Bday Party Gifts - how much do you spend?

[Miss LD]

Now that my son is in school (jk) he's being invited to a lot of birthday parties. It seems that whenever a child has a birthday he or she invites the entire class. I think this is great.
But, I have no idea how much to spend on gifts.
In the past we've been spending about $20 on a birthday gift - but it's getting to be a lot.
I was just wondering how much other parents spend.
DS is 4 and he's just meeting these kids. Obviously I want to send a gift, but I just don't know how much to spend!

 

[holden]

I would also spend $20. Either that or I find one of those great 40% off coupons for Michaels or ACMoore and get a great gift in their toy dept. (I'd buy a $25-$30 dollar gift and then get the % off of that).

 

[megthewonderful]

We spend between $10 and $15 on gifts for classmates. I usually buy toys on clearance in Target throughout the year that will make great birthday gifts, so I get more for my money.

 

[mjkacmom]

I've had many parties, and most spend about $20, although some spend $15, some spend $25, and up to $35 (from either a close friend or someone who doesn't realize how much other people actually spend). I will spend $15 - $20 for younger kids, or those we don't know well, and $25 for kids we do know.

 

[blessedby3]

I spend around $10 for gifts for my kids friends. I try and buy up things on a good sale or clearance and put them in my closet. If I dont have anything, I will sometimes just give a giftcard for $10.

 

[minniebeth]

I try to stay around $15, sometimes $10 if I can find a good buy on something. I also try to get something at Michael's or JoAnn's with a 40% off coupon. We are starting to get whole class invites and there are over 30 kids in the class, so honestly, I think a a $10/15 range is adequate. We do spend a little more for close friends, but even that, a lot of my friends we all have agreed to cut spending and do something special rather than spending a lot of $$. More kids are asking for a donation to the food bank, books for a children's hospital, etc. which is nice for older kids who have plenty. For the little ones, I think it is still fun for them to get something and feel special.

 

[princess&her4princes]

I try to stick to about $15, too, for classmates gifts. It's tough but on sale items are the way to do it!

 

[daisyduck123]

We give a $20.00 Target gift card.

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

Classmates $10, friends $15, really close friends MAYBE $20. I get good deals so it looks like more. Over the summer we had at least one b-day party every week for 9 weeks, one week off (my b-day funny enough) before a few more weeks of parties. My best deal was for DD9 best friend. She got him a $65 toy for $11. I was pleased and he went nuts over it!

 

[jellybeans0607]

Well first off, we don't attend every party they are invited to. i have 2 kids in school, i would never have a free weekend, lol.
If an invite comes home and i have never heard the child mentioned, we don't go.

If we go, we spend about $15-$20

 

[cruizie]

We try for the $15 range as well. Sometimes more, sometimes less if I can find a good deal. DD6 goes to most parties she is invited to so it can add up quick.

 

[Miss LD]

It's such a tough call - so I think that I was in the right price range.
Now, the parents held a birthday party for 4 year olds on a Wednesday night is a whole other question! But I won't get into that one

 

[momx2]

It's such a tough call - so I think that I was in the right price range.
Now, the parents held a birthday party for 4 year olds on a Wednesday night is a whole other question! But I won't get into that one

I found that when my girls were younger that people did hold birthdays during the week. I never did, but it some parents rented place, ie. ChuckECheese (cheaper during the week) from like 5:30 to 7:30 or 6 to 8. Not all, but some parents did this. Now that they are older that doesn't happen. Birthday parties are always held on the the weekends. I guess there is too many other activities during the week for older children.

PS. I spend about $20 per child now. I spent around $15 when they were younger, but now unless you are lucky you can't find anything for that. I have trouble finding decent presents for $20, but I also don't buy ahead at sales.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

For close friends, I will spend anywhere from $15 - $20. For classmates or kids my son's aren't that close to, we keep it around $10. For girls, I can always find craft kits for around $10. For boys, we usually find small Lego sets or books on topics that interest them.

 

[mjantz]

$10-$15. I usually try & get something good on clearance so it appears we spent more.

 

[HeatherC]

$10 here. I have 3 kids and it adds up quickly. I do have a closet of "gifts" that I buy on clearance and put away for b'day gifts.

It can definitely be done. Girls I think are easier. You can always find a deal on "lotions and potions" which they all love.

Last year it seemed like every kid we knew got a "lava" lamp. They were $8 at Walmart and looked substantial. The kids loved them.

 

[nessz79]

About 10-15 for friends he doesn't know well (yet) and about $15-20 for closer friends. More than $20 if it's a family friend or relative.

 

[EthansMom]

We spend $15-$20.

 

[VeroBeachGirl]

We just joined the birthday party circuit, as my dd is only 9 months old. I spend between $20-25 on a toy.

 

[mom2aredhead]

We give a $20.00 Target gift card.

We do a Toys R Us giftcard, about $20 or so. I generally don't know what toys the kid has, if he's into video games, etc. so I'd rather give a gift card and let the kid choose something they like.

Someone brought up parties during the week. We're having my son's during the week, but on a day that school is closed during early afternoon, done by 1:30. Honestly, it was significantly less expensive than having it on a Saturday, and so many people have obligations on weekends (sports, dance, gymnastics, religious, etc) that it makes it hard to squeeze in during that time anyway. So I figured a random Tuesday when parents would be looking for something to do with their kids anyway would work out - I'll let you know if I was right in a few weeks.
I made sure to include on the invitation that siblings were welcome to join us because I didn't want one of the invited kids to not be able to come because there was no one to watch their brother or sister since it was during the week and a day off from school. So as of now, it's looking like the party will be about 10 5 year olds and an extra 5 kids in the 2-3 yr old age range. The more the merrier!