13 Inexpensive Birthday Party Ideas For Small Budgets (2024)

Just because you are on a budget doesn’t mean your party can’t be absolutely fabulous! These 13 inexpensive birthday party ideas will help you create an awesome birthday celebration without breaking the bank.

Along with providing party ideas that help you celebrate in style, even on a shoestring budget, Peerspace has plenty more to contribute to your party. As the largest online marketplace for hourly venue rentals, we make it easy to find and book birthday party-perfect venues in locations around the world. Rely on our platform to connect you with penthouses, art galleries, cafes, mansions, lofts, and more, with an easy-to-toggle search engine that allows you to filter venues by price.

But now, let’s get on to our favorite inexpensive birthday party ideas that make your next gathering a huge success!

1. Rent an event venue on the cheap with Peerspace

Just because you are looking for inexpensive birthday party ideas doesn’t mean you have to settle for a boring party at home. You can still wow your guests on a budget!

One great way to do so is by renting an affordable birthday party venue on Peerspace. Since Peerspace allows you to search for venues within specific budgets, you can book the perfect space for your party in a matter of minutes.

Need a few ideas? Here are some stylish and affordable options:

• This light-filled storefront in Center City, Philadelphia, PA (pictured above) with space for 20 guests, tables and chairs, makeup stations, and beautiful decor for $50 per hour.
• This private swimming pool with guest house access in Los Angeles, CA with space for 8 guests, a full backyard space, and a kitchen for $60 per hour.
• This garden-style event space in Vancouver, BC for up to 55 guests with a projector, tables and chairs, an open floor plan, and optional catering services for $50 per hour.
• This creative industrial vibe studio in London, UK for up to 30 guests with A/V equipment, chairs, a floral wall, and an open layout for £45 per hour.
• This BYOB event space in Irving Park, Chicago, IL with space for 40 guests, colorful decor, seating, speakers, and a kitchenette for $35 per hour.

As you can see, Peerspace can help you discover affordable venues in cities across the globe! Many do not need extra decor or amenities since they’re already ultra-stylish and well-equipped. However, if you need anything, contact the venue’s local host and they’ll be happy to help you. Peerspace makes it easy to plan an epic gathering on any budget!

2. Write out a budget and stick to it

To stay on budget, you first need a budget. How much are you realistically able and willing to spend on this party? There are several facets to party planning that you need to consider before assigning yourself an overall budget.

Separate your budget by categories, for example:

• The venue
• The food and drinks
• The decorations
• The entertainment.

Then, set a price tag on each category that you will stick to. Remember that it’s easy to use Peerspace to book party venues that offer the amenities above while helping you stay on budget!

3. Create a ‘must-have’ list and then avoid any extras

If you go out to buy things for your birthday party, it can be easy to get carried away and buy every cute decoration you see and every delicious snack you lay your eyes on. Even inexpensive birthday party ideas and expenses can add up quickly.

Instead, before you buy anything for the party, create a list of what you ‘must have’, and don’t stray from your list when shopping. It may sound too simple to be effective, but deciding on and writing out your must-have items helps to train your brain to stay on point and keep your budget firmly in mind.

Check out these creative birthday party ideas to come up with more birthday-planning fun!

4. Keep the guest list small to help you stay on budget

If you are looking for inexpensive birthday party ideas, you may be surprised to find out that it’s less about what you buy and more about how much you buy. Ultimately, inviting more guests means renting a large space, buying more food, and purchasing more decorations. Cutting down the guest list can be a quick way to bring your party back on budget.

To find the perfect small party event space, head to Peerspace and search for all the amazing venues in your location that suit your budget. You can easily find smaller spaces by adjusting the number of guests at the search bar or by using keywords like “intimate” to filter venues that describe themselves thusly.

Peerspacers in Dallas, TX who do so will discover venues like this intimate airy yoga studio in the heart of Dallas. It has space for 15 guests and provides yoga mats, a refrigerator, cubbies for guests to place their items, speakers, and a beautiful plant-filled ambiance. All this for just $45 an hour to boot!

5. Celebrate on a weekday

Oftentimes, you can get great deals on birthday venues if you book midweek instead of on a weekend. So instead of planning a weekend birthday party, how about a fabulous birthday bash on a weekday night? This could cut your rental costs in half!

For example, this West Midtown multipurpose event space in Atlanta venue rents for just $35 an hour, Monday through Friday, 11 am to 4 pm! It has space for 50 guests, A/V equipment, tables and chairs, and a slew of party must-haves at an additional discounted rate.

