Birthdays Can Be Fun Again

Remember when you were a kid and birthday parties meant a game of Pin-The-Tail-on-the-Donkey, paper streamers and a birthday cake from the local grocery? No frills, no stress. You just made a list, mailed your invitations, ordered the cake and passed out party hats the day of the party. Whatever happened to the good 'ol days?

In this day and age, birthday parties seem to have gotten out of control (remember that $10,000 princess party for a 1 year old?). Somehow they have become a status symbol, much like the cars we drive or the neighborhood we live in. And each year the pressure is on to outdo last year's party. The pressure mounts, and the parents, in their desperate attempts not to disappoint, shell out big bucks for the fanciest party, best gift bags and coolest surprise birthday guest, creating a generation of kids who want more and even begin to feel they're entitled to it. Help!

Birthdays Without Pressure is here to help. They offer up some great suggestions for meaningful birthday parties that will leave everyone feeling good and your wallet still full. Birthdays, after all, are supposed to be fun, not stressful and expensive. They come every year like clockwork, so why not take the hassle out of these exciting days and just keep it low key. Everyone will benefit, and you'll walk away feeling good instead of wiped out, both financially and emotionally.