Birthday Parties -- How Much $ Usually Spent?!

[Anonymous]

You don't need to invite the entire class, but some people like to and are willing to pay for it. It's a perfectly valid choice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:About $500 (and not happy about it, but there it is).

Same here (times three kids)...also not happy about it.

Then why do it?

i'm not one of the pps'... but it's like weddings... you start out with a budget. then it just kind of explodes in your face as you take on more and more things to make it fun and special. i never thought i'd be one of these huge-party mamas, but i like to try and throw a good party. i ended up spending about $500 the past 2 times... and they weren't even particularly extravagant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You don't need to invite the entire class, but some people like to and are willing to pay for it. It's a perfectly valid choice.

At our school, there is a general understanding that if you have a party, everyone in the class will be invited. Something along those lines is actually included in the handbook.

[Anonymous]

Normally, we just do small parties that involve a few of my friends, which means that we spend less than $50 (because we usually do wine and cheese for the grown ups) plus whatever we do for gifts. This year, we are doing friend parties - one at a venue and one at our house. The venue party birthday cost me somewhere around $500 including our gifts. The house party cost me about $100. I don't plan to spend this much money every year. It's not that I can't afford it, but just don't think I want my kids to expect an extravagant party every year. But it is nice to do special events on occasion to celebrate my kids.

[Anonymous]

I spent approx. $300-400 for a party at home.

[zumbamama]

About $300, including food, presents, favors, admission to the venue. I don't invite everyone in the class...just can't afford to cover 15 kids or fit them all in my old apt. But now that I've moved into a bigger place, I may be able to invite everyone and spend less.

[Anonymous]

An interesting (and timely) read: http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/04/18/lw.pricey.bday.parties/index.html

[Anonymous]

$1200

Venue + Magician + Food + Cake + Favors = Priceless for DC = Buyer's Remorse for DH = Social pressure and headache for me.

My grandfather must be rolling over in his grave. That's twice as much as he spent on my mother's wedding.

[Anonymous]

To any PPs: How old are the children you're having these parties for?

To anyone: What are your best/earliest childhood birthday memories? How old were you?

Myself, I sort of remember a birthday party at Farrell's Ice Cream Parlour-- It was a sit-down place with old, 1920's decor which made amazingly fancy and served huge ice cream deserts. I think I was 5. My only memories coincide with the photos we have, so no independent images in my head. Although I do remember being unhappy... I was probably being a brat and my mother was hissing at me to behave!

[Anonymous]

To any PPs: How old are the children you're having these parties for?

To anyone: What are your best/earliest childhood birthday memories? How old were you?

Myself, I sort of remember a birthday party at Farrell's Ice Cream Parlour-- It was a sit-down place with old, 1920's decor which made amazingly fancy and huge ice cream desserts. I think I was 5. My only memories coincide with the photos we have, so no independent images in my head. Although I do remember being unhappy... I was probably being a brat and my mother was hissing at me to behave!

[Anonymous]

I'm planning a party for my 2yr old at home. We will have about 8 kids and 16-20 adults. We will have a nice cake from a bakery, lots of food, wine, and beer. Including the "prep" that goes into getting the house together (I make it an excuse to catch up on small outstanding house projects/yard work, we will spend somewhere around $500.

I'm happy to spend the money. I love throwing the party and like to celebrate in a big way and make it a blast for the parents and the kids. It is also a great way for all the parents to get to know each other and make connections.

[Anonymous]

My daughter will be 6 soon and I've usually spent about $200 on her parties. We have the benefit of a summer b-day, so I don't feel compelled to invite her whole class. We have done it at home and out, the cost is about the same because I don't like to miss any details when the party planning is up to me.

I am considering going all out this year and dropping the $325 for Pump It Up.

[Anonymous]

$700, cake, invitations, venue, food for adults, goodie bags, thank you cards, baby sitter, paper products.

[Anonymous]

The first venue party we did was for my 9 year old. It was Pump It Up and with the venue, food, tip, cake, goodie bags and presents, it was close to $500. The first party we had for our kids that didn't involve just immediate family was at age 6. We invited a few friends from my son's school and did it in the backyard. Between prizes for the games and food for kids and adults and presents, I think it was about $120 - I had not planned on buying an expensive present but ended up spending $60 so that was half of our cost.

When I was a kid, I had three birthday parties - age 6, 13 and 16. The 6 and 16 were at home and the 13 was at a church youth group event - my parents didn't even attend that one. They were all really fun. Around that time, the only birthday that ever warranted a venue was the 16th and what was popular was hotel pool parties.
Except for those birthdays, we didn't even get presents - just a cake and our favorite dinner. I don't think there was much money for that sort of thing. But, we never felt like we missed anything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To any PPs: How old are the children you're having these parties for?

To anyone: What are your best/earliest childhood birthday memories? How old were you?

Myself, I sort of remember a birthday party at Farrell's Ice Cream Parlour-- It was a sit-down place with old, 1920's decor which made amazingly fancy and huge ice cream desserts. I think I was 5. My only memories coincide with the photos we have, so no independent images in my head. Although I do remember being unhappy... I was probably being a brat and my mother was hissing at me to behave!

My best memories involved the games - probably around 8 yrs old. My favorite was the "treasure hunt" for the "big" present. My parents would hide a gift, then I'd get a clue which would lead to another hidden clue which would eventually lead to the present. I also liked to "Go Fishing." My parents would put up a sheet and all the kids would get a chance to "go fishing" over the sheet with a pretend fishing rod. My brother or sister would be behind the curtain and attach a favor to the line.. if the kid didn't like it he/she could throw it back for another. don't know if these are standard games since my DS is just a baby and I haven't been do any children's parties since I was a kid - but I loved playing them.