Sleepover Party

• 1). Send invitations that tie into your party's theme. Look for invitations with themes that specify "13th birthday" or "sleepover party" to get your guests excited.
  
  
• 2). Cook your own foods for the party, such as homemade pizza, hot dogs on the grill, microwave popcorn and cheap snacks.
  
  
• 3). Rent a movie to serve as your main party activity.
  
  
• 4). Prepare games to play that are both inexpensive and fun. One option is to create a scrapbook for the birthday girl or boy by giving a blank page to each guest and telling them to decorate it with pictures, fun memories and nice wishes for their friend. The star of the night can create the cover page.
  
  
• 5). Tell guests to bring their own sleeping bags and spend the rest of the night bonding and talking.
  
  
• 6). Provide a light breakfast of cereal and milk or create an omelet bar for a choice that is not too costly. Prepare a few dishes of diced vegetables, as well as some shredded cheese, and have guests request two choices each to go in their eggs.
  
  

Camp Out Party

• 1). Invite friends using invitations that reflect a camp-out party, such as one with stars, marshmallows or tents. Instruct them to bring sleeping bags.
  
  
• 2). Set up camping tents in your backyard. You can use your own, borrow from a friend, or find them for cheap at places like the Salvation Army.
  
  
• 3). Plan a BBQ for dinner. Chicken wings and hot dogs are two delicious and affordable options. They also make good choices because they cook quickly on a grill so guests won't have to wait too long for their food. Turkey dogs are an option for vegetarian kids.
  
  
• 4). Set up a condiment table with bowls of ketchup, mustard, chips and pretzels, as well as sodas and ice cubes. Prepare the ingredients for s'mores or roasted marshmallows for after dinner.
  
  
• 5). Play Capture the Flag by dividing the guests into two teams and giving each team a territory. Each team has their own flag that they hide somewhere in their territory and are required to protect while at the same time trying to steal the other team's flag. If you are tagged in the enemy territory, you are put in their "jail" until one of your teammates tags you free. The first team to grab their opponent's flag and bring it back to their side without being tagged wins.
  
  
• 6). Prepare a bonfire for the guests to sit around and roast marshmallows for dessert. If this is not feasible in your yard, create a mock bonfire by collecting a few flashlights and arranging them in a circle. Roast marshmallows over the grill and have guests enjoy them around the "bonfire." Partygoers can sleep in tents or under the stars.