On average, how much do you spend on your child's birthday party?

[Anonymous]

One of the PPs who had $100 or so in-home party for the first couple of years here - someone asked how it can be so cheap. In our case, we did the party during non-meal time so no pizza, etc., it was just snacks like chips and dip, hummus, olives and cheese, etc., and the cake. We already had the ingredients for the cake because I used to do a lot of baking, so no extra cost for that. Because it was small and really only family-based, we only had around 15 people over so it didn't require much and we bought soda at Costco. Also, no alcohol but offered the wine/beer we had on hand (we keep a few bottles of wine around, though we never drink it anymore due to sheer exhaustion from the kid!). Decorations were limited to streamers and some balloons. So, those types of get togethers are pretty cheap because they are so low-key and only a few kids came versus family members.

The gym place party we had for birthday #3, however, was a whole different ballgame costing around $450-500. I actually preferred the smaller, family-based parties more, but we invited DC's whole preschool class this year so I couldn't have gotten away with a $100-party.

[Anonymous]

$500- party, cake, gifts

[Anonymous]

$500- party, cake, gifts

[Anonymous]

We are also in the $400-500 range for an at-home party, which includes a barbeque and food for ~50 people and decorations. Last year we had a face painter, this year no entertainment but spent more on decorations.
Doesn't seem too crazy to me - I work 2 jobs and feel like a big fun birthday is one of the ways we can really celebrate and relax with family and friends.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Growing up, most birthday parties were house parties, with or without hired entertainment - like a traveling petting zoo that comes to you with a goat, a bunny, you can pay extra for a ponny, etc; similar reptile petting options that are cheaper; a Disney character with a face painting station; a bounce house.

The families that didn't hire entertainment usually had the parents organize a few games. Pizza, cake, snacks.

That's what I'm used to, so we'll probably do something similar for our kids when they're older although the neighborhood we're looking at has great rec centers that can be rented out pretty cheaply, so we might reserve that for a venue since it comes with a big play ground and outdoor space for exploration. Or, we could reserve the community room from the HOA.

I was born in 1976 and from age three on, my and my older sisters birthday parties were always at a place outside the home. I remember being around 6/7 and going to a birthday party at the rabbi's house bc his daughter and I were friends and sitting on te stepss waiting for my mom because I got bored.

Hey -- I was born in 1976 and am a rabbi's daughter, but I'm sure my b-day parties were always awesome!

[Anonymous]

Didn't do a party (other than cupcakes in school) until age 4, then spent $360 on a party at an outside venue. I think the flat rate was $300, plus a supplement for exceeding 10 kids.

We'd never have room in our house to do it, and we could never possibly invite less than the whole class, both on my own principle and because DD really does play with everyone.

[Anonymous]

Too much. Spent about $200 this year having it at an outside venue. 10 kids. Next year, we do it at home.

[Anonymous]

$300-$600. Cake, heavy snacks and pizza for adults and kids, drinks, party favors, bouncy house or Playseum type place. First we had a too small condo and then we had a fixer upper house that was in half-construction mode. Last year we just did a small family party, cupcakes at school and a just-family trip for bouncing or a cinema.
Some of our friends have done sleepovers for about 4 girls (age 7) at a hotel with an indoor pool and room service, a movie, "spa" activities, the girls had a blast and it wasn't much more than the cost for a suite.