4 ways to celebrate your child's birthday, honour God and not break the bank

The celebration of a birthday brings excitement, anticipation, and lots of fun. Celebrating a child’s birthday increases their self-esteem, sense of belonging, and overall well-being. But are parties now becoming too expensive to host given the current climate? A recent article in The Times suggests they are, with many parents delaying parties—leading to a dip in the party industry in the UK.

The cost of a party has been a topic of conversation long before my children were small. The financial crash of 2008, the Covid-19 pandemic, and now the cost-of-living crisis have all meant that parents have had to prioritise household essentials over extras like leisure and parties. As a result, hundreds of articles and social media posts have offered advice on how to reduce the costs of birthday celebrations—from DIY at-home events to small, intimate gatherings. One thing is certain: the trend for celebrating hasn’t stopped, but the way we throw parties in the UK is changing. With the average cost of a child’s birthday party reportedly at £524, many are trying to find ways to bring that cost down.

Celebrating life to the full doesn’t require endless financial resources.

There has also been a significant rise in online shopping through platforms like Shein and Temu. When I was planning a wedding 18 months ago, my social media feed was flooded with videos showing how to throw an ‘extravagant’ party for a fraction of the cost using these sites. Despite ethical concerns about buying cheap goods from China, Temu has become the fastest-growing app in recent years. It reported a monthly increase of 53% in users during 2024, equating to 9.9 million people in the UK using the app regularly. This growth is largely due to Temu’s ability to sell to the UK market without paying import tariffs, keeping product costs low.

Celebrating life’s milestones is part of what it means to be human. Yet birthday parties as we know them today—with cake and candles—didn’t really begin until the 18th century. Over my lifetime, birthday parties have evolved from inviting a few close friends over for tea and cake at home to hiring out trampoline parks and inviting the entire class—regardless of whether they are close friends or not.

The rise of social media in the past decade has also influenced how we plan and host parties. For some, throwing an ‘Instagram-ready’ party can seem more important than the person being celebrated. Creating perfectly curated, aesthetically pleasing images in a dreamy location to share online often defines the perceived success of a party. Perhaps we need to reevaluate the meaning behind the celebration. Has the focus shifted from centring the celebration on the child to centring it on the host? I would suggest that it has. This shift has created a pressure to outdo the last party, placing an enormous burden on families who are already struggling with rising household costs.

What does God think about birthday parties?

The Bible only mentions two birthday parties—those of Pharaoh in the Old Testament and Herod Antipas in the New Testament—both of whom did not follow God. However, we know Jesus attended celebrations; His first miracle took place at a wedding in Cana. We also know that God sees us as worth celebrating (Psalm 139). But we are also called to honour God with our money and avoid debt—especially when it comes to buying things we can’t afford or throwing lavish parties that jeopardise our financial stability.

So how can we centre a party around our child, avoid debt, and honour God?

1. Find ways to authentically honour the birthday child.
   One of my cousins creates a birthday placemat for their child each year. It simply has their name and age in the centre, surrounded by words and Scriptures that describe them. For example: Anna, 7. Beautiful. Kind. Caring. Brave. Created for good works (Ephesians 2:10). This serves as a beautiful reminder of how they are seen and valued by both their family and God.

2. Put down your phone.
   Of course, you’ll want to take photos—and that’s great! But be mindful of why you’re picking up your phone. Is it to capture a moment or to scroll social media? Try to live in the moment. Better still, leave your phone for the day and use a digital camera.

Read more:

Feeling the pinch? Here’s my way of helping families steward God’s resources

How do I entertain my children cheaply during half term?

1. Create a day that suits your child and their needs.
   My birthday is in the summer, when we would often be camping as a family. All I ever wanted was a birthday cake with candles to blow out—but camping made that impossible. What would make your child feel special? A picnic in the park? A tea party with friends? A day with Granny? This may involve some negotiation, as you steer your child toward what’s practically possible. As much as they might dream of having Alton Towers to themselves, that’s not realistic for most of us. But having the conversation makes them feel seen and heard—and that’s just as meaningful as the party itself.

2. Take the pressure off yourself.
   Life isn’t a competition, and what you see on social media isn’t always real. Real life is both beautiful and messy. It’s the picture of a child in hand-me-down clothes, with mud on their knees, ice cream on their face, and the biggest smile—just because. Just be you. Celebrate those around you. My greatest accomplishment is raising three humans who love the Lord—not the parties I threw for them.

Jesus said He came to give us “life, and life to the full” (John 10:10). To me, that means meaningful relationships, time to build memories, and moments of joy—like birthdays. And to do all that in a way that doesn’t cause financial or social pressure. Maybe the answer is to celebrate with genuine authenticity, staying within your means, ceating a celebration that says: “You are loved more than you know—not just by us, but by your Heavenly Father.”

Celebrating life to the full doesn’t require endless financial resources. It requires the intentionality to centre the celebration around the person, using what you already have. For 7-year-old me, that meant spaghetti bolognese with my best friends and a Mr. Men cake with candles to blow out for pudding