How to celebrate a loved one’s birthday on a budget
Celebrating a loved one’s birthday should always be fun but often the cost of doing so can be daunting. Whether it be the rising cost of living, your student budget or an influx of birthdays within the same month meaning you need to cut back, there are still plenty of ways to make someone’s day special.
Homemade gifts
A handmade gift is a great way to cut down costs. Not only this, but they also have the added sentimental value of being handcrafted and are a great way to show the person that you have dedicated time to put together something you think they would really like.
Top tip: A homemade hamper of treats is a great budget-friendly present as it can be completely customised. You can also slowly build up the contents of them over a few months leading up to the birthday, meaning you can budget for them accordingly rather than panic buying.
Bulk buy birthday cards
One great way to ensure you aren’t caught short when a birthday comes around is to pre-buy lots of birthday cards when your budget allows for it, so you will always have one ready for the next birthday.
Top tip: Don’t forget special age cards such as 21st birthday cards, these make those milestone birthdays that extra bit special.
Consider a gift voucher
Often unfairly dubbed as an ‘easy option’, gift vouchers are a great idea. They are easily customised to both your exact budget and the interests of the recipient. They also encourage the giftee to treat themselves to something they really want, meaning the money you spend has gone to good use and there are no unwanted gifts sitting gathering dust at the back of the wardrobe.
Top tip: Vouchers don’t have to be exclusively for physical items, vouchers for subscription services or beauty treatments are really fun options that are unlikely to be gifted by others too.
Experiences over gifts
If neither homemade gifts nor vouchers are your thing then consider celebrating with an experience instead. Experiences don’t need to be lavish, it is the thought and prep that makes this a perfect way to celebrate on a budget. Some of our favourite ideas are a picnic in the park or an at-home movie night. Not only are these ideas very easy to pull off on a budget, but they are also easily personalised by incorporating the birthday boy or girl’s favourite food, drinks and film.
Top tip: Be sure to plan these well in advance and book out time in the giftee’s calendar to avoid disappointment!
It is important to remember that no matter the size of your budget, it is always possible to make someone feel special on their birthday, and the thought that goes into any celebration is often what means the most.
