To ask what you spend on party bags?

[Nicpem1982]

I'm having my dds 3rd birthday party at our local zoo.

We're expecting around 20 children aged 2-6.

Dh says I need to set a reasonable budget for party bags I thought about 4 pounds each as the venue is providing an activity pack and we've paid additional for face painting for each child.

I'd like them to be animal themed as per the party.

What do you spend on party bags per child?

[usernoidea]

Don't give them one!
Piece of cake is fine surely?!

[ChasedByBees]

I would have budgeted £1 - you're already getting an activity pack, you don't need much more than a piece of cake and maybe a small token gift. It would be overkill to provide much more.

[shouldwestayorshouldwego]

Along the lines of Selly's suggestion one of mine got a mug like this www.bakerross.co.uk/snow-pals-mugs-4- filled with sweets/raisin/cake. She loved it for ages. Quite appropriate for a zoo theme.

[dowhatnow]

In fact how do you keep 26 people all together going round a zoo? Or do you all do your own thing and just get together for a tea? In which case £450 for an occasional wave at each other as you pass sounds quite an expensive (but very nice) day out.

[yummymummycleo]

Nothing! I hate party bags and think they are a waste of money on plastic tat which goes in the bin and is bad for the environment.

Anyway... off my rant! I have always given a book or an activity/sticker book with small pack of sweets or birthday cake. I normally get these in the sale from the book people. Last time it worked out between £1-2 pp

[Nicpem1982]

maybe it's just here that it seems expensive her party last year was soft play and cost more but there were no additional costs for adults to enter etc and a friend has a farm party this weekend that's 16.50 per head?

As for tea at my house I'd rather pay 500 than clean up if I'm honest plus we do regular play dates that include lunch at our houses so wouldn't feel special. Where as a zoo party is something out of the norm for us.

We get 10 adults in with price but a rough cpuntbof adults attending means we'll need to pay additional I wouldn't be prepared to ask people to fund themselves and the parking is a block booking so seems easier just to do it. Least hassle for parents I figure.

Genuine question how are people doing parties for 80.00 for 20 children with food party bags and entertainment etc? I don't think it's possible I did a family party at my brothers last year for children and think table ware and decorations cost 40/50 plus balloons - where am I going wrong?

[Nicpem1982]

Dow- the party is mid morning and in the zoos party room the after the party people are free to spend the rest of the day in the zoo should thy wish to.

It's not a trek around the zoo for 20 children and adults together

[00100001]

"Genuine question how are people doing parties for 80.00 for 20 children with food party bags and entertainment etc? I don't think it's possible I did a family party at my brothers last year for children and think table ware and decorations cost 40/50 plus balloons - where am I going wrong?"

I really wouldn't bother with decorations, balloons etc In fact, i don't even bother with "parties" we go to a park and take a picnic lunch for people - far easier! The entertainment is included in the form of play equipment

[yummymummycleo]

We spent £150 on ds 3 rd party last year. It was soft play. £6.50 per head we didn't have exclusive use but booked at a time hoping not many others there and we were right.

We chose the cheapeast option so nothing included. I booked way in advance which got us a further 20% off. I provided own food which was pizza, crisps, sandwiches etc and b day cake for pudding. They had books for party bags which worked out £1 per head.

We paid £25-30 for a cake too so it would have been even cheaper if I d a shop one for made my own.

Dsis did hotdogs at one party which I thought was a great idea and super cheap!

[soontobemrsmckeown]

I got a colouring book for 99p (not giving crayons or pencils as everyone has them at home) and a frozen story book ( worth 4.99) I managed to get for 9p in the argos pre christmas sale. So it's the cheapest party bag I've ever done but I think the best. There will be sweets galore at the party ( sweet buffet, on the table as favours and as prizes)

[Nicpem1982]

001 - I think that perhaps we do things a little different what you've described isnt what we would do for a party we do picnics in the park with friends loads through out the year and go all over the place really to new parks for woodland walks, pond dipping etc as a group so it wouldn't feel like a party although it Is a lovely idea and I'm sure your children love it 😍.

