Birthdays 2-5, $300-400 each

We've done home parties with homemade entertainment and paid entertainment. I've spent up to $400 for the entertainment if that is what he really wants. I want to say the home parties were cheap, but to be honest, I never added it all up. Food, cake, and favors can add up quickly.

Just hosted a party for DC. $600. only 10 guest.

Our at home parties range from $1500-$3000. We typically have about 20 kids. Parents always stay but we do allow drop off. We bring in entertainment/activities.

$600 on average.

Anonymous wrote:We always do it at home. I'd say that when considering all food, crafts, goodie bags, games . . . about $300-400.
It's mostly unstructured "go play" parties. But, all the little things add up very quickly.

We also have a very large neighborhood of kids (most of which are in her grade). We cannot invite a portion of those kids and not all of them. Just is not going to happen (for many reasons not important to some of you but very important for us).

This is us too. We always have parties at home and for under 15 kids but it still costs $300.
Those of you who are doing it for $100, what are you eating and doing???

By the time you get 4 pizzas ($75), make a large fruit salad (easily $20-25), buy utensils ($10 if you go on the very cheap side and much more if you don't), cake ($10-20 just for ingredients unless you're using a straight box mix and then it's still $10), drinks ($10-20 just for non-alcoholic kids drinks) you're already at close to $150.
Then add in crafts and it can get very expensive, very quickly. When we did a party of 3 different crafts for my daughter's 6th birthday (with 15 girls) I spent close to $100 at Michael's and Joanne's just to buy the supplies for 3 or 4 crafts for 15 kids.
Then decent goodie bags (even from Oriental trading where each item is $1 or less) run about $5/kid. What are you giving out that costs $2 or $2.50 per kid? I'm genuinely curious. I'm not extravagant AT ALL and I can't seem to make it cost less.

We are just in the process of planning our son's first birthday party. It will be at home, have about 50 guests, and cost a couple thousand dollars in the end. I don't think this is unreasonable given that it took us almost 10 years to have him and we are so ready to celebrate that we are now actually parents. After this one, we will probably just do a small party for a few friends. I don't understand how people are holding home parties for $100. $500 seems more likely.

party for 20 3 yr olds and parents hosted at our home with moon bounce and other activities - - $1500

Anonymous wrote:$500-$800 by the time you include food, party favors, decorations, activities, etc. We tend to be very generous with food/drinks and favors in our house. I sincerely can't understand how folks can throw a bday party for under $100 dollars unless you only have 2-3 guests.

We have now started doing "even year only" parties (kids are 9 and 12). The odd year, they can have a simple at-home party (sleepover, movie, pizza and cake) for about 4 friends... which does run less than $100. That year, we also go out to dinner as a family at a nice restaurant of the birthday child's choosing. The even year, the birthday child can have a bigger party at a location (laser tag, climbing place, etc) for more kids, that costs more like $300-$400.

Probably close to 1,000 since we have a seriously large family and so prefer to cater the food, buy cake, snacks, drinks, serveware, decorations, etc.

Anonymous wrote:On average, 400-500 at gym place or bounce house. Small home party with just family was pretty cheap for the early years.

Yes. Just did this yesterday for my 8 year old

$500-$800 by the time you include food, party favors, decorations, activities, etc. We tend to be very generous with food/drinks and favors in our house. I sincerely can't understand how folks can throw a bday party for under $100 dollars unless you only have 2-3 guests.

didn't do a party for 1 or 2 yr old. Did ones for 3 and 4 yrs old, spent $400+.

Around 1 K. Big birthdays are a cultural thing for us.

We serve full lunch/dinner (including pizza and cake), beer, wine. Entertainment, Goody bags, Balloons, Prizes for games.

Usually 20-30 kids, and as many parents.

I am not counting spending $$ to get yard and house in ship shape before the party.

On the other hand, we are very frugal in most things. Birthdays of our children are a huge deal though. We also spend around $150 for goody-bags and treats at school and around $500 for family dinner with some of our relatives in a restaurant during the week.

We did an out of home party for the whole preschool class for maybe $350 total. He doesn't get an extra gift though, just the party.