How much are you spending on birthday parties?

[Anonymous]

Op this is tough, this is why I’ve typically avoided doing the parties at play places because even for a smaller group it seemed expensive. We have always done them at home, order Chik fil a and make a cake but older isn’t in kindergarten so we haven’t dealt with full class parties yet and I can see how that is tough. But you can definitely have a park party without a crepe truck omg.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please do more home and playground parties! We enjoy them just as much. Do some organized games. With that many kids you could have teams even!

As I said, just the taco truck we had at our backyard party was $1,000. When we had a playground party the permit was $120, $400 for the bubble man, over $2,000 for the crepe truck (entitling each party guest to one savory and one sweet crepe), etc.

Lol, this is some rich people shit. Having a taco truck or crepe truck is not a baseline requirement for a party. Streamers, balloons, cake, ice cream, done.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What in the world are you people smoking?

We have 2 kids. Their bday parties this year:
Kid 1’s party was $350. He invited 8 friends and then his sibling was also there for a total of 10 kids. We had it at sky zone—it was $300 for the 10 kids and they had 1.5 hrs jumping time plus 1/2 hr w a table to eat at and the price included pizza, pitchers of soda, plates, cups, tablecloth, napkins. Then we paid about $50 that covered cupcakes & goodie bags.
Kid 2’s party was even cheaper…$250. She also invited 8 friends and her sibling was also there for a total of 10 kids. We had it at a gymnastics place and the price covered 1.5 hrs gymnastics activities and 1/2 hr w a table for refreshments. For her party we purposefully picked a time slot (2-4pm) where we didn’t need to provide a meal so we just did cupcakes and drinks and goodie bags which saved $.

You do not need to invite the whole class! And if you have a home party, you do not need a freakin taco truck or ice cream truck. Depending on age of kids and size of group, you could easily do a home party without even hiring entertainment. Kids can just play together. Or go to a playground and just provide cupcakes, drinks, maybe some snacks. The kids will have a blast and parents will likely be relieved you’re setting the tone for future, simpler (and cheaper) parties.

Good for you. Maybe you missed the part where OP said it was customary at her child’s school to invite everyone. We invite the whole class for one kid because his birthday is early in the school year and we want to meet people. My summer BD kid is able to limit his guests to a few good friends without hurting feelings.

If OP is going to do less than the whole class, it needs to be VERY small or single gender.

I don’t see how a school can dictate this, if it’s off school grounds and they’re not paying for it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please do more home and playground parties! We enjoy them just as much. Do some organized games. With that many kids you could have teams even!

As I said, just the taco truck we had at our backyard party was $1,000. When we had a playground party the permit was $120, $400 for the bubble man, over $2,000 for the crepe truck (entitling each party guest to one savory and one sweet crepe), etc.

Guys I think this person is joking

Do kids even like crepes?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I go all out on my birthday parties, but they're DIY. Intricate games, scavenger hunts, crafts. They typically run me $250-400. I hold them in my huge, open basement, bake my own cakes and have tons of food that I make. I actually think it's a better party room than any place I've ever been to (those bounce house places I mean). I have hired babysitters to help me run different stations.

It takes me a while to cook and set up, but I enjoy that stuff a lot, so it doesn't bother me.

My kids have enjoyed attending birthday parties at home or parks a lot. I disagree that you don't need activities though. I think you should always have at least 3 organized activities with a party (musical chairs, pinata, pin the tail on the donkey, craft, relay race). It gives a bit more structure to the whole event while still leaving time for free play.

You must be paying the babysitters shit, huh? Two babysitters for let's say ... two hours each, at $20 each is $80 without tipping them. So you're spending $170 on all the food, decor, crafts, and supplies and that's enough? How many kids are your kids having at these parties, three?

Different poster - I pay 2 high school girls in my neighborhood $50 each for 3-4 hours to help with set up, assemble goody bags, pass out pizza, and clean up. They love doing it and asked me to tell my friends they would do other people’s parties. It’d easier than babysitting and their normal rate for that is $15/hr

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please do more home and playground parties! We enjoy them just as much. Do some organized games. With that many kids you could have teams even!

As I said, just the taco truck we had at our backyard party was $1,000. When we had a playground party the permit was $120, $400 for the bubble man, over $2,000 for the crepe truck (entitling each party guest to one savory and one sweet crepe), etc.

Why do you need a taco truck or crepe truck…why not just order tacos and crepes?

Because who’s going to assemble them for the kids? Because when you pay for a service they bring all the supplies, do all the set up and do the breakdown. It’s better quality food. To me, it’s worth it.

Guys, don’t you understand? She iS bEtTer ThaN yOu.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please do more home and playground parties! We enjoy them just as much. Do some organized games. With that many kids you could have teams even!

As I said, just the taco truck we had at our backyard party was $1,000. When we had a playground party the permit was $120, $400 for the bubble man, over $2,000 for the crepe truck (entitling each party guest to one savory and one sweet crepe), etc.

Why do you need a taco truck or crepe truck…why not just order tacos and crepes?

Because who’s going to assemble them for the kids? Because when you pay for a service they bring all the supplies, do all the set up and do the breakdown. It’s better quality food. To me, it’s worth it.

Guys, don’t you understand? She iS bEtTer ThaN yOu.