[sailawaywithme]

I must be a curmudgeon...I hate party bags with a passion and never give them now. I did in the past and despite my best intentions for "no tat" it's still all, ultimately, tat. As well as the practical irritation, I also think it gives our -already spoiled- children ridiculous expectations. I also think the "lady bountiful" comment resonates with me. Dare I say you seem a little overly anxious about this? I detect a little "keeping up with the Joneses" about your post, although I appreciate that it's easy to misread tone of posts.

I give the kids a piece of cake during the party and send them home with a cupcake with their name on it. The kids go home sugared-up but tat-free 😄

[Nicpem1982]

Yummy - that sounds like loads of fun and excellent booking on your part too we've booked our venue early too as we then got 2016 prices for a 2017 party and saved about 2.00 Per head.

I also love hotdogs :)

[Nicpem1982]

Sail- I just want to get it right really. There's so much variation in what people do and i want to try and strike that balance.

We've been to a lot of nice parties all different and last two years I went a little mad and my dd had two parties each year all themed and ridiculously ott (I had a table cloth shipped from the states to match my theme for her first bday and hired a snow machine for one of her parties for her second birthday and dropped 18.00 pound a head on soft play for her second second birthday party) that's not a brag that's me admitting how fucking stupid I was and I didn't keep tally of how much the party bags cost.

Hence my post - no keeping up with the joneses just after a clue of what the norm is

[evilpopstar]

I have been looked at very askance for doling out sweets

[Aeroflotgirl]

001 ds is a January birthday, it's always freezing round the time of his birthday, that would not appeal, though a summer birthday, yes!

[dowhatnow]

I think it is very hard if others around you are spending a fortune. You feel obliged to do the same. We've had a variety of parties which have all varied in cost but I've never spent that much even though we could afford it if we wanted to. Whether it is reasonable or not depends on if it is easily affordable and what you would do with the money if you didn't spend it on a party. I couldn't justify that much on one kids party but perhaps it is more important to others.

[yummymummycleo]

I agree, I think it depends on the time of year. I think winter born children's parties are potentially more expensive as you can't do a picnic in the park or bouncy castle in the garden so it costs more.

Although I am thinking of doing bouncy castle in the garden for dds birthday near the end of February- is this mad!

[ILoveDolly]

In the past I've gone to the book people and had nice books or colouring for around a £1 each. This year I'm doing a party with other mums and we've got a selection of items from Tiger which cost £1. Children will get one thing each. Then given a slice of cake too to take home. I am providing a nice party and a good tea I think that's sufficient really.

[dowhatnow]

yummy Think of the mud being dragged in through the house, in February. In short, yes you are mad.

[Nicpem1982]

Dow - we set a budget for her birthday into our house hold expenses and I'd never go into debt for a party or not pay bills etc, we save for her on a regular basis and have savings for us and a house hold contingency.

Her birthday parties are at the moment a nice extra for her (and us as we enjoy planning it etc) our friends/family have had a range of parties from paddling pool in the back garden and pizza to farms and pottery painting and they've all been lovely and I've never really tallied up what the parents have spent to see if I spend them same (iyswim)

My dd loved her soft play party last year which has prompted us to go for a venue party this year and as she loves animals the zoo seemed the logical step (plus were members and wanted to support the zoo)

[Nicpem1982]

Yummy - il sure that will be awesome but the idea of the clean up operation after leaves me cold 😂

[blinkineckmum]

In answer to op question about how t

[dowhatnow]

Fair enough. It sounds a fantastic day out for everyone. I hope you have a lovely time and fingers crossed it doesn't rain.

[blinkineckmum]

In answer to op question about how to do it cheaply. My 3yo is getting
Hall for £25
Entertainer £40
Party bags £25
Food and cake - £30?
For 25 kids.
To be honest if I had realised I was spending so much (plus presents) I might not have committed!