AIBU to buy a helium tank and fill the balloons myself?

[CloserIAmToFine]

We need about 25 helium balloons for DD's party, and we will need the same amount again in a few months for DS. DD's party is on a Sunday so there aren't many places open to buy balloons. (I've been told I can get them the day before if I pay extra for hi-float but I'd rather not.) It seems easier and cheaper to just buy a helium tank and fill them ourselves. Is this as straightforward as it seems? Any tips for filling the balloons? Should I buy the optional "valves" or just tie them myself?

Thank you for any guidance!

Yes, because recycling the now empty bottle is the really important environmental issue here

20 quid to do 50 ish. Balloons. I did this for my daughters bday and then my sons christening. Worked a charm. But make sure you do it on the day as only lasts a few hours. So easy to do too

With respect widehorizon I don't think you are going to endear people to your argument by calling them ignorant or using emoticons. I'm a reasonably intelligent person, don't happen to know anything about helium (so shoot me) and was asking a perfectly reasonable question. Surely you can make your point using straightforward language like Itsallgoingtobefine did?

Back to the subject in question: can anyone point me to any impending UK or EU legislation about helium use? If resources are dwindling, I assume someone will be doing something about this?

With respect widehorizon I don't think you are going to endear people to your argument by calling them ignorant or using hmm emoticons

It's not 'my argument' it's a statement of fact, of which you (by your own admission) are ignorant.

Not really seeing a problem here tbh.

If resources are dwindling, I assume someone will be doing something about this?

If people like OP and some pp of this thread stopped doing stupid things like wasting finite resources on balloons, then we would't need regulation.

I really with we could all take some more responsibility for our own actions and not wait for 'Somebody' to do 'Something'.

Its the tragedy of the commons, yet again.

*wish

I do my own (and have my own hi float). The empty canisters are a pain to get rid of.

No need for such a rude tone WideHorizon. That is all.

Only on MN would there be a bunfight develop about Helium.

BalloonSlayer I remember that thread! It turned sour very quickly.

Erm....is that where your username is from?

Its the tragedy of the commons, yet again.

. That gave me a good laugh!, sorry.

So hysterical yet so pointed as statement of economic theory.

Chapeau to you WideHorizon

How weird; I only covered the 'tragedy of the commons' in my OU degree this year.

Ha ha no it's due to my hatred at having the stupid things (usually non helium let me stress!) hanging round the house for weeks after parties/ birthdays which has led to my becoming a skilled and silent assassin for our latexy spherical friends. They don't suffer (much) and no one is any the wiser. . .

The problem is that when people who are genuinely interested in a particular environmental issue ask questions about it in order to find out more; and are then told they are ignorant, they are unlikely to want to investigate further.

And I was asking about UK or EU legislation, not to shrug off personal responsibility, but because impending legislation is indicative of the seriousness of an issue.

Yup definitely do your own - just don't do what my friend did and take her used canister back to Argos and say it was faulty to get her money back

My asdas fill up balloons with helium, even ones not bought there for literally pennies.

Balloon grade helium is NOT the same grade that can be used in MRI scanners etc. Helium for Balloons can only really be used for balloons....

Do buy qualatex if you can, they're such better quality than supermarket balloons.

And they are biodegradable - you can put them in the compost.