Low Cost 18th Birthday Party Ideas
- Rock on, 18party image by TAlex from Fotolia.com
Turning 18 is a big rite of passage, and it deserves a fitting party. That being said, with the economy today, what can you do to make it special but not pricey? Even more, what can you do to make it fun for your teenager without having him think it's lame? - Fast drivingmodel speed car image by timur1970 from Fotolia.com
One of the best and most active things to do is have a "Midnight Madness" scavenger hunt. Teens love to drive, and this is a way they can be out on their own, but the "rents" can still be involved. The attendees divide into teams, and the organizer will have set about town clues that lead them from one point to the other. Set up prizes based on points acquired--a certain amount for how long it takes the team to find all the items, added points for things they can pick up on the way and even points for creativity.
A must for the "scavenger" part of the list is a hostage. It is usually worth big points and just requires they bring back someone who was not in the car when they left. Other examples include stamps, a pogo stick, postcards, toys, shells and candles. It makes the teams decide if it is worth stopping or whether being the fastest is enough to secure the win. The "midnight" portion comes with running it late at night--another thing that tends to make it fun for the teens. - Smilecamera image by Christopher Meder from Fotolia.com
A modified version of the above is something even easier to do today. It used to be called a "Polaroid Challenge," but now with digital cameras it is even less expensive. Again, there is a division of teams and a list of things they need to get. On this list, instead of collecting things, points are assigned for taking photos doing certain things or with certain types of people. Always fun is to put "with a celebrity, 100 points" to see if any of them come up with a creative way to make this happen. Those who think on their feet might take a photo with the team by a movie poster or cutout. These should be divided into pictures including the whole team or just one member. - Silver screen projectionold movie film onwhite background image by Anatoly Tiplyashin from Fotolia.com
Finally, rent a movie theater. Now that theaters are oftentimes set up to do conventions or meetings, the options are endless. Not only can you secure a print of a movie for less than $100, oftentimes you can rent the theater for $200 to $400 as long as you do it during an off time--and what teen doesn't like an excuse to miss school? You can also choose to show a slide show or a movie of the birthday girl. With everyone having video technology, phones and computers, you can easily compile a whole slew of videos as well as create a slide show to show on the big screen.
The even less expensive version is to pick up a blow-up screen for $170 and a computer projector for $70 and throw the party at home. This allows for the candy and snacks as well as a longer time frame. If you happen to have a pool, you can even make it a "dive in." - There are many options for putting together something unique and inexpensive so your special child will remember his special day forever.
