Feeling sick at how much I’m spending on kids party

[Mum5432]

Can’t really talk to anyone in RL as they will think I’m really tight with money or stupid.

I’m having my first ever party for my son who is primary school age. I looked into lots of options like hiring a hall etc. but it was too much headache as I would have to source the food, entertainment etc. myself and I just don’t have time.

So I booked softplay as I don’t need to worry about anything they will provide everything. I worded the invite very carefully to explain the party will be for named child only and not siblings so that bit is sorted.

but I’m getting really worried about the spiralling costs as I didn’t factor in that my son and his younger siblings count in the list too so it’s £25 EACH just for birthday boy and his brothers and sisters! I’ve also had to invite cousins from both sides as we get invited every year. I’ve also let few close friends bring their younger children as they have no childcare so that’s another £25 for 4 siblings = £100!

I’m really worried as when I planned this with DH I budgeted 6-8 kids from school. Didn’t realise my kids would also have to pay. Plus I have to pay for the adult entry. How the hell do people afford this! The play centre is booked every weekend. There was a cancellation so I managed to grab a spot on DS actual birthday date. It’s ridiculous. Not sure what I’m looking for from this thread.

The price of kids parties is expensive but £25 per head is ridiculous!!

When I've done soft play (around £13 per head) I limited it and only let my kiddo invite a set number of friends

One year i had a party bus that parks outside your house, it had a slide & ball pool etc and you could have 20 kids on there so I thought £250 was good value as it was absolutely stress free..... just shoved them on there for 2hrs lol

Last year i was mum of the year as i got the battle bus from fortnite :-D this was about £230 iirc only 12 kids! My son absolutely loved it though!

This year i thought id go cheap and hire a hall for a rollerskating party for £150
once im adding in food and party bags/sweetcones its gonna be arround £200 again

Your local village hall or club (if you have one) may charge by the hour or half day. They often have skittles, afternoon film/ cartoon shows. You can do pass the parcel which involves very little cost, musical chairs and passing a balloon between the knees along a line of children. I'm sure other mums here will have other entertainment ideas. It's quite cheap to provide triangle sandwiches or filled mini rolls, crisps, popcorn, mini chocolate bites from Tesco, cheap healthy yogurts and squash. Don't provide for the adults just the kids. Birthday cakes can be bought in any supermarket and the hall, if you get one, can be decorated with balloons or bunting which can often be borrowed look on FB or marketplace or the Nextdoor app for anyone offering decorations they've used at a recent party.
It will work out much cheaper and it doesn't take long to knock up rolls or sandwiches the night before, wrap in cling film or tupperware boxes in the fridge.
I hope you find a happy solution and stay calm. It will all be ok even if things get a bit mad. Just think...'tomorrow is a new day' when it all gets a bit much.
Enjoy 🎉🍧🎂🍿🥤

Hey @Mum5432 How did it go?