Wow.... 5K plus on a 5 year olds birthday party!!!!

[NCDisneyMom]

My oldest is turning 6 tomorrow (oops, wait, it's after midnight, make that TODAY!), and his party is this weekend. We actually do two parties in one day.

First, from 1-3 is the kids party. He invited 11 kids out of his class of 23 (only 4 yes's so far), along with a couple neighborhood kids. I let him splurge on the pinata this year, and we will only have cake and ice cream, since it's not a meal time. Small goody bags will be given to each child. No real decorations to speak of, and games will be simple, like Pin The Tail on the Donkey, Simon Says, etc. It should be nice out, so they can go outside to play, too. These are the kinds of parties I had growing up, and they suited me just fine, so that's what my kids will have, too.

From 3:30 until whenever is the family party. Both sets of grandparents, his aunt & uncle, my aunt & uncle, and a couple of my cousins. They all live somewhat locally, so we didn't invite any other extended family. We don't have an ending time, because we truly enjoy just spending time together, so most will probably be here for dinner, which will be either pizza or grilling out burgers and dogs. And, of course, munchies for the afternoon. Cake and ice cream again. Hey, it's the kids birthday, he can have twice the cake & ice cream.

So that's it. Total cost will probably be under $200 for both parties.

 

[rparmfamily]

Lobster? DJ? Can I come?

 

[packetminnie]

I offered an expensive party with all friends or a trip to WDW on his birthday.
DS(8) chose a 4 day weekend at Pop Century. Luckily his b-day coincides with the end of quarter so he only misses one day of school. DS(4) gets a week at OKW because he doesnt have any school to miss yet. I get two additional trips to WDW and solo bonding time with my boys.

 

[Papa Deuce]

Lobster? DJ? Can I come?

LOL... I was actually tring to figure out what the total will be. I said 5K, but now I'm thinking closer to 10K.

Assume that not everybody will eat lobster. The kids won't. So maybe there are 80 adults. Maybe they need 40+ lobsters. I know there is beef being served as well. What kind, I do not know. I do know that this place starts at $73 pp for a wedding, but that does not include lobster. And of course, I am sure that the kids are charged less than the adults.

Still, when all is said and done I bet it is closer to 10K.

 

[sajetto]

Uhhh you lookin' to adopt???

I was lucky to get a cake and 2 presents, one from each parent, even on my 16th birthday. I never once had a birthday party.

 

[disney50fam]

around 100 to 150.......

 

[Papa Deuce]

Uhhh you lookin' to adopt???

I was lucky to get a cake and 2 presents, one from each parent, even on my 16th birthday. I never once had a birthday party.

Not me.... my wife want to invite 40 - 50 people to the local zoo for my kids party at $14 a person and I'm dead set against it. I will lose this battle though. $500 - $1000 for EVERY kids birthday, every year, seems to be normal in her family.

Me? I'm a cake and ice cream guy. Maybe hot dogs and burgers on the grill..... less than $200 max.

 

[Longsx3]

We had DD's 6th Bday at the Sandcastle Club in the Yacht and Beach Club. It was about 24 people all Family because we lived in Omaha at the time, she loved it, the party alone easily topped $600.00 and we also spent a few days in Orlando. We went to Chef Mickey's that night for her B'day dinner. h For her other bday parties when she was younger we spent around $300 but since we have lived in Europe she hasn't had a party per say...the 1st year she wanted to spend her birthday at the Eifel Tower so we went to Paris for the weekend and we ate lunch at the Eifel tower on her b'day. Last year we went on a Med. Cruise. This year we are having a Coconut (American Girl) themed early b-day party at the skating rink on base, not the greatest place but there aren't many choices, in May (her bday is Aug) so she can have it with her friends before we move. Instead of B'day presents DD is asking for dog food donations for the animal shelter to go along with the Coconut theme.

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

For her other bday parties when she was younger we spent around $300 but since we have lived in Europe she hasn't had a party per say...the 1st year she wanted to spend her birthday at the Eifel Tower so we went to Paris for the weekend and we ate lunch at the Eifel tower on her b'day. Last year we went on a Med. Cruise.

I love this!! OT: I remember studying in Europe while in College. One of the profs had a junior high aged son and he went on a class ski trip to Switzerland. All I thought was "Dang, that sure beats the Philly Zoo." Its wonderful your DD got to experience things that most US kids never will.

Back OT: We used to rent our local rec center and have parties there, unfortunately it burned down last month. But we drop $50 on hall rental, homemade cake because no one can make what we want (treasure chest, volcano, etc.), gift bags - not extravagant, and then lots and lots of stuff from Oriental Trading. That stuff is so cheap. We usually do pizza, cake and snacky food. This year we planned for later in the day and skipped the pizza. The kids were having so much fun that they didn't even miss it.

But I think to each his own. If a parent wants to have an extravagant birthday party then its up to them. But I do agree that if you are doing this kind of party at 5 what do you do next.

 

[golfgal]

I am SO glad this obnoxious birthday party thing never caught on in our area. A typical birthday party around here is either at the bowling alley and for $5/kid you get pizza, pop, bowling and shoes, most people invite less then 10 kids, parent never stay or a swim party at one of the hotels. They rent the pool area out for $50 for 2 hours of swimming and 1 hour in the party room. With this type of party they usually only have cake.

One year for the twins' birthday we rented the ice arena which was $100 for 2 hours skate time. We had cake after the skating. DS13's big party was at our house and we rented the jumping house thing from our local Burger King-that was $25 for 24 hours. We had a sprinkler on and water balloons. The kids had a blast.

