Kid's Birthday Parties - Budget

[emma'smom]

I spend about 150.00 for my dd's birthday parties for about 15-20 kids (depending on the venue). We've done pool parties, gymnastics parties, arts center parties, cooking school parties, etc.

They all end up costing about the same...in some cases everything is included, in others I have to bring the cake/pizza/plates/napkins/drinks, etc.

I used to do them at home...but found they ended up costing the same (and often more) as I had to pay for the food/party supplies, craft/game supplies, and usually I hired a few college students to help out.


Dd5's party is scheduled for the end of the month at a local indoor play center. They supply the decorations/plates/napkins/balloons. The kids get a choice of pizza/chicken/hot dog and unlimited drinks. They supply cupcakes. The entertainment is the play zone.

I'm bringing a check for 135.00, a candle, my camera, and the party favors.

Note-- I used to do elaborate party favors...but now I keep it simple...just 5-6 pink/white hershey kisses wrapped in cellophane with a pretty ribbon.

I don't know about you guys...but I end up finding most of the party favor junk around the house and pitch it.

Many parents are just skipping the party favors completely (which is fine with me)....but dd5 saw the pink kisses and asked to have them for her birthday.

 

[lady_bug_888]

My DS birthday is at the end of Aug. and happens to fall right around the weekend before school starts which makes it hard to get people together for a party--everyone is busy getting ready for school or having last minute family time.

For this reason we usually have a quiet family day/dinner (sometimes grandparents and extended family come, though not often because they all live far away) on the day of DS's actual bday and do a party a few weeks later.

For DS 4th birthday we went to Chuck E Cheese. It was just me, DH and son's biological mother. Later I took him by myself to see Transformers and had dinner at a child friendly italian place. All together we spend about $80.

For DS 5th birthday we had a small party at our house. It was Water themed and we spent the day playing games, had a water pinata and then walked to the spray park by our house. I served a variety of my DS's favourite foods (veggies + dip, chicken wings, fruit, chips) and I made him a spiderman cake. There were only 4 kids at his party including him but there were 8 adults. I spent roughly $100 including food, decorations, goody bags and all miscellaneous items.

For DS 6th birthday we rented a room at our community pool and did an hour of science experiments followed by an hour of swimming. We then had pizza and opened gifts. The theme for the party was 'under the sea' and I made a 3-D octopus cake. Total cost for the party was around $250 including the rental fee, pizza, goody bag and miscellaneous costs. 6 children attended the party and 10 adults.

For DS 7th birthday we had a super-mario themed home party. We played a variety of 'mini-games' where the children collected gold coins. We had a pinata and ate subway, fruits, veggies and chips. I made a super-mario cake and served bubblegum ice cream on the side. I spent between $150-$200 on this party. We invited 24 children but 10 came plus my DS. All together including adults we had 16 people here.

When I plan a party my budget usually is $200 total. I try not to go over this and usually am able to stay under. We do give our DS a gift as well, but we try to keep the gift under $50 or so. For my DS 8th birthday we are probably having another home party 'space' themed but that's months away still.

My DD will turn 1 in a few months and I will still have that $200 budget but I doubt I'll spend that. I guess I'll just have more to spend at WDW when we go in August!

 

[tink2dw]

By Necessity we had to go to 2 parties! You see Dd was born on July 1st and everyone and their dogs go out of town for the July 4th!!

Dd would want a Party with school friends so I went to having a party in June before school got out.

Then On Dd's actual birthday We had our Family party. All the Birthday Cakes were baked by DH and Hand decorated by me. Saved on cost and Dd always got the Disney Character or sinking Titanic Ship she wanted!!

We did parties in the
Parks [kids loved the tall play structure]
Children's Museum [kids loved the water play area, and the make a clay thing]
OMSI[science museum]
Roller Skating [they had a $20. party room,their ice cream and our cake]
Ice Skating [was in the Mall we just did Cake after the 2 hour public skate]
Swim Parties at the City Rec and Parks cool Pool!
Amusement Park on "D.A.R.E. Days" Free Admission [our cake and soda and chips]

for Dd's 18th birthday I decided to give her and all friends a RETRO PARTY in their Favorite Park. I had games for them to play!! And retro candies too! They had a blast! They got it and loved it!

That is the year I bought, her A Pirate Chest[read Hope Chest, blanket chest.] It is carved with Tall Ships. Boy was she surprised!! I have since stocked it with house hold items for her first place.

