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

[heatherlynn444]

um...yall must not be able to read correctly..I never said not to have a party at all...but to spend hundreds of dollars on a one year olds b-day party is slightly ridiculous IMO. I'm not saying not to do anything at all, but i know people who have spent hundreds of dollars on princess parties for a 2 year old, inviting everyone they have ever met in their lives, and I think its a bit much, thats all. i know someone who decorated their golf cart like a carraige and spent money for every child to ahve their own cinderella costume, and they had enough food to feed and army, and the kid was turning 3 or 4, I think it also can put a kid in a mindset of more more more, and then as a parent you feel the need to tp last years party each year and it can get cRaZy!

no need for the sarcasm about christmas gifts, easter basekets, etc...a bit much.

 

[HelenePA]

no need for the sarcasm about christmas gifts, easter basekets, etc...a bit much.

Ah come on don't take life so seriously... It's short. Laugh as much as you can

 

[mamaLori05]

um...yall must not be able to read correctly..I never said not to have a party at all....

I was referring to your quote that "a 2yr old won't remember their party" and simply stating that my 3yr old does remember her 2nd b-day party.

 

[heatherlynn444]

well sure when i was 3 i probably remembered something from a year before, too, but now, or ever 10 years ago, I don't remember that kind of thing. I may have a split second flshback of something i remember, but nothing in depth or detailed. I'm sorry I wasn't trying to be rude or say your kid can't remmeber something I just personally would wait to spend a bunch of money on a party when a kid is a little bit older when they can really remember it and have fun.

 

[mamaLori05]

Well, I know everyone has their opinions, but all I know is my dd has had a blast at her b-day parties and I feel that every penny I spent was well worth it. To see the look on her face, to see her friends having fun, and to hear her talk about the fun she had and retell the stories is priceless in my opinion.

 

[Disneygirl26]

I don't think its anything wrong with spending money on birthday parties, I was blessed that my DD16 and DD10 never really expressed any intrested in having birthday parties, so we usually just have dinner at place they choose and maybe icecream and cake with the family, until this year when DD turned 16 and if anybody has ever seen My Sweet16 on MTV well I have to admit I was the parent that went way over board to the tune of 7,000 I'm just glad I only have one daughter I'm just hoping DS10 doesn't want to be like his sister and think he's too cool for a birthday rotfl:

 

[Mouse House Mama]

um...yall must not be able to read correctly..I never said not to have a party at all...but to spend hundreds of dollars on a one year olds b-day party is slightly ridiculous IMO. I'm not saying not to do anything at all, but i know people who have spent hundreds of dollars on princess parties for a 2 year old, inviting everyone they have ever met in their lives, and I think its a bit much, thats all. i know someone who decorated their golf cart like a carraige and spent money for every child to ahve their own cinderella costume, and they had enough food to feed and army, and the kid was turning 3 or 4, I think it also can put a kid in a mindset of more more more, and then as a parent you feel the need to tp last years party each year and it can get cRaZy!

no need for the sarcasm about christmas gifts, easter basekets, etc...a bit much.

See now I think you are being a bit rude. In your opinion it is ridiculous to spend tons of money on a child's birthday party because they won't remember much. Now IMO the kids have a great time. We as parents get to watch our kids have a great time. That is priceless. If we can afford it then why would anyone care what we do? If you are invited come and enjoy yourself. We also don't feel the need to top last year or anyone else for that matter. Our kids don't feel that way either. Oh- and yeah, we usually do have a ton of food because we feed parents and children. We are thankful that we are able to do it. We don't go into debt for the parties, we are not raising brats. We have had home parties and out parties. Trust me- it is not any cheaper to have the party at home. We love having parties. Seeing the kids have fun makes us happy. If you don't want elaborate parties for your kids then don't have them. Just don't be so condescending to those of us that want to.

ETA- Oh yeah, and I can read very well thank you.

