In the ’90s, every self-respecting elementary school student in the sandbox got to experience that glorious moment when they could smugly hand out invitations to their birthday party at McDonald’s.
Receiving one of those postcard invitations from McDonald’s was like being invited to a debutante ball. Or maybe I just had a deprived childhood, whatever.
Fast forward to 2019, and many companies now offer overworked parents the opportunity to outsource the planning of their birthday parties.
Unfortunately, some birthday party packages are as expensive as wedding dinners, except your party guests will compensate you with Barbie dolls instead of angbaos. To make it less painful for you, there are some birthday party packages available for under $500.
1. McDonald’s
Back then, when McDonald’s Birthday Parties were all the rage, they were one of the premium options for parents who didn’t mind spending money on their kids. These days, with all these party planners charging top dollar for over-the-top themed events, the humble McDonald’s party seems cheap by comparison. The best part is that most kids really can’t tell the difference between McDonald’s and McQueen (and if they can, that’s probably your own fault).
For a starting price of $12 per child (minimum 15 children), you get a birthday cake, a hostess with a lot of heart to play games and keep the kids entertained so you can keep playing on your smartphone, and goodie bags for each participant. From a parent’s perspective, the price is the most attractive part, because it’s low enough to compete with DIY.
Cost: From $12 per child
Suitable for: Parents on a budget, pretty much the same reason people eat at McDonald’s
Addresses:
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448 Ang Mo Kio Ave 10 #01-1693
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1o Ang Mo Kio Park St 12
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632 Bukit Batok Central #01-138
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533 Choa Chu Kang Street 51 #01-01
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762 Jurong West Street 75 #02-250
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208 Hougang Road 21 #01-217
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200 Stadium Boulevard
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Marine Cove, 1000 East Coast Parkway, East Coast Park #01-05
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267 Serangoon Ave 3 #01-37
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369 Sembawang Road #01-01
2. KFC Birthday Party
If you prefer chicken to Ronald McDonald’s, you’ll be happy to hear that KFC also offers birthday packages.
The KFC party package for 20 people costs $250 and includes 20 pieces of chicken, 20 regular cups of mashed potatoes, 60 nuggets, 20 cups of regular iced Milo and 20 goodie bags. The birthday child receives a birthday gift.
Additional guests will be charged a fee of $12.50 per guest.
The cute Colonel Sanders themed gift bag includes magnetic darts, a party mask, stickers and stationery. If your family is really a big fan of Colonel Sanders, you can also get him to make appearances and host games.
Contact [email protected] or call 6233 8281 for more information.
Cost: From $12.50 per child
Suitable for: Parents on a budget and kids who love fried chicken
Addresses: Selected KFC branches
3. The Cage @ Kallang
If your child is the ultimate soccer fan, the best place for the party might be a soccer field. You can rent a cage soccer field for just $128.
The price includes 2 hours of pitch rental, footballs and jerseys, cleaning service, an A1 poster of the birthday child, e-invitations and table preparation!
All participating children must be over 6 years old.
Cost per child: For 6 children, the cost of renting the room is $21.30 (without meals)
Suitable for: Football fanatic
Address: 28 Jalan Benaan Kapal, Singapore 399635
4. Children are amazed at SAFRA
The massive Kidz Amaze indoor playgrounds in SAFRA Toa Payoh and Jurong are multi-storey dens for Spiderman trainees. They remind me a bit of the monkey enclosures at the zoo or those giant hamster enclosures with multiple slides and ladders.
The cheapest Kidz Amaze Birthday Package costs $396.45 for Kidz Amaze members, $417.30 for SAFRA members and $449.90 for guests and can accommodate up to 20 children who can then have fun in the play maze and private party room for 3 hours. Party decorations and invitations are also included.
Cost: Up to $22.50 per child (non-SAFRA members)
Suitable for: Children accused of being hyperactive
Address: 293 Lor 6 Toa Payoh, Singapore 319387
5. Thyme @ Aliwal
Thyme @ Aliwal, formerly EatPlayLove Cafe, is a western cafe that offers fusion cuisine. The interior is eclectic and there is an art corner where your kids have unlimited access to materials for just $5 on weekdays and $10 on weekends.
The trick is that you need at least 25 people to book a party package, and children only count as half a person. If you have friends, relatives or other parents who want to celebrate with you, get them to come along as backup.
Maximum capacity is 65 to 75 people and bookings start at $625.
Cost: From $25 per child
Suitable for: Parents who want to spend time with peers
Address: 28 Aliwal St, #01-07, Singapore 199918
6. Time zone
For a child, letting Sarah Jessica Parker loose in a Manolo Blahnik store is the same as letting her loose in an arcade with a bag full of tokens. You don’t have to think for even a second about how to entertain your young charges.
There Timezones Party Packages Come on in. For $28 per person, kids can play unlimited yellow auto reader machines and 2 attraction games.
If you want to spend more money, there is also a birthday party package for 10 people for $640, which includes a birthday gift, 3 hours in the party room, 3 hours of game time, 1 party host and online invitation cards. Food is $20 per person and is paid separately.
Cost: From $28 per child
Suitable for: Kids who are gamers
7. Splash @ Kidz Amaze
In addition to Kidz Amaze Playground in Toa Payoh, Kidz Amaze Safra offers a water playground called Splash in Punggol SAFRA. The package includes 3 hours use of the party room, a themed room with tables and chairs, a McDonald’s Happy Meal for 20 kids and free entry to the water playground for the birthday child.
The package for 20 people starts at $800, but costs more if you are not a member.
Cost: From $40 per child
Suitable for: Children who love water
Address: 9 Sentul Cres, Level 3, Singapore 828654
Have you ever thrown a big birthday party for your child? Tell us about it in the comments!
Related articles
Top 10 things to do with kids during school holidays in Singapore for every budget
The 5 Most Important Money Lessons You Need to Teach Your Kids
10 Free Indoor Playgrounds in Singapore for Babies and Kids (Shopping Malls Included!)
The post 7 Cheap Kids’ Birthday Party Packages Under $40 Per Child first appeared on the MoneySmart blog.
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