When did B-Day parties get so crazy expensive??

[breathinforluck]

It's crazy how expensive kids parties are getting. I'm still young(19) and never had most of the stuff you guys are talking about when I was a kid. I think my most expensive party was at 10, an American girl themed one.

Personally, I'm glad when I was younger my mom stuck to throwing just sleepover parties with movies and pizza. Because I don't even remember anything that happened to me under the age of 6 really. Just few select things. Seems like a waste to spend so much money.

 

[iheartdisney]

My best friend had the best idea for her DDs party.
Rent a room at a local hotel. Everyone gets to come swimming, then back up to the room for cake and ice cream. Then the boys leave and the girls have a sleepover. And then mom doesn't have to clean up the house.
When mine get to sleepover age, I want to!

 

[toddlerhouse]

We have done the big parties too with lots of kids.

For my DS9's BD this year(yesterday) , we took him and his 2 best friends to a water park for the day. We get the corprate rate from our employer so the price each was really discounted. They had pizza for lunch and and afternoon ice cream. We stopped for dinner at a cafeteria style restaurant and they as they were famished from a day in the sun. We asked that they didn't bring presents and we didn't do gift bags.

They had a GREAT day just being together!!

 

[Goofy'slady]

Both my daughters are June girls and their b-days are only seperated by 3weeks and there was a time earlier this year we thought that we would combine the two events into one, especially since my in-laws would be in the country visiting us and we be here for just one of the girls b-days. After some consideration we decided that since there's almost 7 yrs between them that it wouldn't be fair for our older daughter to share her day with her baby sister. Our yougest just turned 3 on the 3rd and my oldest just turned 10 on the 24th. For our 3yr old my in-laws were still here and my MIL made dinner for us and a few (and I do mean a few) of my relatives were invited over along with one of our neighbors kids for ice cream cake. There were no gifts because the focus of the day is not on gifts alone and since she's only three and really doesn't understand what a b-day is we're still able to get away with dinner, cake and punch; also her b-day fell on a Tuesday this year although we did want to get her something special but we waited til the weekend and took her to Build A Bear and she adopted our newest family member "Berri". She loved it!

On to my oldest who's b-day also fell on a Tuesday(this past Tuesday as a matter of fact). Last Friday the 20th my husband took her out to get a her early birthday gift, a new bike since she out grew her old one and she was able to ride all weekend long. When her actual b-day arrived(the 24th) we got her a cake and I made her favorite dinner and we sang Happy Birthday to her and she ended the night watching her favorite show. However, since this was a important birthday (turning 10 and all) Last month we took both the girls to Disney for an early birthday gift, she received 4 new games for her Nintendo DS last month alone, her summer wardrobe is fully stocked, so she needed nothing really. I decided to give her something she couldn't touch, a full day with me doing "girl" stuff, no daddy or baby sis. This Saturday we'll start our day at the Day Spa getting pedi's and I'll even get my brows done, we'll have lunch, take in a movie and before calling it a day I'll take her to one of her favorite spots, Barnes & Noble and let her pick out a new book. The entire day will be a bonding day for us and we'll make memories that will last us both a lifetime. For us that's far more precious than any birthday party.

T.

 

[christianne]

I have twins who are finally growing out of the extravagant birthday party stage (age 11). However, what I did for a couple years is rent out our local theater for $150 at a time before movies started (10:30am) which included popcorn. They even let us bring our own DVD one year so the kids could see Star Wars on the big screen...such a hit!

 

[EthansMom]

i know theres always the "party at home" but i dont want the ILs to come & think its an all night beerfest...its a kids party, not an outdoor "lounge"

Last year, I started separating our "family party" and "kids' party" for my children's birthdays. I invite our family over for cake and ice cream AFTER dinner on the child's actual birthday. We invite my child's friends over for a kids' party on a weekend day near to the birthday. Makes my life easier.

We also only have kids' parties every other year and celebrate the children's birthdays by doing something as a family (see a show, go to the zoo, etc..) on opposite years.

Around here, the pools and such run about $12 a kid, with a 10 kid minimum. The moms and kids actually get tired of going to the same party places over and over again and seem pretty happy to go to one at someone's home.

 

[tttessa]

Last year, I started separating our "family party" and "kids' party" for my children's birthdays. I invite our family over for cake and ice cream AFTER dinner on the child's actual birthday. We invite my child's friends over for a kids' party on a weekend day near to the birthday. Makes my life easier.

We also only have kids' parties every other year and celebrate the children's birthdays by doing something as a family (see a show, go to the zoo, etc..) on opposite years.

Around here, the pools and such run about $12 a kid, with a 10 kid minimum. The moms and kids actually get tired of going to the same party places over and over again and seem pretty happy to go to one at someone's home.

Hiya - I couldn't believe it when I read this post- we do EXACTLY the same!!! Kids party at home every other year and family for tea and cake....

