Anonymous
04/28/2014 11:59
Subject: On average, how much do you spend on your child's birthday party?
Under $100, I do not understand the necessity to be over the top with bday parties.
Anonymous
04/28/2014 11:50
Subject: Re:On average, how much do you spend on your child's birthday party?
You can't compare apples (at home) and oranges (at a location). At home is usually far cheaper. The categories are: a) low key, at home, no paid entertainment/moon bounce; b) at home w/paid entertainment/moon bounce; c) at an outside location, including a full meal for guests; and d) at an outside location, snacks, not a full meal.
Since we left the preschool years, we are in the c and d category and prices shot up. Anywhere from $350-$500 per party (tip, cake, plates, paying for the place, favors, utensils, drinks, snacks/pizza, cups, tablecloths (if required) etc.)
Since we left the preschool years, we are in the c and d category and prices shot up. Anywhere from $350-$500 per party (tip, cake, plates, paying for the place, favors, utensils, drinks, snacks/pizza, cups, tablecloths (if required) etc.)
Anonymous
04/28/2014 11:05
Subject: On average, how much do you spend on your child's birthday party?
Betwwen the ages of 4 and 12, a couple hundred each year. Before and after that age, much less.
Anonymous
04/28/2014 10:57
Subject: On average, how much do you spend on your child's birthday party?
$250 for the last one, including hired entertainment at our house and a full meal (not ordered in pizzas), cake, and goodie bags. The most expensive part was the entertainment as Costco sheetcake is a-ok with our family.
Anonymous
04/28/2014 10:53
Subject: On average, how much do you spend on your child's birthday party?
400-500 for bounce / gym place.
Anonymous
04/28/2014 10:52
Subject: On average, how much do you spend on your child's birthday party?
Even without entertainment, the at-home birthday parties add up quickly. I easily spend $200 on food alone (pizza, appetizers, drinks, etc.). And I make my own cakes, so that's not a part of the cost except buying the ingredients for the cake/icing and candles. Part of that is probably because if people are in my house, I have a need to overfeed them. But if we are at a bounce-house type place, I wouldn't feel the same way.
Anonymous
04/28/2014 10:52
Subject: On average, how much do you spend on your child's birthday party?
We always grew up with bday parties in our house. But I live in a much smaller house than the one I grew up in (grew up in a 4-bedroom colonial -- now live in a squishy TH) so don't have room for hosting a kids' party. We have only done one party so far for our 6yo, but it was at Curiosity Zone and I think it cost about $300 or so? We chose a time that was in the mid-afternoon so we did not have to serve a meal -- just cake. This helped keep costs more reasonable. And the price included the goodie bags (which I consider skip-able also, when trying to keep costs reasonable).
Anonymous
04/28/2014 10:50
Subject: On average, how much do you spend on your child's birthday party?
We are in the range of $250-$400. However, I did do a home party once for my 5 year old, and that was about $150. Still bought pizza, decorations, pinata, and boston market mac & cheese.
Anonymous
04/28/2014 10:31
Subject: On average, how much do you spend on your child's birthday party?
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.
Anonymous
04/28/2014 10:29
Subject: On average, how much do you spend on your child's birthday party?
Wow lucky for those who don't spend much on toddler parties. DD's 2nd bday party is this weekend (out of state where family is) and we're dropping about $50 on food we're bringing, and I know my parents have dropped at least $150 on the food themselves. Plus $100 for decorations and invites. Then I'll be making cupcakes for daycare.
Anonymous
04/28/2014 10:21
Subject: On average, how much do you spend on your child's birthday party?
I'm probably guilty of going over the top for our preschoolers birthdays, but we use them as an excuse for a big backyard barbecue with family and friends (plus classmates). We enjoy having a lot of people over, but I try to keep them as inexpensive as I can (not paying for outside entertainment, etc). We've got one coming up, and here's about how it's breaking down:
Food and drinks (including beer and wine) - $200
Cake - $15
Decorations/Games - $70
Goody bags - $40 (~$2.50/kid)
It'll probably be over $300.
My other child has a birthday later in the summer though. He's a bit older and we'll just be inviting a smaller group of his friends for a party at home, so I'm hoping to keep expenses <$150 (luckily 6 year olds don't drink much wine).
Food and drinks (including beer and wine) - $200
Cake - $15
Decorations/Games - $70
Goody bags - $40 (~$2.50/kid)
It'll probably be over $300.
My other child has a birthday later in the summer though. He's a bit older and we'll just be inviting a smaller group of his friends for a party at home, so I'm hoping to keep expenses <$150 (luckily 6 year olds don't drink much wine).
Anonymous
04/28/2014 10:16
Subject: On average, how much do you spend on your child's birthday party?
On average, 400-500 at gym place or bounce house. Small home party with just family was pretty cheap for the early years.
Anonymous
04/28/2014 10:12
Subject: On average, how much do you spend on your child's birthday party?
Anonymous wrote: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!
That's exactly why we did the bounce house for the 4 and 5 yr old parties. I figured once I added entertainment , like great zucchini, then I'd be spending much more on an at-home party.
Anonymous
04/28/2014 10:05
Subject: On average, how much do you spend on your child's birthday party?
$400 for moon bounce place (including pizza)
$150 on goody bags (25 kids)
$25 for cake
$150 on goody bags (25 kids)
$25 for cake
Anonymous
04/28/2014 10:05
Subject: On average, how much do you spend on your child's birthday party?
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.
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.