How much do you spend on birthday presents?

[LondonSuperTrooper]

Hello all,

I've probably posted in the wrong place/forum but here goes..... how much do you spend on a birthday present ? My son has just started reception and has been invited to a couple of parties from children from his class. For both parties the whole class is invited.

Also, one of the invitation is for a joint birthday party. Do spend a little less for each child?


Thanks.

[wahwahwah]

About £15-20. Small classes though, so not a huge number to buy!

[strandednomore]

usually around a tenner but would be less if I found something decent that wasn't that much.
for joint parties it depends whether you know one child better than the other. If so (ie you are really the invitee of just one of the guests) I would spend a little more on the one you know. If you know them equally well I'm afraid I would spend as much as usual on each. After all, if you invite them both to your dc's party they would probably both spend the "full" amount.

[soandsosmummy]

About £7-10. I spend more on DD's closest friends though if I see something I think they'd really like

[LondonSuperTrooper]

Thanks for your replies. I was thinking around £10 per child. However, this is a class of 25 & I'm not sure that I can afford to spend that much if he gets invited to other birthday parties.

We have also recieved invitaition to two more parties in November. I do not know any of the mums or kids (I'm new to the area & work full time). I making a huge effort to get to know some of the mums but they seem snotty & very cliquey (sp?)

Is it me or does this seem an awful lot of money to spend on children who you don't know?

[Takver]

Around a fiver for a whole class party / not a particular friend. I think that is also about what most other parents around here spend (and generally craft stuff or books).

I wouldn't spend less if it was a joint party tbh - it could as easily have been two parties over two weekends . . . I'd just be grateful not to have to traipse out twice in a row

Usborne do some lovely sets of '365 things to make & do' type cards for around a fiver!

[Takver]

Also, if you can't afford much, I really wouldn't worry. IME no-one ever knows who has given what present, and the children are just as happy with some sparkly hair clips or a funky pencil case for a couple of quid.

[Ragwort]

Usually £5 (and I would put a fiver in with the card) but £10 if it is a smaller 'outing' type party. I always give cash or a voucher

[strandednomore]

LondonSouperTrooper - I think most mums seem snotty and cliquey until you get to know them, I think that's just the way of the world. They just don't know you so going to the parties will be a good way for you to get chatting. Don't worry if it takes a while, there are plenty of mum's at dd1's school who I am only now getting to know and she is in Yr1. It doesn't mean I didn't like them or didn't want to speak to them, I just didn't get the chance previously.

[LillianGish]

£5 - often club together with others who are going to party to buy something bigger. Having hosted whole class parties I can honestly say there is nothing worse than getting a present from everyone - too much stuff!!!!

[ptangyangkipperbang]

£5/6 each. Wouldn't spend less for a joint party. This is the norm here. It changes as they get older and parties get smaller. Then it's a tenner and a box of malteasers so they have something to unwrap!

[Bluebell99]

I would normally spend between £5 and £10, maybe more for a close friend. It is worth looking out for bargains at places like tkmaxx or getting stuff in the sales.

[dearheart]

£5 or thereabouts.

[schmee]

agree with stranded - parties are a great way to get to know people, and at least they are inviting everyone rather than splitting off into groups already.

I spend £8-10 from each of my twin boys unless it's a special friend.

If you have lots of parties coming up you could get a multipack of books from the bookpeople and give one or two of them. Also, Tesco do packs of birthday cards with 10 cards in for around a pound I think. I got into these when I realised I was spending about £150 a year just on cards!!

[cece]

At that age £5

[DedalusDigglesPocketWatch]

Between 5 and 10 pounds. If it is a child from DD's preschool that I don't know, then nearer 5, but if it is someone DD is very good friends with and I know the child and parent then closer to 10.

Good ideas are The Book People or Redhouse books. They often do sets of 10 books for 10pounds, so try to keep stocked up. Also I have found that playmobil is very reasonable, so a mini set (around 6/7 pounds) makes a very good set.

I also stock up on boxes of cards when I am in the cheap card shops.

[dearheart]

Oh and we always make cards - it is a lot cheaper and I think it is a nice way for the dcs to put some effort into their friends' birthdays. We have two parties coming up this weekend for one dd, and three next weekend for the other one.

[wahwahwah]

One good way to buy presents is to get packs books from somewhere like the book people. I sometimes get the packs for party bags - so you can give books worth about a fiver that cost you a pound. Oh bugger, someone just said that (waves to 2 posts up)

[hels71]

My DD has been to 5 parties in the last 6 weeks (6 if you include hers) I spent a maximum of £5 a child...but did get some things in a sale. I think that is plenty....and I intend to get a pack of something from the book people to split up next year once she is at school....

[humptydidit]

OMG am a bit at the money people are spending.

My limit is £5 per kid.

My finances are pretty tight tbh so wouldn't consider going higher than that! 1 easy way to economise a bit is to buy birthday cards in bulk. Our local pound shop does box of 10 assorted kids birthday cards for £1 - ime the cards just get chucked out anyway.

Girls are easy to buy for, just a quick trip to claire's accesories can get you something sparkly within budget. I find boys are harder!

[breadandbutterfly]

Am also shocked at the £15-20/per child!

Another one £5-6 - though if i can get abargain in a sale that looks more expensive, I will.

At this age, they invite the whole class - too expensive otherwise.

It's different when they're older. From yr 1 on, the number of parties dwindles (more only boys or only girls) and by year 5 or so it's usually just a few special friends for a meal, film etc. Then I'd say around £10 - but there are only a few of those.

i do hate joint parties though - my yr 5 child had 1 a few weeks' ago - spent over £20 in total on those as they were quite good friends. Now she's been invited to one with 4 kids!!! Only 2 of the 4 are actually her friends at all but can't give 2 nice presents and 2 not, so will cost loads!

[sunnyday123]

usually go for £7-8. I try to buy something from the 2 for £15 at argos! As a rule i try to spend the same as what the party costs - ie if its at a farm which i know it £9.50 per child, i will spend up to £10 for example.

[sunnyday123]

i would spend the same at joint parties if both were friends equally. My DD and her friend are having a joint party and whist i imagine the class friends will buy both i don't expect either family members to buy the other e.g. i dont expect my friends sisters etc to buy my child or visa versa as they don't know her. Same when my nephew had a joint party with 2 boys i never met. The families all bought for their own and the class mates bought all 3. Personally i like it if class friends have joint parties as it gets them out the way without taking over multiple weekends!

[2BoysTooLoud]

I am another no more than a fiver. I choose carefully though so present often looks better than it cost. I try to get card and paper in that price too!
Not stingy but very careful as money tight.

[simpson]

yet another who spends £5 on a pressie.

If it is a close friend of my DC then probably a bit more.

I have a box in my attic that I keep stocked with cheap pressies which I buy throughout the year when I see a bargain which also means I don't have the hassle of going into town in a rush for a last minute invitation iyswim.

[Onlyaphase]

I've just hosted a class party and would say that presents were mainly around the £8-10 mark, with some lower and a couple higher. Some were in new gift bags, some in recycled ones, some in random wrapping paper. All were gratefully received and opened by the recipient!

I tend to spend the same on presents for other children too, more toward the £10 if a special friend or I know the mother, less if I've no idea who the child or mother is.