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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Am I being unreasonable to spend 200 pounds on a 4th birthday party (without the presents)?

47 replies

Lizzie2oo7 · 26/06/2013 15:11

My ds has been to a couple of lovely birthday parties recently and I really want him to have a great party, too, but I also don't want to overspend. What is the right amount of money to spend on a birthday party at different ages? If there is an answer to this question.

Ds wants a pirate themed party which I think is a good idea since his birthday is in August.

I have been looking for inspiration on the internet and found lots of great ideas.

I have a Silhouette Cameo so I can make most of the decoratiosn myself. Still there is the pirate play pool (inflatable), water guns, foam swords, goodie bags, printable DIY kit (from etsy)...to buy. Not to mention the food. I'll be making the chocolate lollies, cake pops, cupcakes biscuits and the birthday cake myself so I'm afraid it won't get any cheaper.

Is it really such an unreasonable amount of money to spend on a birthday party?

OP posts:

HorryIsUpduffed · 27/06/2013 07:34

It's quite a lot to spend on an at-home party but would be fairly standard for a whole-class softplay party, for example.

It's £200, not £2000: if you can afford it then go ahead

TimeofChange · 27/06/2013 07:39

Unless you can find them in the Poundshop or similiar, don't spend loads of money on pirate serviettes, paper plates and paper cups.

My daughter spent a fortune on Harry Potter themed paper plates etc.
and then it all went in the bin!

MissBetseyTrotwood · 27/06/2013 07:41

Sounds about right to me.

There are a few faux frugal parents round here who plead poverty then go to Thailand for Xmas and buy second homes and have their child's party at home because they 'can't afford soft play' etc. We worked out that with activities, food etc it was about the same to do it at home as at our local soft play place.

It depends on the child too; one of my DSs is happy dancing around the stereo with his mates and sleeping lions. The other abhors party games and way prefers lots of little craft activities with friends so that works out more expensive.

MissBetseyTrotwood · 27/06/2013 07:42

And a big YYYYY to Poundland for parties.

raisah · 27/06/2013 07:43

Try wholesalers Costco and JJ Wholesalers to keep your food bill down. You can bulk buy juice, crisps etc so its worth a look.

Try the yellow moon company for party bag fillers.

Can you customise or borrow things to use as props to keep yout costs down.

Beatrixpotty · 27/06/2013 07:46

My son is also 4 in August and I won't be doing a big party as he won't have started reception and won't carry on seeing the friends from nursery who are going on to different schools.I can avoid the pressure to invite the whole class..this year..and can get away with a birthday cake and a few friends which will cost a lot less than £200.

DumSpiroSpero · 27/06/2013 08:01

It's not unreasonable if you want to and can afford it.

If you'll struggle to afford it and/or are only doing it because you have these fabulous parties your DS has been to recently in the back of your mind, not so much.

I like to put on a good bash and have a theme, but it does found like you'll be buying an awful lot of stuff which will just get used once and thrown into the back of a cupboard.

Btw - treasure hunt for pirate gold is always a good one, also stick the parrot on the pirates shoulder and 'walking the plank' - much cheaper too!

BrianTheMole · 27/06/2013 09:11

I spent that on dd's 4th birthday party, well probably a bit more including food and party bags. But she'd never had a party before so I didn't feel that bad about it. We got a hall and an entertainer.

soverylucky · 27/06/2013 09:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MrsMelons · 27/06/2013 10:27

I would spend up to £200 on birthday parties (I spent a bit more on DS2 this year as he started a new school so he invited his whole class).

I would never spend that much on a 1st or 2nd birthday party though, a few relatives or friends round for nibbles, coffee and cake is sufficient at that age IMO.

I also think you will start spending less once they reach 8 or 9 as that is when its a few friends for the cinema or meal or the dreaded sleepovers.

pinkballetflats · 27/06/2013 10:28

Spend what you want within your budget.

Have a great party!

MrsMelons · 27/06/2013 10:28

I did an 'at home' party this year for just 10 children and it cost as much as a soft play one for 35 kids!

50shadesofknackered · 27/06/2013 12:31

Thereis no right or wrong amount imo, just spend what u can afford and what u r comfortable with. For dd's 5th birthday we spent £300 just hiring the hall and bouncy castles/slides, before food and presents etc. If we hadn't been able to afford that we would have had a different kind of party and spent much less. It's like christmas! Everyone seems to look down on people that spend lots of money on their kids, but again its different for everyone and there is no right or wrong.

Jibberoo · 27/06/2013 12:40

that's what I'm spending. I tried to do it cheaper but as I have small house I couldn't exactly have 12 boys there. Every option seems to add up to £200 - whether its hiring a hall (and then decorating it, getting some sort of entertainment even if its just a bouncy castle, food) or doing an organised activity. agree one thing though, i'm going easy on the food as they never seem to eat much anyway

primallass · 27/06/2013 12:42

We did bouncy castle (£65), face painter (friend, mates rates), and the party bags cost about £.20 for 20 kids but I really shopped around. £10 for a supermarket cake, plus maybe another £15 for food.

primallass · 27/06/2013 12:43

£1.20

primallass · 27/06/2013 12:44

£1.20 each.

I am a doofus today.

xylem8 · 27/06/2013 12:47

are they going to be shooting each other with water pistole? Expect tears from some when they get wet and cold and don't want to be shot anymore.

sameoldIggi · 27/06/2013 13:09

Don't save money by having no party bags. They will mutiny. And they all have swords.

IShallCallYouSquishy · 27/06/2013 13:18

That's what DD's first birthday party pretty much came too. This was a joint party though and we would have both spent the same by ourselves.

This included me making the 2 tier birthday cake which would have cost a good £50 otherwise. We both also made all the decorations and party favour boxes. We did all the food ourselves too. Main cost was the hall hire and toddler play bouncy castle thing.

I don't think it's at all U to spend that.

Fakebook · 27/06/2013 13:23

I spent about £200 on Dd's 5th birthday party and it was also pirate themed. The big costs were the hall hire and bouncy slide. Everything else was cheap thanks to amazon, ebay and the pound shop. If you can afford it then just do it.

PepperPotts · 27/06/2013 13:31

We spend abut 150 on parties (3dc) we've done a range of things, soft play, cinema and restaurant, bowling, Pizza Hut, traditional games at home.

I Find they always work out a similar price no matter what.

If you can afford it then I don't see the problem, spend as much as you like

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