Free printable
Broke Dads Club · brokedadsclub.com
Birthday party budget template
Pick the spending limit and the kid count first. Then cake, one activity, done.
Set the spending limit and the kid count first. The sheet does the per-kid math so venue and favor limits stay obvious. Use the free and low-cost list when the bounce house quote is a joke.
Full write-up: birthday party math. Fill on your phone, print this page, or save as a PDF. No email required.
Type on your phone first, or open the filled sample to see how another dad ran it. Print keeps what you typed.
The numbers first
Pick the spending limit and the headcount. Everything else fits inside.
This party is
Max spend per kid
Total budget divided by guest count. That is the ceiling for food, favors, and the venue combined, per kid. Write it before you look at bounce houses.
Spend lines
Skip goodie bags if money is tight. Kids remember cake and attention more than plastic that breaks in the car.
Free / low-cost alternatives
If the venue quote is bigger than the max-per-kid number, pick from here.
Pick one activity
One theme, one main activity, cake. That is a party. Everything else is garnish.
90-minute run-of-show
- 0-15: Arrive, stickers, free play
- 15-45: Main activity
- 45-60: Cake + song
- 60-75: Open play
- 75-90: Gifts if you want them, then goodbye
Scripts
- To your kid: “Their party was big. Ours will be ours.”
- Hosting: “We're doing park + cake, come hungry.”
- Can't make it: “We can't make that one, thanks for including us.”
Tip: on mobile, tap Download PDF, then choose Save as PDF.
More free tools
Need a specific tracker? Email your idea and we will put it in the queue.