten. Even less expensive is a small bag of birdseed tied with yarn or curly ribbon to feed birds later in the day.
Consider doing a craft during the party that could double as the favor. For a garden-theme party, give each guest a small terra cotta pot and some flower seeds. Scooping dirt and planting seeds are really fun for kids, and then they can take the pots home to watch their flowers grow.
Or just forego favors. Have your child give guests hugs as they leave, making sure they thank everyone for their gift and for coming to the party. Teaching your child good manners, priceless.
Sustainable Traditions
What do you remember from your birthday parties? For years when I was little, my mother baked an angel food cake and frosted it with the prettiest, stickiest, pink frosting ever. She popped in plastic roses, ballerina candle holders, and was done. I loved it! When I was in college, I asked my mom to re-create that birthday cake for me and she did! She held onto those ballerinas all that time. What a …ahem… sweet memory!
If you haven't yet started any birthday traditions, let this be the year. Special plates that say, "You are special today!" repeated around the edge are a great way to recognize the birthday boy or girl. Sue Cole, mom of three and co-founder of Sacramento Parent Magazine, says, "These plates can also be brought out to celebrate everyday triumphs, like losing a tooth, using the potty, playing nicely or learning to cartwheel."
Martha Miller is a freelance writer and editor. Her work has appeared in many family magazines.
This article appeared originally in the February 2010 issue of Genesee Valley Parent Magazine.