What's the cheapest way to fill up a bunch of helium balloons?

[ErinAndTonic]

My friends hen weekend is coming up and I've got like 40-50 balloons I want to fill up with helium. A quick google and I'm horrified at how bloody expensive it is, hobbycraft want £5 a balloon 😨

People of mumsnet where do you go for helium balloon filling? I can see there are several options but I'm looking for the cheapest as I'm already spending a ton on this!

I have ordered all the balloons from AliExpress so don't have the option of filling them wherever I've bought them from.

TIA 😊😊

If people stop buying helium, shops will eventually stop selling it. We really can't just make more of it.

It's nice you want to do something for your friend OP, but hopefully now you know there's an issue with helium you can think of an alternative. Hope you all have fun!

Please don't do it - terrible for the environment.

Its is not "criminal" as in being against the law, it is "criminal" as in the moral sense, and no, I don't need to "tone it down"

An adult can be told straight

A baby needs manipulation and pussy footing.

Any adult that needs emotional manipulation and pussyfooting around to do the right thing isn't going to do the right thing long term anyway, just until someone speaks to them in the "wrong" tone of voice

and really, it does need to be made against the law, and sooner rather than later, because there are people, like th OP, who genuinely don't seem to realise what a disaster helium balloons are.

Someone please start a petition to ban helium balloons. Sorry OP, not the point but there really is no need for them.

Do you understand how supply and demand works at all? They wouldn't be on the shelves if people stopped buying them. 🙄

This is utter selfishness. You do know they need helium for medical applications. Wasting it on balloons is criminal

Another vote for buy a canister.
But make sure the balloons you buy are for helium. And if you want them to last the evening from day. You'll need 'High float gel'
We have 2 local party shops where u can order balloons its about 75p a balloon filled.
The place is always packed they do beautiful displays. Also lots on marketplace offer it too.

Please don't, for all the reasons above.

I look at people with helium balloons and think they are ignorant twats.

But the shops only have them cause idiots like OP buy them

@kitsuneghost the OP isn't an idiot for wanting to know how to get helium because she had no idea about how precious it is for MRI scanners

The OP now knows

IF she now goes ahead and buys helium THEN she will be an idiot.

(Actually, I'd say she was a selfish twat, but idiot would do too)

I'm not averse to the odd helium balloon, OP. You're taking a bit of a battering here...

How are you planning to use/display them? I used a balloon arch kit recently and it was surprisingly easy and very, very effective. Even if you have the balloons already, you can get the roll of arch tape really cheap on Amazon. Around £6-7 I reckon. And it doesn't have to be displayed a an arch as such.

Actually, you can seem to get it for about £3.

No idea why you're getting such a pasting here.

Environment aside, it's going to cost a lot to inflate that many. You could make a ballon arch instead? No helium required, and they can look really good.

I understand that the helium used to fill balloons is not medical grade helium. I may be wrong.

OP, a local balloon party shop will do a display of non heliums that are put together to be self standing without the need for helium. They're really good in my experience.

They're usually less expensive too.

Hope your friend enjoys her party.

I'd sign it! Save the helium.

"Someone" can start a petition.

YOU can do it petition.parliament.uk/petitions?state=open&q=Helium

No one else has so knock yourselves out and actually achieve something.

I think it's right that helium is now priced to deter

Thanks to those who didn't bite my head off! I shall look into alternate options perhaps a balloon arch or maybe sticking the balloons in place somehow.

I may be ignorant for not knowing this but I think it's also ignorant in a way to assume everyone knows this. I never usually use balloons so it's the first time I've ever looked into it. I've never really heard it being talked about anywhere to know, I'm confused why it's still available if it's in such low supply and dangerous.

But I appreciate those who got their point across nicely and now that I understand I'll make sure not to be using any, I don't think there's any need to be calling names though as as of yet I've not even done anything and now don't plan to - this forum can be quite savage sometimes!

Agree!!! No need for the savagery! Good luck. Hope you get the result you want.

@FatGirlSwim is correct, the helium used in balloons is a by product, it isn't pure enough for medicinal or industrial purposes. It is not therefore depriving anyone in need of an MRI.

It's expensive because it is in short supply.

Please don't waste it. Just ditch the balloons

you are wrong. Helium is an element.

This.