Kids! This is where all my money goes!

pandaonmyshoulder

My youngest daughter aged 7 has had two invites too, so far after being back at school for 5 days!!!! plus the invite that appeared through our letter box in the hols. I spend no more than £5 on presents for school friends parties ( I have 4 children) as for cards I either buy a hand full from Home Bargains or I save cards my children have received and re-make new cards sticking the pics onto paper from the stationary shops and using my printer to print greetings inside. Just have to make sure we don't send back the "new" cards to the child that sent 'em in the first place

chocaholic110

My daughter had a party last year and invited the whole class (I'm their teacher so would have felt bad not inviting all) plus a few friends from the class above.
That was nearly a year ago and when clearing out the playroom in the holidays found a pile of presents from the party - many still in the clingfilm wrapping!!!!
Snaffled some played-with-once for car boot sale and pinched yet others to give back for other children's birthdays.
After all, how many jewellery kits can one girl use?? (Specially when she's happier with a football!)

chocaholic110

Oh and by the way, 2 invites here already, September is a VERY busy time for birthdays!! Must be all that Christmas spirit in December!

savvykaz

Me too - daughter (only one - than goodness!) came home with a letter for a trip to Spain next June (age 12 & doing Spanish GCSE) £399, a letter for a trip to Alton Towers next month (£30) and guide concert in London in October (£85). Then asks if she can have a laptop for Xmas!!!! Think you can guess my reply!

carriel_2

i'm kinda glad i'm not the only one, I will try to get cheaper pressies, I think the local newsagents does some £5 toys, My Little Pony, Action Man, Power Rangers etc. Also i'll get my card making stash out & make the cards, although I do find boys cards difficult to make.

I was so confused when I did my SOA, it said I have money left over every month, but I had no idea where it went, now I know :eek: £70 on school uniforms already this month, then this, subs, & the new winter coat I'm going to have to get them both soon, it all adds up doesnt it.

I'm dreading them being teenagers :eek: At least they are pretty good & dont ask for labels (good job lol) alot of their friends will only have a certain make of trackie bottoms or the latest flash trainers, my too are happier in their muddy wellies & dirty jeans lol

lapat

my story

girl aged 16
boy aged 11
boy aged 3

girl in the last three months has left school
had a leavers ball £40 dress £130 limo of a friend £100 return
she has started college this week £50 bus pass
£2.50 a day dinner
£40 in books and stationary
plus her school has just written to us and is doing a presentation evening for gcse results £45 and she wants a new dress but she said its not as bad as the last dress its £90 and last but not least a new laptop as she has always shared the house one but she has that much work now

lad has just started secondary school £160 in uniform in july
he has a packed lunch but has come home already with a school trip at £120 for 5 days plus guitar lessons at £60 for a 12 week term and now he wants to be in the play aswell(we cant say no as the eldest has had every opportunity possible)
theres no school fares as he has a taxi as he is disabled(which we fought for for 12 months plus)

youngest creche fees !!!!!! turpin never earned as much
books at the front door every week so try ands buy one every two weeks
hand prints on rea towels every six months £6 a go and the photgrapher must be a part time carerer hes there that much.
and hes always missing a jumper on t-shirt or socks out of is spare clothes bag i go mad but the misses says they teach french so what do you do

all in all i dread the next few years as the eldest is planning to go to uni and the middle one will follow suit
the only saving grace is we will have a couple of years break when the youngest gets to 11 as the rest should have finished college/uni so i can concentrate at the start of 2013 to start and pay of my debts

bl**dy hell im in trouble

carriel_2

:eek: lapat! Its hard isnt it, you want to give them every opportunity, but everything is so damned expensive. It sounds like you are a fab parent though.

I wanted to do the school guitar lessons for my DD, although they were a shocking £120 per term, but all the places had gone.

Bagpuss1973

I haven't got children but I think £10 a gift is way over the top:eek: unless it is for a particular friend of your child.

If you can't afford toys etc, get them some sweets, at least they could share them at the party with everyone.

lapat

hard isnt the word.....but like oyu say you give them the best you can at all times.
luckily enough me and the misses are pretty well paid but saying that im probably spoiling them so much as an over compensation for the regular 60-70hrs a week i work and the youngest regularely doesnt see me for a couple of days on end as in bed when i get in and he goes to creche before i get up if ive been working through the night
and no its not to pay for everything its the nature of the job i do
and yes i do make up for it as i regularley take them fishing,flying kites and no matter what hours i work i have never missed a birthday.school meeting or anything else that shows them that i support them everyway i can

but hey isnt that what all parents do

lapat

If you can't afford toys etc, get them some sweets, at least they could share them at the party with everyone.[/QUOTE]

i wouldnt like to be on the recieving end of one of your xmas or birthday presents