To not buy a gift for a child?

[Saywhat31]

Basically my DS's friend is having his 8th birthday party this afternoon but it is a joint one with another child who we don't know at all. We have money worries at the moment but we bought DS friend a nice little gift last week but I can't really afford to buy one for a total stranger yet I feel so guilty as it's little boy. What would you do? I'm even contemplating not going as to avoid the situation!

I don't think it matters if you don't buy a gift since you don't know him. He'll have mountains of gifts after the party and probably won't even notice. If you want to you could buy him a token something from pound land but I think it's fine if you don't.

I don't think you have to buy both a present. Could you get the other boy a card and small sweet/chocolate?

I have had a joint party for my dd before and she didn't get presents from the other birthday girl friends.
I don't think you need to worry.

These situations are always a little awkward.
Was the invite joint from both boys or just your DS's Friend?

Just make a nice card. Easy.

My Dd has been to two joint parties, both time she only gave a gift to the child she knew. I wouldn't buy a present for a child I don't know. I think parents who do joint parties wouldn't expect presents from children they don't know either

Only do a card/gift for the child you know. Don't feel guilty for not giving to a complete stranger!!

Don't worry OP. You aren't expected to buy a gift for the other child in this situation.

Ive co-hosted a joint party and been to a few, it is standard that the gifts received are from the respective friends.

I don't think you need give a present to the other child/ren who you don't know when it's ajoint party.

If you know them a bit, then send a card (possibly tucking in a pack of MatchAttax cards, or similar )

My friend and I had a joint party for our 2 boys, each invited theor own guests, people only bough a present for the child that had invited them. I wouldn't think to buy a gift for a child I didn't know.

I would only buy a gift for the child you know.

If it’s joint with a kid unknown to you (not in the same class/same class you know other kid from) I’d assume they’ve split it down the middle (so like 10 friends each) to save money on hall/entertainment hire and will expect gifts from only their own guests.

I have twins -in joint partiesthey had gifts form the child they invited
We can assume the other child didn’t invite yours as you don’t know them

Go and let DS have a nice time - place gift in the table or give to parent

Job done

I think it’s fine to only buy a gift for the child you know. It’s unlikely that the other child’s parents will expect you to buy him a gift.

We’ve hosted joint parties before, and we haven’t expected - or received - gifts from children who we don’t know but who’ve been invited by the other birthday child.

Buy a card for the other child, and maybe put some sweets inside, or some football cards (if they like football),. You don’t have to buy a present.

Ok now I'm feeling better. It was a last minute decision to change it to a joint one I believe so that's what threw me a bit. I have never been to a joint one before so was unsure what the norm was! Thankyou so much everybody!