 

[pam95]

We did family only up until this past December when DS turned 5. Then we did two parties - a small family only party where I just made cupcakes, and a big party at My Gym with DS' friends from daycare. It cost us probably about $500 total for both parties. The facility charged $270. I spent about $100 on favors, and another $50-$100 on the cake, drinks and supplies. It was pricey and probably not something that we will be doing again for awhile. We just felt that turning "5" is kind of a big deal and wanted to do something special for him.

 

[mjbaby]

My children (son age 10 and daughter almost-7) usually have a party with friends - they're generally allowed to invite 6-7 friends - and a family dinner with grandparents and cousins and so forth.

Our birthday parties are strictly at-home. I've been tempted in the past to do outside parties, particularly for our daughter's mid-winter birthday, but can never quite bring myself to do it. Even the year I allowed my daughter had 12 guests (the larger number was our gift to her) and I went nuts on the theme and treats I spent only about $150 (Oriental Trading and being able to cook FTW!). We've done all kinds of themes around here: space, football, construction, Chinese dragons, Pink Poodles, cowgirls. Our parties generally have the same format - Sunday afternoon, snacks and cake only, two or three appropriate activities (a game, craft or whatever), a story for younger ones, free play time, cake and presents. Two hours and done.

Years ago I bought 30 small glass plates that I use over and over for parties. I also have a collection of tablecloths in all kinds of colors so I can limit my party-specific purchases and I don't have a lot of leftover stuff. In my experience $100 will get you an awesome kids party - if you know how to do a lot of things yourself.

For their family dinners they get to choose the menu. We've had everything from salmon and couscous to Indian food to chili dogs. As long as it's not too nuts, they can have it.

 

[Familyof4lovesDW]

We do a family and friend party until they started going to daycare. When DS turned 4 he had his first friend party. I invited kids from daycare and from preschool. Since DD went to the daycare also she got her first friend party at 3. It was a mixed age daycare, so most of the kids were the same age as DS.

DD has done, Chick-fil-a, Bounce party at a cheerleading place, bounce u. BOunce u being the most, told her that would not happen again. We have to invite the whole class and there are 25 in her K class. Her b-day has to be somewhere due to our winter weather (no where to park at Grandma's).

DS has only had his party at Grandma's. This is his choice. He says somewhere else this year, we will see.

We have a family party at my mom & dad's house with all of my family. DH does not have much family around, so they come to the kid party.

They both want to go to Texas Roadhouse on their birthday this year, so they can sit on the saddle and get a big yeehaaa!

 

[monorailsilver]

I usually throw a family party & we have a small family, including my immediate family of 5, there is no more then 15 people, maybe 16 at times including my parents, MIL, sisters, neices & BIL's & their girlfriends. I don't invite my aunts/uncles or cousins because do my kids really need that may gifts?

I do that at my house, my small house. I make my own cake & we do a light meal-pizza or sandwiches.

As they get older they get party with their friends. I have not done it at my house although I would love to because my house is small & it just wouldn't work-deck is unsteady right now (this year getting a new one), back yard has a bunch of tree stumps (think over 20), etc....

My kids have had parties at the bowling alley, horse farm, indoor play place, pottery place, on the Essex Steam train caboose (that was a big hit & well worth the $$$).

For their party with friends I try not to go over $150 if I can help it. The train was double that but the boys were perfect. For a small space there were no melt downs or "I'm bored" & no running around.

 

[heathernfrankie]

We had a big party for the boys 1st birthdays. Invited all of our family/friends. We had it at a local park. Then, they got scaled back to just our immediate family at home. For my oldest's 5th birthday, I let him choose where he wanted it b/c we would be inviting friends. He chose a game at our AAA baseball team. That was expensive b/c I invited all the kids from his class and 1 parent. We tailgated before the game and then enjoyed the game sitting together. Being that my youngest is turning 5 in May, I told him he could pick where he wanted to go and I think we're doing it at a local bounce place, but not 100% sure yet. I don't want to spend as much as I spent on the older one's because we're going to Disney in September.

 

[KELLY]

W jsut do a themed party at the house. This year my youngest dd turing 3 wants a ts party. So just the cake and supplies for family no friends is around 75.00. That don't count the food we just do finger sandwhices and some appertizers. Pretty simple.

 

[cassandrap83]

When my kids were turning one we had a large family party at a restaurant & invited all the aunts & uncles, grandparents & cousins. We spent about $200.

When my kids turned two we just went over my in-laws, and then my mom's house for dinner & presents.

Ever since the girls have chosen to have a party at a place of their choosing & invite their friends. Only friends are invited (no family except cousins their age). We spent $150-$250 depending on the location & the number of kids that came. We then would go 'visit' at my in-laws & my mom's house for gift-giving & cake.