We do a little craft party - make hats/bags whatever for 6 - we have 8 chairs so my 2 girls + 6 guests max.. We do it straight from school so provide hot food, not any party junk... Works really well, never costs more than £50 / $100 including crafts and hot food and cake which grandma makes for us. Sooooo much fun playing pin the tail on the donkey, musical bumps etc......

Tessa

 

[sk!mom]

DD12 just had a pool party for her BD at the end of May. We belong to a Swim/Tennis Club. The annual membership is $425 but by paying our dues early we get 15 guest passes. I used all 15 for DD's party. She had 24 guests but 9 were members so no charge for them. We use the pool all summer. DD has friends and cousins who are also members so we would rarely use guest passes if we didn't use them for the party.

DH went and picked up Little Caesar's $6 pizzas- $45.

I baked and decorated cupcakes- maybe $5

ice cream cups - $12

Filled an ice chest with canned drinks- $10 (party was Memorial Day so lots of sodas on special that weekend).

Balloons, table cloths, napkins, plates- maybe $20

No goody bags- I refuse- no one wants that junk laying around.

So maybe $100 total for a really fun afternoon. I don't include the pool membership as we have been members for 21 years and would join regardless. I encourage a pool party every year. DD had slumber parties a couple of years and they were much more expensive. She's persuaded by the pool party because she is allowed to invite as many people as she wants to it. Any other party would have to have a limited guest list due to space and cost.

I guess my suggestion is to check into joining a pool for the summer as that might allow for a cheaper party and continued use of the pool all summer. Good Luck!

 

[DVC Sadie]

Birthday Parties and everything else is going up in cost but I do feel that 11.00 to 20.00 per child is not an extravagant party, especially when you think about fuel costs.

Our electric bill is going up another 25% this month and then the higher costs for other things including grocieries, hard goods and soft goods I just can't imagine having a party at a store, pool or any type of destination would cost less then the above amount, which seems very reasonable to me.

If I wanted/needed to have a more economical party with a lot of extras then I would have it at home and throw a great party per person cost.

For the poster (which cannot be named), anyone who would go to a party and laugh about the cost that the host paid should feel ashamed.

Some families have the extra income to throw parties that cost 100.00 (or more) per person for their children and other families can afford 3.00 per person. I would never laugh at either family for what they choose to spend because everyone pays for what they can afford.

 

[Deffenm]

My kids pick out their theme and then I plan a party around that theme. We always have a party at the house and I spend about $100 at most. The problem we have is our kids all have birthday's around major holidays (4th of July and Christms) so they only have a few kids show up (maybe 5). My kids love getting to pick out the theme. I take them by themselves out shopping for their decorations, plates, napkins, balloons, etc.. and then I make the cake and come up with game ideas. We have the party around 2 so I don't have to feed anyone lunch or dinner.

Ds is going to be 9 on July 7th and he wants a reptile themed party. I bought "safari" looking white hats from the craft store with fabric paint and will have the kids decorate them. I then bought a bunch of plastic reptiles (frogs, lizards, snakes) that I will hide in the yard. After the kids are done decorating their hats they will go on a reptile hunt in our back yard. Whatever they collect goes in their goodie bags. So the repitles and their hats are the gifts to the guests. I will make a snake cake and he will open a few presents that will be it.

I never had big parties when I was growing up and to this day the best thing I remember about my parties was the time and effort my mom put into making the cake herself (not store bought) and putting the whole thing together.

 

[mamaLori05]

For the poster (which cannot be named), anyone who would go to a party and laugh about the cost that the host paid should feel ashamed.

Some families have the extra income to throw parties that cost 100.00 (or more) per person for their children and other families can afford 3.00 per person. I would never laugh at either family for what they choose to spend because everyone pays for what they can afford.

THANK YOU!! I feel the same way, however my post was deleted when I tried to say basically the same thing. If I ever found out that any of my guests were talking about how much I spent at a party I would be upset, and you better believe they wouldn't be invited to another party.

 

[twooley2]

I would say enjoy giving whatever you can afford and remember soon they will be teens and the cost will skyrocket and replace the birthday party cost with other things like steady supplies of makeup, cars, cellphones, dances and such.

 

[HelenePA]

For me to have it "away" probably costs me about 50$ more per party between food and all the othere stuff ya need to buy to have it at home anyway.. All I can say is my sanity is WORTH 50$. I dont need do to the "mad" cleaning before the party, I dont need to hide breakable stuff, I dont have to worry about people all over my house... Yep its really worth not having the party at home. DD#2 is begging me to have her's at home.. I am begging her not to have it at home...

 

[BoilerGirl91]

Wow. I must be a horrible mom because my kids are 4 and 7 and they have not had these type of parties. We have a big family party with grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. We do cupcakes or treats for school/daycare. My daughter is turning 8 in August and this is the first time she asked for a kids party. We are doing a bowling party - 10 kids for $120 includes bowling, pizza and pop. I thought it was pretty reasonable and I don't have to worry about cleaning the house. I think people should do what feels right for them and their kids.

