As you can see, a successful birthday party doesn't have to break the bank. All it takes is a little creativity and imagination, neither of which cost a dime. Try these ideas on for size as you're planning your child's next celebration:

• Bake your own cake – Preschoolers aren't choosy when it comes to eating cake. Sweets are just as good whether they're home-made or come from the bakery, and you don't have to be a culinary whiz to open up a box or two of cake mix and a can of ready-made frosting.
• Let the food be the entertainment – What kid wouldn't enjoy making her own sundae or decorating his own cookies or cupcakes? This type of activity involves two of a young child's favorite things: making a mess and eating desserts.
• Look around the house – Sometimes, ideas for a great party are right under your nose. Do you own a karaoke machine? Why not have a karaoke party where children take turns singing into the microphone? Clean out your closet and have a dress-up party with fun clothing and accessories. The possibilities are endless.
• Involve the children – Have a story time party where all of the kids are invited to bring their favorite books and dress up like the characters. Parents can take turns reading the books and you can award prizes for costumes. Or host a sing-along. The children can bring musical instruments from home or make things to shake or bang. If parents own a guitar or other instrument, their participation makes the day all the more special.
• Have a theme party involving crafts – Clowns can be scary and puppet shows and magicians may not hold a preschooler's attention for the duration of the performance. By hosting a "craft party," the children are involved throughout the whole event and even have something to bring home to hang on the fridge.
• Keep mess to a minimum – If you prefer to have the party at an outside location but don't want to shell out for the local pizza parlor, there are other less costly alternatives. Karin Bradley, of Brooklyn, N.Y., suggests using the local park as a party location. Parks are especially good if they have sheltered picnic tables. In fact, many parks will let you hold your party at no cost, but some do request a refundable deposit. A local church may have a basement or classroom that might also be available for little or no money.
• Never underestimate the power of the party game – You don't have to rent or bring in entertainment from outside for it to be enjoyable. The old stand-bys are not only inexpensive, they're fun. Ring-Around-the-Rosie, Musical Chairs and Pin the Tail on the Donkey are just as much fun now as when we were kids.