To think the cost of this birthday party is an absolute rip off?

[dilemma456]

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I wouldn't have a big lavish party for such a young child. YANBU.

where the heck was it? Buck palace??

God Lord, no! That's a ridiculous amount of money for a 4 year old... unless of course you're loaded

put it to bed, thats a silly amount to spend on a birthday, unless you can persuade evreyone to pay for their own dc (doubtfull)

YANBU definate rip off

Is it tea at Buckingham Palace or something?
YANBU

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Peedoff - great minds (or not)!

wow, what sort of party was it? sounds awful. where in the country are you?

beat ya to it frites

Where we was it? That is an obscene amount of money to spend on a child's party.

Why not hire a local community centre or church hall? I did this for about £50 then out music on, played games, fed them cake and crisps and let them run around while the parents had a cup of tea.

We had 20 children and about 30 adults and it cost about £150 including paying my friend to come and help out with tea making and clearing up.

You don't have to invite the whole class! If you WANT to, as opposed to feeling you HAVE to - hire a hall and entertainer and get change from £100. (Unless I'm completely out of date )

I'd expect WillyWonka and teh oompaloompas for that money.

That is extortionate!

I have never done the whole class party, we usually let them have a couple of friends from school, plus the usual group of friends they've had since being born (about 4 others) at home for party tea and cake.

Now they are older they can choose 1 or 2 friends to go to a local theme park with, the entry for which is usually about £15 each.

There is no way I would pay that. I would definitely say no.

take DD there as family treat for birthday, have tea party at home for 6 friends

save over £700!!

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I got loads of ideas for the party - games and things - from threads on here.

Afterwards, when we got home, DS wandered over and said 'thank you for making me such a lovely party mummy' which made it worth every manic, frazzled minute!

Hire a big, cheap church hall and get an indoor bouncy castle (better at this time of year since it might rain). ALL 4 year olds love a bouncy castle. We did a knights and princesses theme to accompany the castle and everybody loved it, job done. The kids slayed a dragon pinata here with a strictly guarded wooden sword and did a knights quest (glorified treasure hunt)... it was sooo good. Bouncy castle cost about £40, pinata £12, party food £50, sweets for pinata £10 and treasure hunt about £5. We had it in my mum's garden in summer so it was cheaper without the hall hire but 30 kids and parents came.

she wont remember it by the time she is 8, whatever you do!

aww riven! I remember my 4th and 5th birthday parties now! They were the best! My 4th was a castle birthday with a big pink cake, my 5th a teenage mutant ninja turtles party with costumes!

I asked ds2 if he remembered various things that happenend while he was 6 and he has no memeory.
Quite big memorable things.
And none remmeber any birthday party's before about 6 or 7.

I am probably a freak. I remember my sister being born when I was 15 months.

Parties don't have to be expensive, you can have great fun with kids, especially if you pick a theme and are quite handy with the arts and crafts. I found some superb tips here:
Girl Birthday Party

that's too much for sure.

Watching with interest as DD's birthday is November and we live in tiny flat too so need to have party elsewhere without breaking bank.

Have lots of ideas re party but just somewhere to hold it that is the issue.

Last year I made a ladybird cake for 2nd birthday - & DD still talks about it whenever birthdays are mentioned ie at least twice a week!