 

[emh1129]

My children all have winter birthdays, so it is always a predicament. I love our house, but it's just the right size for the five of us. Not the perfect place for entertaining.
So this year my son had a bowling party. The year before we had a pool party at the Y. I'm running out of ideas.
I really wish we could just celebrate in the summer, but I know the kids wouldn't go for that!
My niece just had a Wizard of Oz birthday picnic and it was so cute. My MIL painted cardboard lollipops to put in the yard (they looked adorable!) and had a big white sheet hanging that said "surrender sophie" and made an incredible homemade cake.
The kids were thrilled to just run around and play.. and she gave each child a big lollipop as a favor. I'm sure the party didn't cost much, but it was great!
DD is already talking about wanting to do something like that for her bday, but she doesn't understand it's a bit cold outside in New England in November!

 

[StephMK]

Sometimes I can't believe the comments that pop up on threads like this. Why would you laugh about how much someone spends? Enjoy the day, be happy you got to share it & be done with it. Like others said, you never know.

This is a timely thread as my DS's 6th bday is tomorrow. He's always had at home parties - kiddie pool, water balloons, homemade pin the tail on "insert which theme he's chosen", scavenger hunt, pinata - that type of stuff. From what I've seen, the kids usually just love playing together.

This year for the first time he wants to go somewhere -we are doing BounceU. I figure the $ I saved on the other years can go to this one. It's scheduled on the cheapest time I could find & he chose a longer bounce time and no food. You can do a rental without the "party" package plus they offer a smaller, shorter party for up to 12 - for anyone shopping party places. I knew I could provide a cake & goody bags for much less than their package includes.

It's the same for up to 25 kids but he didn't want more than the 8 friends he knows well and I'm making the cake. They'll bounce then do cake/games in the party room. I bought them each a water gun & bubbles. I would hate for someone to be commenting later about my cheapness or spending too much, we're doing what he wants & trying to keep it budget where I can.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

I agree, kid's parties are NUTS. I think it's all part of a Keeping Up With The Jones' mentality - businesses know it, and they fill demand. My husband and I refuse to buy into the idea that our children's birthday parties need to impress anyone. We keep parties small (family and my children's close friends - not my good friends who are childless, my husband's college buddies, etc, etc, etc, like some of the parties we've been to. My brother had over 100 people at my niece's first birthday party, and there were exactly 9 kids there - it was insane, and my poor niece was beyond overwhelmed.

Anyway - I appreciate the fact that you've asked your daughter what she wants, so you're now sort of obligated to deliver. But going forward, it might be a good idea to let her pick a theme, and you do the planning according to your budget.

I hope she has a great birthday!

I am not flaming but I wanted to address this. We throw big parties for the kids. We are not trying to impress anyone or keep up with anyone. We like having parties and love seeing everyone enjoy themselves. We also do the huge 1st birthday party for each child. Our whole family does as does almost everyone we know. The kids have a ball. We don't have these parties for any other reason than to celebrate. We don't care if you don't bring a gift, if you have to bring a sibling etc. and we want you as the parent to stay and have a bite to eat. Life is short and goes by in the blink of an eye and anytime we can get together to celebrate something we do it. Of course as parents we think celebrating our children's birth is worth every penny! So not everyone is trying to impress anyone. We're having a party next month and I can't wait!

 

[Mouse House Mama]

My best friend had the best idea for her DDs party.
Rent a room at a local hotel. Everyone gets to come swimming, then back up to the room for cake and ice cream. Then the boys leave and the girls have a sleepover. And then mom doesn't have to clean up the house.
When mine get to sleepover age, I want to!

I would never let my kids go to a party like that.

 

[mamaLori05]

I am not flaming but I wanted to address this. We throw big parties for the kids. We are not trying to impress anyone or keep up with anyone. We like having parties and love seeing everyone enjoy themselves. We also do the huge 1st birthday party for each child. Our whole family does as does almost everyone we know. The kids have a ball. We don't have these parties for any other reason than to celebrate. We don't care if you don't bring a gift, if you have to bring a sibling etc. and we want you as the parent to stay and have a bite to eat. Life is short and goes by in the blink of an eye and anytime we can get together to celebrate something we do it. Of course as parents we think celebrating our children's birth is worth every penny! So not everyone is trying to impress anyone. We're having a party next month and I can't wait!

We seem a lot alike! We do the same, in fact we are doing ds's big first b-day bash in Aug. The invite list is 50 people so far and probably will grow. We love putting a cake in the middle of the kitchen on a sheet and letting the birthday baby go at it! We did that with dd and it was sooo funny...messy, but funny! I'm pretty sure ds will eat the whole thing and be covered head to toe in frosting!! Can't wait!!

 

[asmit4]

I would never let my kids go to a party like that.

Why not? It's just swimming at a hotel, and all the boys go home after cake. Plus a parent stays with them, typically in a connecting room. They eat junk food all night and often rent a movie from the tv list available. They also bring board games, makeup and hair stuff to play with. It's just like a sleepover at home, without all the cleanup.

Of course, I'm speaking from my own upbringing- what the PP does might be different. Why is this such an issue?