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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think this takes children's birthday parties to a whole new level...

83 replies

N0numbers · 31/08/2015 19:22

My ds has been invited to a classmate's 10 year old birthday party. The party is costing £1,900 for 10 of them. It is an amazing party - it should be for that price, but where do they go from here?

It's going to make the party invite to the cinema in November look a bit pants isn't it?

When did parties start costing the price of a family holiday?

OP posts:

NotSoDesperateHousewife · 31/08/2015 19:43

Wtf, are they going to Spain for a week?!

AuntyMag10 · 31/08/2015 19:43

Dot it could also be a specific venue that anyone could find out the price.

JuJuMun69 · 31/08/2015 19:44

Competitive party throwing :) Its more about the parents than the child.

usual · 31/08/2015 19:44

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Grumpyoldblonde · 31/08/2015 19:45

Dying to know what the party is, I am guessing a big West End show and dinner somewhere cool?

usual · 31/08/2015 19:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

DotForShort · 31/08/2015 19:47

If the OP just googled the price, she may not know how much the hosts are actually spending. Perhaps they had a special discount of some sort or received "mates' rates." I wouldn't necessarily assume they were paying that particular amount unless I knew for certain.

Anyway, I am extremely curious what the party consists of.

Twowrongsdontmakearight · 31/08/2015 19:48

A close friend of DD was invited to a 'party' which was a trip to Warner Bros Harry Potter (from Manchester) overnight in a hotel and meals out etc. But I still doubt that cost nearly £2000! Come on OP. What are they doing???

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 31/08/2015 19:49

On the one hand, it's their money, their choice. I think it's a ludicrous amount of money to spend on a children's party, especially as 10 isn't a particularly special age, but maybe they have their reasons.

On the other hand, it sets the bar very high for all the other families having parties this year, some of whom are going to feel like the OP: It's going to make the party invite to the cinema in November look a bit pants isn't it?^ It does seem very much like showing off and oneupmanship.

DotForShort · 31/08/2015 19:49

My last post makes little sense. I mean, I assume the OP knows exactly how much the party costs from a reliable source of some sort.

Original poster

N0numbers · 31/08/2015 19:50

I don't want to out myself / the party so won't give full details but it involves motor sport. I found out the cost as I presumed the parents had a connection so enquires who the connection was out of curiosity/nosiness and they said oh no we are paying for this.

I did have the thought of dear god £200 present but the parents have given suggestions (which I know is frowned upon on MN but personally I like it!) of around the £10-20 mark.

Just very average family, both working in average jobs living in average area etc.

It is lovely and the boys will thoroughly enjoy themselves but I do worry about all of us trying to do future parties. But of course we will be attending and not matching with future parties!

OP posts:

nancy75 · 31/08/2015 19:50

To some people £2000 is not a lot of money, we don't know anything about it other than price.
Maybe the child has never had a party and parents have saved it all for a massive blow out at 10 ( my dd is same age, if I add up the cost of all her parties it comes to more than £2000)
As I said we usually have ott parties, dd is an only child, we can afford it and it's not about me- I couldn't give a toss what the other parents think

Original poster

N0numbers · 31/08/2015 19:53

They have had great normal parties every year since the age of 4 at least as we have been.

No reason they just saw it thought all would enjoy it (which is very true they will) so have done it.

OP posts:

BoskyCat · 31/08/2015 19:53

I think that's a lot to spend and 10x the max I ever have, but I don't think you should feel there's any competition or that your DC's party won't be as good. So they want to spend loads, meh. It is their choice and it may be amazing. But it would be madness if everyone else then felt they had to match up to that financially, or feel "shown up". Kids will still enjoy cinema, a pizza or soft play or whatever (depending on their age).

DD (aged 5) had a blast recently at a party where the parents basically hired a cheap church hall, threw in a load of cardboard boxes for them to play with and did their own party games. It was great.

Sadik · 31/08/2015 19:54

Lucky Nonumbers DS!

When she was little dd had a friend with generous and well off parents who gave very, very good parties with a magician and lots of fizzy for the parents. I was always a bit sad they didn't go to the same primary school

JuJuMun69 · 31/08/2015 19:54

Bad of me to generalise I know but I call these types "All fur coat and no knickers"

LaurieMarlow · 31/08/2015 19:57

If they can afford it, then they can spend their money how they like - no issue with that.

However, no one should feel under the slightest pressure to spend more on their own DS's party in response. A cinema outing sounds amazing.

Remember, there is no correlation whatsoever between amount spent on party and amount of fun had by kids.

AuntyMag10 · 31/08/2015 19:58

So to the poster who said its vulgar , see it was the op who found out. How jealous to immediately assume the parent is vulgar. As long as the ds has an amazing party who cares what others think. It's all relative, what's obscene to some is normal to others. No need to be envious about it.

BoffinMum · 31/08/2015 19:59

It sounds like a stag weekend frankly. Price wise.

JuJuMun69 · 31/08/2015 20:00

Everyone is entitled to their own opinions AuntyMag. I think its ridiculous.

Grumpyoldblonde · 31/08/2015 20:02

Sounds to me like this is a long held ambition of the son to do this kind of day out and I think it is extremely generous of the parents to include so many of his friends. They may have had a windfall lately, big work bonus, inheritance or some-such. Maybe someone had a corporate box they are using so they are not paying as much as you think they are? Whatever, it is their money and no decent parent expects anyone else to match them £ for £ when it comes to parties.

balletgirlmum · 31/08/2015 20:05

I have to say that if I had the money (& I reckon if I asked the grandparents might pay) I'd have a similarly priced party for Ds. It would be hiring a specific Gaming themed box at ds's favourite premiership football club.

But it's not necessary & wouldn't be to show off. As it is it will probably be a cinema trip for a couple of friends.

DotForShort · 31/08/2015 20:05

It is vulgar to tell people how much a party costs. In this case the parents made it clear to the OP that they were the ones paying for the party.

I can't understand why people assume jealousy whenever the price of anything is questioned. If people want to spend their money on something like this, it is entirely up to them. Just as it is up to me to conclude that spending this much money on a children's party is beyond ridiculous. Jealousy doesn't enter the equation.

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 31/08/2015 20:08

Do not fear OP, DS was flown via a private plane for his friends 12th birthday party (group of 6 boys) and back the next day, after an amazing experience (can't say what it was for fear of identification) and sleepover.

DS has never had anything more expensive than a bowling party himself, and it hasn't been a competition at all. I think the kids and the parents just accept each party on its own merits, and running round with your mates at a bowling party, or seeing a film, are just as good fun for children.

Grumpyoldblonde · 31/08/2015 20:09

We don't know the parents did tell the cost though, I just googled an event I think it might be - same price tickets, found it easily. The parents were specifically asked if they had connections and replied, honestly, no they didn't.

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