 

[escape]

I wonder what they are going to do as an encore for his 6th birthday? Anything less will be such a let down.

An acquaintance of mine spent $100,000 on her daughter's sweet 16 birthday. I thought that was a little over the top to say the least.

 

[Mkaz]

I wouldn't spend more than $150, but that's just me. However, the sweet sixteen party is going to be a different story.

 

[MrsPete]

I agree that this is a completely ridiculous amount to spend on a 5th birthday party. The child will forget it quickly, and the people who remember it will remember the foolish over-the-top spending!

Changing the subject slightly though, MANY people on this board talk about taking kids to Disney for their birthdays. I suspect lots of people spend a couple thousand on that type of vacation/birthday.

 

[MAKmom]

I just had my DS's 5th birhday party, and probably spend $500 on it. When my DD turned 5, I think I spent almost $1k, so I'm getting better. If I had the money, I would have rented a carnival for the backyard, those look cool!!!!

1k is a thousand dollars...right?

 

[MAKmom]

Is'nt is really imortant for our economy to spend money? So if those who have it, spend it, it s better for the rest of us. Papa's working & so are the waiters,ect. That party works out to about $40.00 per person.

If you have please spend it!

 

[SeeDisney]

Hey, isn't that's the norm in the Main Line area?!

I remember birthday parties with a WOW factor when I lived there 15 years ago.

I checked over 250-500 price range in your poll and here in slower Delaware and you can get a lot for that. I would NEVER EVER hire a DJ though!

 

[ryka]

When I was younger we had parties at our house. My mom would make the cake and I got to invite some friends over.

Both of my kid's 2nd birthdays were in McDonalds. All the other ones we went to my mother's house and had a pool party ( she has her own pool) and BBQ.

This year we are taking them to WDW in August for their birthdays. This is the most we have ever spent on their bithdays but this is a first time for all of us. None of us have ever been to WDW so I am just as excited as they are.

My Daughter is 5 and we are already talking about sweet 15 or sweet 16. I want her to have a sweet 16 but because we are hispanic it is tradition to do a sweet 15. I just see 16 as being a special age and not 15. I do that party will cost alot. I was in a sweet 16 once and it was like a wedding. We had ceremony in a church and a reception after. We had to learn the waltz and the dresses were like wedding dresses. I know that party cost alot.

 

[tw1nsmom]

I think this is another one of those area where we all have to stop being so judgmental. If you don't want to spend a fortune on your kids parties, fine. If you want to blow the bank, fine. Everyone has their own reasons for doing it. Many are keeping up with the Joneses, but others have different reasons. It doesn't matter.

If your kid gets invited to an elaborate brthday party, let them go and have fun. If you're going to talk behind the host's back and tear them apart for the money spent, don't go. Just because others are having big parties doesn't mean you have to be judgemental or feel guilty for not having big parties.

Think of it as an opportunity to teach your children that you aren't keeping up with the Joneses, but they can still be happy for their friends and happy with what you give them.

I just had my twins' 6th birthday party on Sunday. We rented out the Children's Museum, had about 21 kids (including mine), and spent about $350 total (cakes, rental,, food...). My kids had a blast! DS has special needs and while everyone in his class likes him (it's kindergarten), he has a hard time making close friends. For one day, at least, he was the most popular boy in class. I'll have a party every six months if it will let him feel like that. DD also got to feel like a princess for a day.

If I had a bigger house with a rec. room, I would have had their party at home. But, I don't. Last year I reserved the community room over the firehouse for free. By the time I bought the stuff to make the cakes, the decorations, games, prizes, etc...(and I didn't hire any entertainment) I spent close to $200. It was worth it to me to have it somewhere else for a little amount of money.

My kids know that they may not have a big party every year. You don't have to spend more money every year to "top" the previous one. There are lot's of ways to make a birthday special. I just know one thing... DH never had a party. Not even a sleep-over with one friend. Sometimes his mother couldn't even be bothered to make a cake or special dinner for him. I know that it still bothers him a little. I don't want that for my kids.

If it isn't your money, and they aren't your kids, why can't you just be happy for them that having a big party makes them happy? I would have been hurt if one of my guests (or guest's parents) were talking behind my back about the money I spent.

Oh well, vent over.

 

[tiggger1]

My daughter ( she'll be 3) partys usually cost me in the range of $400+ but Im not the one that is paying it all. Its going to be at my MIl because we are remodeling our house. The theme is a circus so there will be a moon walk as well as cotton candy and snowcones. I have a huge family so there will be probably around 40-60 people ( only about 20 kids) including about 15-20 family friends....but we get invited to all their parties so I have to invite them to ours.... there will be cake and ice cream cups. We are having meatballs, ziti, salads and subs, soda and juice... nice and easy...but I bet with everything... it will come to about $500

 

[jajuan]

I have had many birthday parties over the years for my 4 children that have topped 500...close to 1K. I am not even proud to say that. I would start out with a cute idea that would be fairly reasonable, but then I would take it over the top. I always spent at least 10 dollars on party favors for the guests. I am very lucky that my children don't mind when I spend less. My DS didn't want to do much for his 13th birthday because I am getting a divorce..he told me he didn't want to spend the money and I told him it was his 13th and I wanted him to do what he wanted. He decided on a whirly ball party (a mix between whiffle ball, bumper cars and basketball) and wanted to add laser tag on. He offered to pay the laser tag...I told him no way. It will only cost 224 plus tip because at that age and boys, it is hard to do party favors. I have always wanted to write a small book on the birthday parties I have done because they are so much fun. Sounds like I am tooting my horn...I am not at all...it is just something that I really enjoy.