We all know the economy isn’t great right now but that doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice fun and style when it comes to giving birthday parties. If you’re the designated party-thrower in your family, these tips will help keep expenses down, while still allowing you to create an event no one will forget:

Be Creative with the Birthday Party Theme

Why not try something different, like a theme that would also be affordable for both your party guests and you? For a kids party, the guests can bring low-cost items that would be appropriate for a  homeless shelter that serves families or a local animal rescue organization. If you call the organization’s manager, you can get a list of low-cost items you can recommend to your guests. Instruct them to wrap the items as if they were regular birthday gifts and then everyone can go as a group to deliver them. Doing this would be a meaningful experience for everyone and would also teach the children the true concept of giving.

If the event is for an adult, you can help your guests save money by having a recycling/re-gifting party. Most people have at least one gift in their closets that they’ve been given but don’t want, so let them wrap them up and give them again! Make sure everyone knows who is on the guest list, though, so people don’t bring gifts they got from someone who’ll be at the party! If you’re worried about hurt feelings, people can just bring impulse purchases they made but have never used. Make sure to provide a specific dollar limit for the gifts, so people at all income levels can participate.

Make Your Own Birthday Party Decorations and Invitations

The Internet has an unbelievable selection of free invitations for kids and adults. So why spend money on invitations from a specialty store when printing them at home is so easy and inexpensive? There are also lots of birthday graphics options on the Web, which make great party decorations. If you can find high resolution art, you can make your own banners and signs for the party. If you can’t find the right kind of clip art, you can at least use smaller art to make table place holders or to cut out and sprinkle throughout flower arrangements or plants. If the guest of honor likes vintage art, you can print an assortment of printable birthday cards and tie them with fancy ribbons to a string that forms a garland. This will create a distinctive old-time feel and make the room look great! To finish off the antique theme, you can get mix-and-match used plates and silverware at a thrift store instead of buying paper plates and plastic knives, forks and spoons.

The key to creating a memorable birthday party is to be creative. If you implement even the most low-cost ideas with style, no one will ever know the party was actually a bargain!