Birthday Parties for older children soo expensive.

thriftylass

Towser wrote: »

I have been to some very stingy, mean parties. well, maybe they couldn't afford anything more expensive or didn't want to

That's why I am wondering whether to do these experience parties for my kids and try something cheaper.

It's not the money you spend, it is the experience. It's like the gift comparison. Yes but I bought him sth for 25 quid but he only gave me one for a fiver. The present for the fiver (or the cheap party) could end up being far more valuable and cherished then the expensive gift. Do people not believe anymore in "it's the thought that counts". Is it all just about how much money they need to spend to keep up with the Joneses rather than just making the day special.

ViolaLass

Towser wrote: »

Well yes of course you would hope so.

I have been to some very stingy, mean parties I thought that's how people view it, did it. I cannot explain it another way.

That's why I am wondering whether to do these experience parties for my kids and try something cheaper.

Perhaps they didn't view it as a business transaction and just wanted their child to have fun playing with their friends.

bylromarha

Our 2 are nearly 2 years apart, so they share parties.

Hired local swimming pool £100 - they let me bring sandwiches for free so I made up boxes of sarnies, drink, crisps, choc bar.

Hired a independent cinema £120 for 50 seats.

Hired a falconer to come to a local park which has some decent play equipment. £70 for the hour.

We have quite a low average spend per child. Once you do the village hall thing, and factor in the cost of hire for the set up as well as the tidy, plus proper party spread, plus all the time, I found them to not be that much cheaper than the pool/falconer/cinema options.

lulu_92

I only ever had one birthday party and that was when I was 5 and then we invited friends round for an afternoon tea party when I was about 7 or 8.

They're as expensive as you let them be. If you can do things yourself or cheaper, do them! I had the same amount of fun at the second party as I did at the first one.

Towser

They're as expensive as you let them be.

I think you are right there.

I will definitely try:

Hired local swimming pool £100 - they let me bring sandwiches for free so I made up boxes of sarnies, drink, crisps, choc bar.

Hired a independent cinema £120 for 50 seats.

Hired a falconer to come to a local park which has some decent play equipment. £70 for the hour.

Thank-you for that constructive help

ciderwithrosie_2

Towser wrote: »

I have spent a fortune I think on Birthday parties this year around £200 per one. Am I stupid or just love my boys?

a) Spending a load of dosh does not prove you love your children any more than the next parent.


b) Yes to me you are stupid (you did ask), you're raising a couple of rather over indulged children who will grow up with high expectations. No doubt as well as the £200 party spend you bought them presents? What happens if the money stops coming in, through illness or redundancy?


Good job you haven't got girls, you sound like the sort of parent that'd spend a few thousand on their school leavers prom.

Towser

Blimey Oh dear....

Anita75

I'd love to give my kids big parties every year but it isn't financially practical or possible so we do a low key birthday, something just the family at the house, maybe the cinema and dinner and then a bigger ''event'' the next year.
This year, for my DD 6th birthday we rented out a local hall and had a go kart party. The hall rental was cheap and we got some party foods and when the kids weren't racing the parents (thank goodness for artistic volunteers!) helped paint faces with some cheap supplies we got.
It was lots of fun and didn't cost too much because there was a lot of bulk buys. We love alternating years as it means we have less pressure to make birthdays too important.
For the go karts we used http://go-kartparty.co.uk/ who were lovely and can set up anywhere big enough - out local hall was perfect.

pollyanna24

Arrggh, you're all scaring me!

I'm doing a party at home this year for my two girls (one's October, one's November, so they're sharing a party) and it's still turning out to be expensive.

I got a bit carried away with the invites, but there's only two from their school and all the adults are friends of mine, so I'm hoping it's okay. Most of my friends seem to have two kids (one the age of my older one, and one the age of the younger one), so it all works out really.

I'm going to have 18 kids running around my house on Friday, but I have hired a bouncy castle for the day and have Halloweeny types crafts and games to do.

I'm also going to have 14 adults in my house and think that's it's them that I'm going to have trouble finding the space for!!

JimmyTheWig

pollyanna24 wrote: »

I'm also going to have 14 adults in my house and think that's it's them that I'm going to have trouble finding the space for!!

And, if you're not careful, trouble finding the time to look after tham all.
If I were you I'd choose someone in advance to look after the adults in terms of making tea, etc. Means you'll have time to be with the children and help them do the activities, etc.

How old are your two children, out of interest?