6. Send digital invitations for free

Rather than paying for the costs to print invitations and mail them — just send your invites digitally instead! While it’s nice to be able to send out hard copy invitations, it’s an unnecessary cost when you are looking for ways to save money on your birthday celebration.

Plus, the money saved on invitations can be used to make your celebration that much better on the day of the event, with money freed up for extra decorations, drinks, or tasty treats!

7. Bake your own birthday cake

A beautifully designed cake doesn’t have to come from a cake shop. With a little bit of creativity and dedication, you can make your own gorgeous cake! Most of the ingredients in cakes are fairly cheap, it’s the time that goes into decorating them that makes cakes so expensive to buy.

You can also opt to make your birthday cake at your birthday party as a fun activity to enjoy with your party guests. If you and your guests are creative and love baking, why not? At the very least, you can bake birthday cupcakes before the party and then have a decorating contest along with your guests during the party.

So if you are willing to put in a little elbow grease and channel your inner artist, making a cake can be a great way to save money for your birthday party! 

8. Eat a potluck-style birthday party dinner

Rather than providing food for everyone at the party, invite your guests to bring a dish to share! This might take a little coordination to ensure you have a variety of dishes at the party, but it can save you a bundle of money in the long run. Make it easy on yourself and your inner party planner by using this free editable potluck sign-up sheet to share online with your party guests.

9. Host your birthday party in a space that comes fully set up

The time and cost of perfectly setting up, decorating, and cleaning up a birthday party space can add up fast. Especially if you are going all out with tables, a stage, a sound system, decorations, and more. Luckily, there are Peerspace venues around the world that come with all of these elements covered as part of your overall cost.

For example, this New York City venue includes event design, decor consultation, set-up, and tear-down, all included as part of its hourly rate. It’s also a stylish space with room for 50 guests, so you won’t be skimping on style and space just to suit your budget. In the end, all you have to do is show up and party! 

Check out what a Peerspace reviewer shared after booking their own birthday party here. “If I can give this place 20 stars I would. Let me tell you from start to end EVERYTHING WAS AMAZING. MS.NORA WAS PHENOMENAL!!!! THE BARTENDER WAS AWESOME!! THE SET UP… I’M SPEECHLESS. I WANTED TO CRY IT WAS SO GOOD. “

Our outdoor birthday party ideas are fun, chic, and budget-friendly. Check them out!

10. Go thrifting for party attire

We get that you want to look absolutely stunning on your birthday. But you don’t have to spend a fortune to do so! You can often find some truly fashionable treasures at the thrift market. It might take a few trips and some dedicated searching, but it’s all worth it for the perfect outfit for your special day!

11. Keep an eye out for sales

Whether it’s decorations, food, or booze — it’s worth keeping an eye on sales for the months and weeks leading up to your party! While you don’t want to wait too long and not have everything you need, if you start looking around early for the supplies, you’ll likely be able to find many at a discount.

12. Book a venue with A/V equipment included

Dancing is a must at any birthday party! But audio/visual equipment for your dance floor isn’t going to be cheap — unless you rent a venue that already comes with all the A/V equipment you need, that is!

For example, check out this gorgeous large event space in Los Angeles, CA that not only comes with A/V equipment included in the pricing, but also seating for 55 guests, a stage, and an A/V technician! You can also make use of the space’s wide open space to let your imagination run wild.

13. Book a venue that offers you a multi-hour discount

Finding and booking the perfect birthday party venue through Peerspace comes with many perks, many of which we’ve listed above (amenities included, helpful hosts, low prices, etc.!). Another amazing perk that you can enjoy with the right venue is multi-hour discount rentals.

As an example, check out this intimate event loft with stunning river and city views in Miami, FL. It’s a gorgeous and multi-faceted space that includes a two-story event loft and a furnished balcony overlooking downtown Miami. Best of all, it costs just $90 per hour, and the host, Keisha, offers you a 15% discount if you book for eight or more hours! Be sure to view all of the photos to imagine all of the possibilities at this venue and start dreaming of a Miami budget-friendly birthday party!

Inexpensive birthday party ideas: conclusion

We hope that, by now, you can use inexpensive birthday party ideas like these and still host an epic event. Of course, it helps to have a priceless resource like Peerspace on hand to make it happen with ease and style!

Start your own search today to connect with venues that fit your budget and aesthetics. If you have any questions or requests, simply reach out to the venue’s host through the listing page and start a dialogue. Between Peerspace’s affordable, well-equipped spaces and its dedicated hosts, your birthday party can boast champagne style on a brewski budget.

Find unique birthday party venues on Peerspace