 

[mamaLori05]

See now I think you are being a bit rude. In your opinion it is ridiculous to spend tons of money on a child's birthday party because they won't remember much. Now IMO the kids have a great time. We as parents get to watch our kids have a great time. That is priceless. If we can afford it then why would anyone care what we do? If you are invited come and enjoy yourself. We also don't feel the need to top last year or anyone else for that matter. Our kids don't feel that way either. Oh- and yeah, we usually do have a ton of food because we feed parents and children. We are thankful that we are able to do it. We don't go into debt for the parties, we are not raising brats. We have had home parties and out parties. Trust me- it is not any cheaper to have the party at home. We love having parties. Seeing the kids have fun makes us happy. If you don't want elaborate parties for your kids then don't have them. Just don't be so condescending to those of us that want to.

Yup, I have to agree. I don't out do my own parties, and I don't try to top anyone's either. Some of our neighbors (my dd's friends) have home parties, and some go elsewhere. I guess I don't even think anything about it other than it's that child's birthday. I just do what I know my kids would enjoy when it comes to their parties. No brats here either. My dd has yet to throw a tantrum in a store when I tell her she can't have something. I just tell her not today and she says okay.

 

[Worfiedoodles]

I've just finished with the big parties every year. DS turned 10, and now he'd rather do something with just his best buds rather than his whole class. For me, I'm glad it's over more because of the time than the money. Making the arrangements (DS is a January baby, so I always had to book right after Thanksgiving), ordering everything -- cake, goodie bag items, etc., was just stressful for me. I didn't even really enjoy the parties. I am an introvert, and ds is the opposite. I did it for him, and he loved every minute of it.

I never compared our parties to anyone else's -- some were bigger, most were the same or a little smaller. There are a limited # of venues, and rarely did anyone have one at home. This means we're all going to the same places, so one really isn't any better than another -- bowling, sports complex, pool or ceramic party. I would have been devastated to think someone was laughing at our party. I put so much time and effort into them -- planning, executing (not to mention thank yous, or rounding up those who neglect to rsvp). I don't need to be congratulated, but please don't laugh at me for trying to do the best I can for my child! Isn't that what all parents are supposed to do?

I do agree that it seems birthday parties are more expensive -- I think having kids is more expensive than when I was a child. Think about it -- you probably spend much more on a daily basis on your children than your parents did, just for everyday expenses. And vacations...we drove on our vacations, and we rarely left Missouri. We camped in state parks. My ds has informed us that he prefers to fly non-stop, and he's been to WDW three times and on two cruises. It costs more, but these activities make us happy and we can afford them, so we do them.

I think b-day parties became more expensive because of demand. If people didn't want big parties, there wouldn't be an entire industry dedicated to making them happen!

 

[Xcited4Disney]

My little one will be 9 on Wednesday. Since our WDW trip is costing us approx $1700 in Feb, and I have spent $800 on Daytona 500 tix. I opted for a family dinner at Applebees and picking a gift at WalMart. I know it sounds cheesy, but I am trying to save money. I told her that for the big 10, she could have a class party. Where we live there is nothing.... Chuck E Cheese is over an hour away.

My dd is turning 9 tomorrow too!
I'll be bringing cupcakes for her group at summer camp during their snack time. She wants Red Lobster for dinner so that where we and my mom are going. We won't have a party this weekend since many have other plans for the holiday weekend but she will have a bowling party next weekend. $15.95 per child. 10 child min. It includes 1 hr of bowling, 1 hr in the party room, each child can choose pizza, hot dog, or chicken fingers, chips, soda, free t-shirt for my dd, game passes, hostess, andcomplete set up (plates, napkins, utensils, etc).

 

[LovinPooh]

That sounds like a pretty decent deal.
That is the problem with her birthday being the day it is.... people are already partying. I normally do her parties the week before or after. Just trying to save this year. My sons birthday is the day after Xmas... what a nightmare that one is.

Happy Birthday to your July 2nd baby too!!

 

[Xcited4Disney]

Happy Birthday to your July 2nd baby too!!

To your baby too!

You can see in my siggy where we were last year. MUCH cheaper this year.