The past year and a half have been pretty different to the majority of years that the majority of us have experienced. The coronavirus and Covid-19 pandemic has wrought havoc across the world, leaving chaos and difficulty in its wake and impacting all areas of our lives. One area that the virus didnβt fail to have a negative effect on? Birthdays. Usually, the majority of us celebrate birthdays multiple times a year for all of our nearest and dearest. But social distancing and social isolation rules have meant that many of us have been unable to celebrate in the way weβd like to and that many birthday traditions have had to be abandoned. The good news? With the rollout of vaccines around the world taking place and with many countries easing Covid safety measures, normal life seems to be set to return and many of us are looking forward to being able to celebrate birthdays as we please again. Now, if one of your little ones has a big day on the approach, you may want to start planning now. Here are some areas to focus on to help make their big day as special as possible!
Make Sure to Follow the Rules
Itβs important to say, first and foremost, that it is still absolutely essential that you follow the rules implemented by your government or local area when it comes to celebrating your little onesβ birthday. Sure, things may be feeling more normal, but major parties still arenβt currently allowed and there are limits on numbers both indoors and outdoors when it comes to socialising. Sure, these measures may lift. But you do need to keep an eye on the guidance being given at the time when planning the birthday events. This will help to ensure everyoneβs health and safety. It will also prevent you from finding yourself subject to fines. Finally, it will prevent you from planning activities that could end up cancelled, resulting in disappointment for your little one.
Set Yourself a Budget
Next, you need to make sure that you set yourself a budget for your celebrations. Sure, it can feel exciting getting ready for a birthday – especially when your children are excited. But most of us do need to bear in mind that this has been a difficult financial year for many of us. The pandemic has had a negative impact on many industries and jobs. Unemployment is at a high and many of us are out of work, redundant or getting by on a reduced income. Make sure that you figure out how much you can reasonably spend and stick to this figure. All too often, many of us find ourselves overspending. We tend to underestimate the cost of different things we pick up to celebrate – whether thatβs presents, decorations, cakes, cards or anything else. Overspending is negative in that it can see your kids have to go without essentials as a result of overspending on their birthday. Instead, by setting a budget, you can make sure that you stay within your means and that everyone can live comfortably going forward. To budget for the birthday, make sure to take a look at your usual budget. Determine how much money you bring in each month and then take out essential costs. These costs can include rent or mortgage payments, electricity, water, food and more. You will be left with a sum that represents your disposable income. Make sure to spend less than this sum and you should stay debt free!
Consider a Delayed Party
If your kid is set on a party, you could arrange one for a later date. This will hopefully see the party take place at a safer and less turbulent time. Plus, itβs more likely to go ahead without cancellation! Choose the venue or activity with your little one, come up with a guest list and look into A5 invitation printing for high-quality invitations to send out.
Be Organised with Gifts
The more organised you are with any gifts you may want to get your child, the more likely you are to secure the presents that you want to give or that have been specifically requested. Some toys are in high demand, so shopping sooner rather than later can help to get your hands on them. You can also find that you have more time to make the most of sales, offers and other special prices.
Of course, a whole lot more can go into planning a birthday – especially during a pandemic. But for now, the above areas of focus should give you something to consider and can help to get the process going!