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Original poster

How much do you spend for child’s birthday?

65 replies

Happyandyoudontknowit · 09/08/2023 21:04

Just that really. I’ve spent £150 on my toddler this year and my MIL thinks I’m crazy so wanted to see other opinions

OP posts:
Marynotsocontrary · 09/08/2023 21:09

Is that for gifts or are you including throwing a small party?

AHelpfulHand · 09/08/2023 21:10

Usually a £400 party every year plus about £150 on gifts

Original poster
Happyandyoudontknowit · 09/08/2023 21:11

@Marynotsocontrary Ive spent £150 on gifts, and balloons etc, but we got her a micro mini scooter and a helmet, which we had for our older son and it was fab, not just loads of tat

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Events & celebrations
Eileen101 · 09/08/2023 21:11

As little as possible while still keeping it nice for them!
They're 5 and 3. They get probably 4-5 gifts from us although say one of those will be several books wrapped together for example.
I usually do balloons from the supermarkets and use a happy birthday banner for the lounge that's done most birthdays since my eldest was born.
I make a cake, maybe a few pounds on a cake topper of their favourite character.
£50 or £60 there abouts.

Personally I wouldn't extend to £150 but we have a big childcare bill and a mortgage Grin

AuntMarch · 09/08/2023 21:38

Quite a lot at toddler ages, first birthday a pikler triangle, third birthday balance bike... weirdly can't remember what 2 was! But always development focused so didn't feel like it was just throwing money at an occasion for the sake of it, it was things I wanted him to have at that time anyway. (Close to 6 months between Christmas and birthday so worked out quite well on that front).

PuttingDownRoots · 09/08/2023 21:43

£150 sounds a lot but you have got a quality item (and safety gear!). Buying a "big" item isn't necessarily bad.

We spend what needs to be spent tbh... this was a light year, with extra money going in their hobby funds as they are starting to add up now (10&12 and starting involve residential trips!)

HAF1119 · 09/08/2023 21:58

Unless you sometimes say to her that you don't have much money/are struggling, or she helps you with money, it isn't really her business and I'd just ignore!

We do around the same amount, though I can't say for sure as I don't really keep track, sometimes has been a fair bit lower, other times higher when buying a high ticket item.

OneRingToRuleThemAll · 09/08/2023 22:16

We have high and low years depending on budget and what they need. A low year would be around £100, a laptop year around £500. This year we are buying switch and games so £400.

DCs are 12 and 15.

Under the age of ten we capped spend to about £100 but now they are older the money doesn't go as far.

Cupcakegirl13 · 09/08/2023 22:20

I’ve just spent about £170 on DD who is 6 , it got 7 presents and nothing massive just a couple of Our Generation dolls , some barbie bits etc . I feel like you don’t get much for your money these days on kids presents.

WhereHasTheSunGoneThisSummer · 09/08/2023 22:21

Mine are adults now and I spend £100 plus a cake and a family meal out for all five adults in my family.
When they were younger it could be that one year was a trampling or Wii etc and another year slightly cheaper things.

Heatherbell1978 · 09/08/2023 22:23

Mine are 6 and 8 and I budget up to £400 each to include a party which can often use up half that budget. I try to get away with as little as possible though.

Bananasplitlady · 09/08/2023 22:26

Amount of money varies but I am a firm believer in quality over quantity, so she may only get 5 things but they will be 5 great things, I never 'pad out' with tat, for birthday or Christmas.

WheresTheRemoteControl · 09/08/2023 22:26

Far too much. I wouldn't like to add it up to be honest. But inc party, cake, gifts prob over £800. Cake alone last year was £150 and party inc food for the class was £450.
We don't buy for sake if it during the year and what we do buy normally is like bike, scooter, garden toys, educational items etc

00100001 · 09/08/2023 22:28

I don't suppose it matters, as long as you aren't borrowing money/going into debt for it.

00100001 · 09/08/2023 22:28

WheresTheRemoteControl · 09/08/2023 22:26

Far too much. I wouldn't like to add it up to be honest. But inc party, cake, gifts prob over £800. Cake alone last year was £150 and party inc food for the class was £450.
We don't buy for sake if it during the year and what we do buy normally is like bike, scooter, garden toys, educational items etc

What did you get for £450 for the class party?

MissGroves · 09/08/2023 22:33

Around £100 for a normal birthday although my youngest has had a birthday party the last couple of years as well but that will stop after this next one. My eldest is also getting more this year - I’ve set a budget of £200 as it is their 21st - we will also maybe go away over night.

we don’t earn masses and birthdays are so close to Christmas 🙈. But they definitely don’t do badly imo.

WheresTheRemoteControl · 09/08/2023 22:35

Hall, dj, face painter, food, decorations, party bags

GameOverBoys · 09/08/2023 22:37

£100 on presents but even a party at home is a couple hundred more on food, decorations etc

fullbloom87 · 09/08/2023 22:38

Probably about £59 when they were 2. Maybe a trip to the zoo but no party.
They don't care at that age. I put money in their trust funds instead. They won't care about that sort of thing till they're at school and start asking for specific things.

caringcarer · 09/08/2023 22:41

I spend £50 on each DC birthday gift plus a cake and family meal out. I could easily afford to spend more but over the years I've noted that is the same amount that their friends get, so I stick to that. I spend £200 on each DC at Xmas. I think that is enough because they each get a stocking from grandparents too.

Hill1991 · 09/08/2023 23:37

My ds and hasn't long turned 5 and we spent about £700 on his birthday I no that's seems a ridiculous amount buts he's autistic and doesn't play with toys and so has a Nintendo switch which he's also now not bothered about and sensory items (which can get pricey)

Monkeybutt1 · 10/08/2023 06:29

It depends what they would like really, last year DS got an Xbox for his 10th and steering wheel so that was about £500 but didn't have a party, just a friend for a sleepover. But he got less at Xmas, this year he's asked for a phone and to go Go Karting so that's about £350, again we'll spend less on him for Xmas but he's a good kid and doesn't ask for much throughout the year. He's had a big year too, got his PADI Scuba qualification and currently working hard for his martial arts blackbelt so we don't mind treating him.

BlastedSkreet · 10/08/2023 06:31

For 8yo £150 which includes all gifts and party

For my teen £200 all in ( probably include a cinema trip with friends or similar)

Caspianberg · 10/08/2023 06:34

No fixed cost, but it isn’t lots of items. So costs just depends on main gift. Ie balance bike one year, climbing frame another etc..

Its also roughly halfway through the year so summery so makes sense to buy the bigger outdoor things like bikes, scooters or outdoor things for birthday rather than Christmas. So far Christmas is always cheaper, but I’m sure once he’s older and we add tech items into equation that might change.

itsgettingweird · 10/08/2023 06:40

I'm the same re no fixed cost. Ds is 19 next birthday and I've paid for him to go quad biking!

I've always brought what I think is needed and/or wanted.

I've also had varying budgets over the years.

But he's liked the year I brought 20 things from Poundland for his birthday (skittles/cars/ beach ball etc) as much as years I've brought him gaming stuff for 10 times the amount.

The beach ball was when he was around 8 and we still played it yesterday at the beach!

A micro scooter and helmet are an investment. It'll last years so if you have the money it's no one else's business.