Birthday Parties for older children soo expensive.

A question about : Birthday Parties for older children soo expensive.

I have spent a fortune I think on Birthday parties this year around Ј200 per one. Am I stupid or just love my boys? Or is this the average.

One was a two hour canal cruise and the other at a Snowdome.

How can I do it cheaper or should I just have a good old knees up at the local village Hall for Ј30 plus food and invite as many people as possible?

I have two boys now aged 8 and 9.

The thing is our guests have been cancelling due to illness even though a place costs Ј20 per person which I don't think they appreciated as they did not attend and then didn't even send a gift even though there was still a Birthday. The whole experience has made me resentful how rude people really are. Or should I just put it down to a necessary spend for my loved ones.

Best answers:

• My sister had three boys and a very tight income, she made good use of the picnic in the park birthday idea. She provided the cake and some snacks and drinks but asked people to bring their own picnic to share. The kids ran around playing games and a good time was had by all, year on year. many happy memories and all for very little money. Hope this helps!
• I have just have 1 daughter, shes 12 now, but the parties over the yrs have worked out reasonable to expensive, for her 11th bday we took her and 2 friends out for a day at a farm, then stopped for meal on way home.
  I agree thou espically when your paying per head, I know illness cant be helped but its hard when youve paid, when DD was younger, I had a party at wacky warehouse, and my cousin texted to say they were going to stay an extra day at the coast due to good weather........ (there was 3 invites there which been paid for), they got an impolite text back, and they turned up in the end.
  After that incident, I hired a sports hall or 2 yrs running, Ј50, then food, and party bags, that came in about Ј125, one yr we did bowling, (dressed in pjs), Ј120. to me that is a fair wack that could be spent on parties.
  This yr we were going to hire the local swimming pool, as it was her 1st yr at secondary school, (Ј60 for an hr), but circumstances took over and couldnt arrange it, as shes 13 next yr looking into a limo and bowling........
  I would go for a village hall and some food, the kids will enjoy the run around space,
  part of me thinks it is an expense and i could do something better with the money, then the other side of me feels quilty and birthdays need celebrating.
  Is there another child whose birthday is around same time, - maybe share the party and expenses xx
• over the years (my DD is 13 now and past the age where she wants a "party") we've done indoor playcentres, one party at home (with restricted numbers), a birthday sleepover (even more restricted numbers lol) bowling and McDonalds, and cinema and a meal. The most I've invited has been 10 (indoor playcentre) the least 3 (so that with my DD and I we only need one car for whatever we're planning on doing).
  As long as its celebrated in some way, I don't think you need to keep producing a party or event, but if you do want to, you could bring down the numbers of guests to your sons' best friends only etc.
• After the disaster that was my youngest's 7th birthday party, when people cancelled last minute or didn't turn up and I'd had to pay the party place a week in advance a the most expensive place in town, so I couldn't even adjust numbers, I decided enough was enough and vowed never to do an organised for you event again.
  Instead, I arranged for some friends to come round to our house and from there we went to whatever event. Eg, we'd go bowling or to the cinema and then we'd come home for something to eat. I frequently went and got a kfc variety bucket to share and a cake. As they got older and got a more select group of friends, who I knew would turn up, we did do more ticketed in advance things, like a photo shoot and an under21 England match.
• Once they get to about 7 or 8 I don't see the need for the big whole class parties any more. DS is 9 on Boxing Day and the only reason he's continued to have parties where everyone is invited is because he shares with a boy whose birthday is earlier in December and we split the cost - last year was a bouncy castle type party, they've had swimming parties, soft play, etc....
  He's been to most of the parties that have happened since September (his class are all September to February birthdays) and none of them have been whole class parties, they've been a handful of kids that the birthday child has chosen. Off the top of my head he's been to the cinema, football in the leisure centre, lazer zone afew times, muddy assault course, treetops assault course, and one he didn't go to which was in the indoor skate park.
  With DD it's just been sleepovers really since the age of about seven. Or two or three close friends out for a meal.
  Jx
• What lovely lessons to be imparting to your child.
• My tuppence.
  Firstly we never do whole class parties like DS's nursery mates. Why, he's not friends with everybody and I don't know them all either. So far we had just kids round the house and a HM buffet. Later we maybe do the village hall type thing and make our own buffet. When he's older we'll see but even the cinema sounds really expensive esp if there is a McD involved beforehand. When I grew up we always just had friends round the house for differently themed parties, no need for limos etc. As long as they feel it's their day and it's being made special it doesn't need to cost a fortune.
  Another thing, do a RSVP with a date two or three weeks before the party. If they haven't replied, they are not coming and you won't need to pay for them. That's what most people in DS nursery did if they hired a soft play etc.
• No party is probably the most cost-effective option as the child will receive some presents regardless.