We always have small house parties with about 10 guests (plus parents), and this definitely brings the cost down. It also means I can be creative with the theme, decor and activities, which I love to do!

Home party for 4 year old: about $150 for decorations, activities and food.

Home party with professional activity for 9 year old: $300 ($100 decor/food + $200 for entertainer).

Up until they turn 5, we do the parties at day care, so about $30 for the whole thing (biggest cost was balloons).

We started home parties last year when DD turned 5, with four friends, store-bought cake, balloons and food we spent about $100.

First and second birthdays, under $100 (very small parties at the house with family and a few friends, made the cake and other food myself).

Third birthday party, way too much - around $450 for a gym-type place with instructors, bought extra decorations, goody bags, bought the cake (couldn't figure out how to make one big enough myself), pizza, etc. I did it because other kids at DC's school were having similar parties and it seemed like a good idea. But I think next year we will go back to something at the house with a few organized games. Growing up, my birthday parties were always low-key affairs with a homemade cake and the neighborhood kids except for my one party at Chuck E Cheese. I have only fond memories of those early birthday parties

$150ish... but that's mostly me getting carried away. Our children are young though, so we don't know where we will end up when they are older.

Anonymous wrote:In the $150 range for our toddler. We keep it pretty simple and it's just close friends and family.

Same here. We will continue to keep it smaller scale until DD is five or six, but even then plan on keeping things simple. Can't imagine spending more than $300 - $350.

For my 3 year old, all the parties so far have been family only. I make the cake, the hosting grandparents cook a meal, and that's about it. So, other than whatever cake ingredients we don't already have stocked, really not much in terms of expenses.

When they're older, we still plan on doing home parties with friends & family. So the main expense will be food. We might do a bounce house rental or something like that if the kids are interested.

5yr old, 13 guests. Roughly $100.
Dollar store for crafts- made tiaras out of headbands, pipe cleaners, and beads.
Duncan Heinz cupcakes in lieu of cake, watermelon. Pizza, and lemonade.
Homemade pinaita out of a box, covered with an oversized gift bag,and streamers. Filled it with their loot bags.
Bunch of organized games, ie, hot potato, dance/freeze, face painting, and prizes from the dollar store.

2 hr party, and the theme was a princess tea party!

Birthday party for our soon-to-be 5 year old is ending up way over the top this year - it just snowballed: $350 for entertainment, $100 for decorations, $100 for a craft and favors, $150 for food, and $100 for party rentals. Next year we will have the party at a bounce house place and call it a day!

In the $150 range for our toddler. We keep it pretty simple and it's just close friends and family.

$400 some years, $100 others. Depends. It gets less as they get older.

I just threw my 11 yr old party in March. I think we spent $600 on everything from location to invites to cake, etc.

About $100, usually a little under.

Well when they are really young I wouldn't spend more than $150. They are too young to really appreciate big parties. I always thought people who have big parties for toddlers are just tryin to impress their adult counterparts.

At home party, homemade cake and food, purchase craft materials/prizes/games, between 6 and 12 guests, $100 tops.

The title speaks for itself.