Birthdays as an adult are much less exciting than they were as a kid, and typically more expensive. As a child, I’d be over the moon about getting one or two new toys and a birthday cake made from a boxed mix. In adulthood, celebrating your birthday often means going out and buying overpriced drinks or dining at a nice restaurant to mark the occasion.
But if you’re on a budget like I am, you probably don’t have a lot of money to blow on your birthday. Luckily you can still make your birthday feel special without spending much. Here are 5 budget-friendly ways to celebrate this milestone as an adult.
Recreate Childhood Birthday Traditions
The things we did to celebrate our birthdays as kids were often simple and inexpensive. After all, we didn’t have much money of our own. It can be a lot of fun to recapture some of that childhood magic and recreate your favorite family birthday traditions.
If your mom let you eat donuts for breakfast on your birthday, you could swap your daily bowl of oatmeal for a Krispy Kreme. Maybe you wore a special crown at dinner, so you could order yourself a birthday sash and crown on Amazon. If your dad took you out for ice cream every year, you could get a cone to treat yourself. Or consider going to a trampoline park to relive the fun of having a bouncy castle at your birthday party.
You don’t have to act your age just because you’re getting older! Don’t underestimate the joy that can come from embracing simple childlike pleasures on your birthday.
Throw Yourself a Themed Party
As an adult, waiting around for someone else to throw you a surprise party or recognize your birthday can lead to disappointment. Friends and family don’t want to let us down, but often don’t have the bandwidth to organize our birthday celebrations. So I’ve started planning my own budget-friendly birthday festivities to take logistical and financial pressure off my loved ones.
This year I’m leaning into childhood nostalgia by throwing myself a themed birthday party like the ones I had as a kid. I have a small guest list, so I’m hosting the party at my house. I chose a Taylor Swift theme because she’s been my favorite artist since I was a preteen.
I’m going to put up purple streamers and balloons to represent my favorite Taylor Swift album, Speak Now. I’m planning to make purple hibiscus mocktails and a lavender colored cheesecake for dessert. Hopefully my guests will humor me and play Taylor Swift themed trivia and sing karaoke with me!
Birthday parties can be expensive when you host them at a public venue like a bar or restaurant. But it’s pretty cheap to have a themed party at home if you DIY the food and decor. The party supplies I bought on Amazon cost well under $50. The dollar store can also be a good place to score cheap party supplies and snacks.
Redeem Your Birthday Freebies
Redeeming birthday freebies is another thing you can do to make your day feel special on a limited budget. Many restaurants and fast food joints offer customers complimentary or discounted products on their birthday. Usually you have to sign up for a restaurant’s rewards program to redeem your goodies, so don’t forget to register ahead of time.
My favorite freebies are dessert-related because I have a huge sweet tooth. I love going to Culver’s for a free scoop of ice cream on my birthday. Dairy Queen usually sends me some kind of BOGO ice cream offer as well. Starbucks also offers a free birthday drink or baked good. Even in my small town with limited restaurant choices, I can usually find several birthday offers to redeem.
Do Something You Love
What’s something you love to do that you usually don’t have time for? For me, it’s going to the beach. Although I only live about 40 minutes from the water, I don’t make it there nearly as often as I’d like because I’m so busy. I made sure to reserve some time in my calendar this week to take a relaxing drive along the coastline to celebrate my birthday.
Most of us don’t have a lot of time for self-care or hobbies. Unscheduled free time probably wouldn’t have felt like a gift as a kid. But in adulthood, setting aside a few hours to do whatever you want and recharge can feel downright blissful! Make sure to do something that fills your cup on your birthday, such as taking a hike in nature with friends or rewatching your favorite movie series.
Mini Shopping Spree
Shopping sprees are a popular birthday activity that can break your wallet if you aren’t careful. Instead of going wild at the mall, I prefer to visit the thrift store, Five Below, or a dollar store to get my shopping fix. If you shop at stores with reasonably priced merchandise, you can afford to treat yourself to a few fun items on your birthday without stressing over the cost.
Birthdays can feel like just another day when you’re an adult. But with some creativity and planning, you can find inexpensive ways to make the occasion special.
What are some wallet-friendly ways you celebrate your birthday as an adult? Share your tips and plans in the comments!
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Vicky Monroe is a freelance personal finance and lifestyle writer. When she’s not busy writing about her favorite money saving hacks or tinkering with her budget spreadsheets, she likes to travel, garden, and cook healthy vegetarian meals.
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