Bday Party Gifts - how much do you spend?

[mom2princessj]

I spend around $15-20 and if its a good friend I may spend 25-30 depending. We just went to a party last weekend and its a good friend of mine but I only spent $15. She said he wanted hot wheels track and it was either $15 or $35 so I chose to do $15. I really think its more the thought than anything else. We are having a party for dd this weekend and plenty of parents have asked for suggestions but I just tell them whatever their daughter is into I'm sure mine will love. I'd rather say gifts aren't necessary as I don't want anyone to feel they 'have to' bring a gift but I know that's offensive to say when they are being nice so I just politely say she'll like anything they get since it's coming from their child.

 

[allyphoe]

When DD was in private preschool, we usually spent $15-20 to get gifts similar to what everyone else gave. Now that she's in public K, the range seems to be $10-15.

 

[Miss LD]

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!

I said that.
I don't think all weekday parties are bad.
But, DS is in jk and his school is full days Tues/Thurs/alternate Fridays. So, one of the kids had a birthday party on a Wednesday night from 6-8 pm.
All the kids in the class were invited.
They served cake at 7:30.
My husband took him, and they got home around 8:15. DS was crazy hyper from the sugar!
Anyway, this morning all the kids looked exhausted.
I felt so sorry for their teacher.