I have been to a lot of over the top kid birthday parties. I have had a few parties where I spent thousands. I don’t think it is a big deal to have a food truck. It is just hilarious that the food truck lady thinks how great it is. I feel kind of sorry for her. It is definitely not rich people style. Rich people would hire servers and people to set up and clean up. They won’t be getting a taco truck. Thanks for the laugh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please do more home and playground parties! We enjoy them just as much. Do some organized games. With that many kids you could have teams even!

As I said, just the taco truck we had at our backyard party was $1,000. When we had a playground party the permit was $120, $400 for the bubble man, over $2,000 for the crepe truck (entitling each party guest to one savory and one sweet crepe), etc.

Guys I think this person is joking

Do kids even like crepes?

My kids like them just fine but it would be annoying to wait in a line for a crepe truck at a kid party. In my experience, those crepe trucks are pretty slow. Seems like a bad party food for kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:25 kids is a lot. Either cut the guest list (5 friends!) or make it simple and meet at a playground.

Yeah, no one had to have a whole class party. It doesn’t really that the oct and nov birthday kids did. You can do whatever you want.

[Anonymous]

Normally around $500-$800 if at home. Depends on how many people come.

We invite all classmates, neighborhood kids, my friend's kids, kids from EC and their parents and siblings. Usually we will have around 30 kids and around 30 parents. We buy pizza, cake, fruits, soft drink, beer and wine from Costco. I have the set-up at home to cook and serve in bulk so cooking for up to 40-50 people is not a problem. I buy all raw ingredients from Costco or ethnic grocery stores. Many of our guests (adults) are from our culture so I always provide a full Indian spread in addition to the pizza, so that all guests can choose to eat what they want.

I keep the decor very simple. I buy around 30-40 mylar balloons from dollar tree and use that as decoration and photo background. I also tie each balloon with a goody bag so on the way out the kids can pick up a goody bag and a balloon. I do not buy themed table cloth, goody bags, plates, hats etc. Goody bags are basically in brown lunch bags and consist only of costco bought snacks. I figure that no one needs the goody bag junk.

The biggest cost is of getting an entertainer for the kids and that alone runs to $200-$300. Apart from that my SIL has a bounce-house that I borrow and set up too. I have additional chairs and tables at home, so my family pitches in for setting it up. I have also done kids parties without the entertainer, but I have close friends who will supervise games for the kids, so that works for me. If you are hosting the party alone at home and have no helping hands, entertainers are a Godsent.

Between family and friends we have the full infrastructure to throw any large or small party.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please do more home and playground parties! We enjoy them just as much. Do some organized games. With that many kids you could have teams even!

As I said, just the taco truck we had at our backyard party was $1,000. When we had a playground party the permit was $120, $400 for the bubble man, over $2,000 for the crepe truck (entitling each party guest to one savory and one sweet crepe), etc.

Go away, troll.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Normally around $500-$800 if at home. Depends on how many people come.

We invite all classmates, neighborhood kids, my friend's kids, kids from EC and their parents and siblings. Usually we will have around 30 kids and around 30 parents. We buy pizza, cake, fruits, soft drink, beer and wine from Costco. I have the set-up at home to cook and serve in bulk so cooking for up to 40-50 people is not a problem. I buy all raw ingredients from Costco or ethnic grocery stores. Many of our guests (adults) are from our culture so I always provide a full Indian spread in addition to the pizza, so that all guests can choose to eat what they want.

I keep the decor very simple. I buy around 30-40 mylar balloons from dollar tree and use that as decoration and photo background. I also tie each balloon with a goody bag so on the way out the kids can pick up a goody bag and a balloon. I do not buy themed table cloth, goody bags, plates, hats etc. Goody bags are basically in brown lunch bags and consist only of costco bought snacks. I figure that no one needs the goody bag junk.

The biggest cost is of getting an entertainer for the kids and that alone runs to $200-$300. Apart from that my SIL has a bounce-house that I borrow and set up too. I have additional chairs and tables at home, so my family pitches in for setting it up. I have also done kids parties without the entertainer, but I have close friends who will supervise games for the kids, so that works for me. If you are hosting the party alone at home and have no helping hands, entertainers are a Godsent.

Between family and friends we have the full infrastructure to throw any large or small party.

Oh also, it requires a lot of hard work and planning from me and DH. I usually send the invite month before, and spead out all the shopping over weeks. But you still have to do the cooking, set up, cleaning 2-3 days before the party. I totally get smaller parties, easier parties and outsourced parties. You save time and effort.

[Anonymous]

We've never had a birthday party at home, our house doesn't work for it. And DS's bday is early April in a Northern state, making outdoors not possible. That being said we have never spent more than $450. His 10th party was this past weekend which we had at an arcade. For $350 we had 14 kids, all access and unlimited games, including a slot car setup and attendant. We spent $100 on pizza, breadsticks and drinks and supermarket cupcakes. No goodie bags. The kids had an amazing time. However, we told DS this is last "big" party after missing 7th and 8th and after this he can pick a handful of friends and we will go do some sort of adventure.

[Anonymous]

We typically spend $200-400. We get cake and snacks, juice boxes and water. one year we paid for the Great Zucchini (the first bday party post-pandemic) so it was more but still more like $700 total not over $1000

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:SAVE MONEY AND DON'T DO GOODIE BAGS

Agree. Goodie bags are kustn$1 store junk plus it should go back to the only kid getting a present is the birthday kid