Do you have any ideas for a budget-friendly birthday party?

I would check out partycity.com or orientaltradingco.com they have GREAT stuff for cheap and lots of themed party stuff. Also, if you are on a tight budget I would just buy a few decorative ideas, and the cake and just pick the plates and stuff up at dollartree.com or at your local dollar tree if you have one...

I do. Get tools from your SO or anyone else you know that has tools. Tie little name tags on them with their names, Squeeze, Philpe,....and so on. Use a tool box for a center piece to hold the napkins, cups and all that stuff. You might want to think about getting a pinta too. Hard hats as favors would be great. Serve something like tacos or empanatas. I would get supplies from your local party supply store. Or check out CelebrateExpress.com, they have tons of cool stuff. Or to save money on that kind of thing, just by plain colored things. Maybe red cups, blue plates, bandanas for napkins, a tarp for a table cloth. I am all about the cheap. Oh, and instead of paying that extra $ for the little figures that go on the cake, have one decorated as usual and put on some Handy Manny toys you find, that way its a birthday gift that she can play with too.

My son loves this show! Go to disneychannel.com and find the Handy Manny link...somewhere on the preschool part of the website they have birthday party ideas. I think you can print out invites and other stuff like that. Good luck!

I recently did my daughter's 2nd birthday in curious george. I bought the curious george table cloth and a few decorations and invites, but the plates and cups and napkins I bought each in a different solid color at walmart for $1 each. It was very bright and colorful.

Continued from Mom401:

DECORATIONS:
Party Tablecloth: use large blank newsprint roll paper and tape pictures or sketches of various carpenters, electricians, construction trucks, house builders, plumbers, etc. Attach a long, rolled out vinyl measuring tape to the sides so the kids can have fun "counting" and measuring various things. Little name place setting wheelbarrows with some type of gift candy in them. Ask Hobby stores how to make them. Or, use little construction helmets, making them out of some type of cut-out fruit or vegetable? Or just use someone's helmet and fill it with flowers or fruit as a table centerpiece. Have them bring their own thermoses for "cups."

Part 3 of Mom401's answers:

GAMES: the kid's wooden peg set where they Hammer the pegs into round holes...who is fastest? Counting the number of large screws in a small glass container. Set out professional tools and ask the kids to name them. Use a tool belt, work gloves, safety eye goggles, level with that bubble in the middle, a wrench, screwdriver, a hammer, stud finder (fun device), tool box, sink fixtures, electrical switch plate, drop cloth, paint brush and roller. Go to local hardware store or your husband or dad's tool box and ask for them to gather these items ahead for you to save time.

i am currently doing my son's 2nd bday in manny!!! i am taking a apliance box and painting it to make mr lowparts store....will be filled with candy... i am makeing a bright piata with a ballon and some cones and streameers, i am making a 3d tool box cake, and i got all the decorations online cheap on this site.....

http://www.birthdaydirect.com/kids-birthday-party-supplies-handy-manny-c-1076_2617.html

super cheap and they have free 3 day shipping!!! good luck, i'm doing it like manny has a bday, so all fiesta type stuff goes!!!