... To be annoyed at parents organising parties for the last week in January

[Everexpanding]

Is it not a truth universally acknowledged that the vast majority of people are super skint the last week in January, could you wait one more week to organise your child's party, four invites received this week for this weekend arghhh small school everyone knows when parties are on, just enough for food seriously can't stretch to four presents, everything broke this month super screwed

I have to agree that January birthdays are good as there are loads of bargain presents in the sales. Does anyone still pay for things in cash anyway? I'd leave it until almost the party date then put them on a card so they would actually need paying for in March.

We have a massive birthday party season between November and end of Feb (including both my DD) I always make sure my present stash is well stocked and as most are close friends of eldest dd I buy things when I see them throughout the year that I know they will like! The stash is for the acquaintances!

Yabu. I have 2 dd with January birthdays. It's even harder paying for the parties and presents!

January is a skint month for us too so I feel your pain.

Clearly yabu but im feeling it too. Dd4 has her own birthday plus 4 parties, dd9 has a party on pay days eve and it's mine on pay day!

Extremely unreasonable. Sorry but if your child happens to be born in the last week of January, then that's when their party should be. You can't say to a 7 year old " sorry darling, you can't have your birthday party near you birthday as everyone's skint!!

It's not the child's fault they were born at the end of January.

Totally YABU. If you can't afford it, then decline but this time of the year is when all the sales are on so loads of bargains out there if you're willing to look. Not the kid's or parents fault you're skint and they shouldn't have to change the date to suit your budget!

I'll be sure to have a word with my parents, my best friend's parents, and my other bets friend's parents about their rudeness in having late January babies.

How selfish of them, having kids born in January! People should be more thoughtful and abstain from unprotected sex in April

I wouldn't be upset if a child just turned up with a homemade card or even a small token gift. Don't feel pressured.

I've put birthday parties together for my kids some people have turned up with only card. I don't think nothing of it I am just happy they turned up.

I like Jan bdays if you know in advance cos you can make use of the pre/post Xmas deals & sales

We have a system where you put 5 quid in a card and the birthday boy/girl gets to go to the toy shop / whatever and chooses a gift themselves. It's brilliant. Kids have so much stuff these days, and are hard to buy for, especially if you don't know what they are into. The parents in the class came together and agreed on it. It works really well!!

Just be glad you don't have DCs with birthdays in the last week of December. My DN does, and he gets really fed up with not being able to have a party on his birthday. First week in Jan is his only choice. It may not be good for you, but don't begrudge the kids with birthdays at 'inconvenient' times.

(Please don't regergit. old Christmas tat either. He gets that too.)

Not sure of age but set of books from book people you split and add bar of choc.Four is too many decline at least two your child really won't mind.

I've started offering children experiences rather than presents if they would prefer that ie taking them to the movies with my children or a cooking lesson. If you think it's appropriate you could do this and then take them in Feb when you have more cash.

YABU
My dd's birthday is at the end of January, and although she's still too little to have a proper party we certainly won't be delaying it when she is old enough. You could always try some homemade presents - tbh that might mean much more to some people than plastic junk that gets left in a cupboard (speaking from experience there ). My ds was once given a little wooden box that the child had papier mached (sp?) and he was very proud that someone had gone to the trouble of doing it especially for him

Of course you're being U OP. That was the point of your post, to share and get a bit of cheer from everyone joining in with their funny anecdotes about January, wasn't it? Just as well everyone on MN has such a jolly sense of humour...
TBH I liked the home made card with IOU/cheque for play date, etc, best. If you don't want children back to your place, make it for a 'play date in the park' once weather better.
Good luck. And hope the financial situation eases.

Jan is always tough....last week it was my DM 70th, yesterday was my DSis 40th, tomorrow is my niece's 1st & next week is my DD 8th birthday. I am beyond skint BUT still doing party on Sat 28th....can't let DD down!

I think I need to start saving now though because this time in a decade it will be 80th, 50th, 10th & 18th to pay for.... so def feel your pain OP!

All three of my boys have January birthdays! Not much I can do about that! Would never expect a pressie though, the children get lovely things from family, so friends come to enjoy a party, and if they bring a pressie - great - if not - that's fine too. Three January weekends are taken over with parties though for the foreseeable future...

Yeah me too with three children all January birthdays. Not planned like that but hey ho! This year I've managed to get two of them to be ok with spread out parties but usually can't avoid

YABU,I'm skint as well but you can't change your child's birthday .Why should they postpone their party just because some people have no money that week

Selotape inside the card a mixture of chocolate money and a couple of pound coins. DS used to love that. Much more exciting than bits and pieces.

Your own fault for having popular children . . .

Send kid with a card and have a quiet word with Mum and tell her you have not had time to get to shops but will be going following week and get vouchers for toys r us or somewhere.