How much do you spend??

My son is 6 on tuesday and we have done him a party at a hall with a huge bouncy castle etc.

The whole party including food came to: £180 and then the prezzies we have got him a DS, ben 10 toys and a new bike £250


Children are so exspencive!!

What do you do for your childrens partys?

Parties depend. Each one of my three has had a big party with lots of friends at a soft play place, whose cost depends on the number of children attending (usually about £100).

Presents depends on what they want, but not usually more than £150 is spent. Seems like a lot to get him a DS, a bike and other toys as well. Especially as he is having a party where lots of friends will also bring him toys. That said with three kids I have to control things a bit more.

Children are only expensive if you make them expensive, Mikey is five but far to young to master a DS even if he could use one, there is no way we would get him one, we get him real toys he can play with and enjoy on his own and with his friends and brother. We have never spent more than £100 on a birthday, when we spent that much Mikey got a new bike. We had our latest birthday party for Jamie at the local zoo, we booked for 24 and it cost £85, food and goody bags included.

We always try to make it around 200! I can't afford much more. And i agree, kids are expensive!!

I don't spend a lot on their birthday presents £30 at the most, I only spend £100 on them at Christmas!!!

I've also got out of the birthday parties so far, we usually just have a little tea party and family come round or go out for tea.

I find that the kids always have great fun regardless of the type of party it is. They can go off to a party at a special venue with hired entertainers,or they can go to someones house and play pass the parcel, musical statues and have some finger food and they will love it regardless. They love the hype, getting dressed up and running around with their friends.
I think it's good to spread it out over the years so one year you might do something really special and let them choose whatever they want. Then another year keep it simple and affordable, they always have fun. Last year as it was Summer's first year at school I hired a bouncy castle, which was £50 for the day, so was still not too expensive even after food etc was bought.
This year we'll probably keep it simple for both the kids birthdays with a small tea party or BBQ and a couple of games, as Denis will be 3 he still doesn't have that many friends; and Summer's birthday is my due date so although I'll do something for her a couple of weeks before I'm not going to feel like putting on a massive party.

my daughter's not even 2 yet, and for her first birthday we just had fairy bread and party pies at the park. i guess it would be harder in the city as there would be other people there, but we were lucky to have it to ourselves all day. I mean for a 1 year old's party, we just chucked a heap of balloons together and poured pink icing on the cake. nothing fancy, but even the older kids enjoyed themselves, and it was cheap and simple so i enjoyed it too!!

as for presents, she didnt get a great heap, just a few balls and some crayons and colouring books and stuff like that. my sister got her a bike, but other that that, just a fair few cheap things that she still plays with now, 10 months on.

by all means, spoil your kids, but they will want it to get better each year, which is why im starting out VERY simply!!

hell, they're only 6 once!!

We just had Vic's 5th birthday on saturday and i can say we well and truly blew our budget out of the water But the look on his face all day long was priceless even though my purse is VERY empty.
Bouncy castle and face painters decorations cake goodie bags games etc it all adds up maybe go to Mc Donalds next time lol.

We've never done anything particularly expensive with Jasmine - A DS Lite was the most pricey thing about 2 years ago. We have had a bowling party with 5 of her friends then I did food and games back at the house (she was 3 then) and also the local farm had a lovely area around hay bales where we held a party (I took all the food). As she's got older, she's really been after things like DS games, clothes, etc.

We've not really been short of money but I'm afraid I've seen from friends and one family member how 'competitive' the parties can be. I've never got involved in that.

Last year Jas had a sleepover with 7 girlies and pizza delivered whilst they watched High School Musical and giggled all night. Cheap and totally fun!

As for Sophie, I guess we'll get her a few toys for her 1st birthday and no doubt a little dress to wear

Martha's last party was in a soft play centre - being December we can't have a picnic in the park or use the garden sadly - it was just over £100 and I did nothing else - my Mum baked a cake ('cause she didn't like the supermarket ones) and I didn't do goody bags (too expensive and what parent really wants a bag full of little plastic things that end up all over the floor)
For her present I got her a dvd or summat like that. Tinkerbell rings a bell
Christmas I spent about £80 in all I think.
She had a new bike a few weeks ago cos her old one was too small - it was £45 - cause it was 10 years old - the bike shop had checked all the brakes etc - and she loves it

kristag said:
We've never done anything particularly expensive with Jasmine - A DS Lite was the most pricey thing about 2 years ago. We have had a bowling party with 5 of her friends then I did food and games back at the house (she was 3 then) and also the local farm had a lovely area around hay bales where we held a party (I took all the food). As she's got older, she's really been after things like DS games, clothes, etc.

We've not really been short of money but I'm afraid I've seen from friends and one family member how 'competitive' the parties can be. I've never got involved in that.

Last year Jas had a sleepover with 7 girlies and pizza delivered whilst they watched High School Musical and giggled all night. Cheap and totally fun!

As for Sophie, I guess we'll get her a few toys for her 1st birthday and no doubt a little dress to wear

Yes I think you are right, we have spent 100's
before now, there have always been upsets,,
sleep overs for us from now on...