How much do you spend for child’s birthday?

[Happyandyoudontknowit]

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

Once or twice as toddlers I hired a hall with everything like bouncy castle and food for about £100. As they've grown they've tended to just get a group of friends and do lazer/ice skating/nice meal. I did once have everyone around for a make your own pizza party and that's probably the worst mistake of my life.

I did a birthday party for around fifteen 3 year olds once for about £10
Sons little toddler group friends.. Teddy bear picnic. Everyone brings their own pack lunch and I provided a big chocolate cake. They loved it, years ago now but good memories.

@EyesEars
£120 on the hall
£120 on the entertainer
£80 bouncy castle
£80 on food (for adults too and catering to various allergies)
£60 on cake and cupcakes
£60 on decorations and balloons (did lots of this myself)
£55 on candyfloss machine hire (with my mum serving it to save costs)
£20 on facepaint and glitter (plus paid my eldest £20 to do it)
£40 on sweet cones for 40 kids
£30 to hire reusable partywear - plates etc

Then her special party dress to match her theme - that bit was really unnecessary I admit 😆😆 but I think some areas are cheaper than others and obviously depends on number of kids and mix of ages

Usually between 100-150, including either a bigger outing or small party. Usually about 70-80 on gifts, but might be less if they have requested a more expensive activity.

I don't think it's unreasonable. A scooter/ bike/ etc is a perfectly reasonable present for a small child and a new one from a reputable brand costs a chunk of money. I try not to waste money on presents, but also don't feel guilty for choosing 'big ticket' items that get lots of use.

How on earth do you spend £60 on balloons you did yourself?

Varies wildly DS wants a Nintendo switch this year so it’s looking like nearly £300 plus. He’s promised to be very good though 🤞🥳

all of mine get the same amount regardless of age- £200. That includes party/activity with friends if they want to do something and gifts. I save all year and put away so the money is there in the pot come the date

Usually about £200 on party by time you factor in cake/party bags etc.

I do about £70-80 on birthday presents . I don't go mad on presents because DS birthday falls just after Christmas and he's already swimming in new stuff. Tend to buy a couple of things and then maybe treat him to an outdoor garden toy in the summer.

You had 40 kids at a 4th birthday party? I think that's part of the cost issue here. And £60 on balloons? Candy floss machine? All totally OTT.

We went to a soft play for my DS 4th birthday and got 10 kids a play and food included for £12 a head. We brought our own cake. Including party bags, maybe £160 spend.
DD had her 4th party in the house, around 6 or 7 friends doing craft things and food made ourselves.

They're both a wee bit older now but have still never spent more than £250 on a birthday party.

@Heatherbell1978 yeah that's why it works out expensive I did say that. We both have a large ish friendship group, I don't want to exclude siblings as a lot of them are close with my younger child so that adds about 10 more kids. If there was only 10 kids I could do just the entertainer / just the bouncy castle and do my own games, but with that many you need different activities otherwise it's chaotic. I didn't do a party for my 2 year old because it was coming out at minimum 25 guests and she wouldn't have even understood the party was for her.

@housethatbuiltme about 15-20 quid on a balloon garland kit that I made myself, 5er on table balloons, 20 on helium, 15 on hiring loads of reusable bunting.

The average for my friendship group is around £4-500 though, even a soft play party couldn't be done for less than about 300 around here

I’m definitely on the extreme end of this but every year for DDs birthday I throw her a birthday party at soft play, take her on a 4 day holiday, and buy her a gift.

for example, this October she had her 5th birthday. I bought her a new bike (£130), took her on a 4 day holiday to legoland (£3500 including flights, hotel, transfers, food, treats, and some toys in the Lego store), and a birthday party (£450). Then there was the cake which was £45. So the total was around £4,125.

Ive booked Disneyland Paris for her birthday next year, the total for flights and hotel is £2400 and I expect to spend around £1500 more between transfers, food, treats etc. then her birthday party will likely be £450 again and I’m not sure yet what gift I will get her.

we have an only child.

We spend a lot but most of that goes on a family trip- something like a night in London in a nice hotel and going to the theatre and exhibitions etc. So expensive but something we all enjoy together.

Present wise we get a few things, maybe about 5, plus a pile of books.

No birthday party.

This would be us if our son didn’t have asd/pda/adhd etc. Last year we tried going abroad for the first time (Disney world) as one of his Christmas presents… he was totally overwhelmed and crying to go home before we even got through security at our departure airport.

We tried a party for the first time last year too- utter disaster, he was totally overwhelmed and had a massive violent meltdown- so we won’t be doing that again!

Hopefully he will manage more when he is older (only 9 at the moment).