To think kids' parties are a joke

Sounds like you're spending too much. Why? Kids don't care about a £75 cake or a balloon arch. Buy a couple of large tray bake cakes from supermarket (£7 each), a pack of balloons to blow up yourself (£1), do the food yourself: squash, sandwiches, sausage rolls, crisps and buy silly cheap things to go in pass the parcel. We didn't have party bags I my day, we just got a slice of cake to take home and a balloon on a string. They're 5, they're not judging you.

What everyone else said! Supermarket cake (got my son one from M&S, he loved it) and blow up balloons - then the kids can play with them. You don't need to spend a lot on food or party bags. Drinks for adults - will they stay though? We had DS's 6th birthday party at home and most parents just dropped their child off and collected at the end. Two did stay but we made them tea and coffee. What kind of drinks were you planning to offer?!

While I agree a lot of the stuff is excessive and (and posted as such), I think some of the costs must vary from region to region. A hall here wouldn't cost £30 and an entertainer goes for the tune of £250! There's no way an activity party (soft play etc) costs anything under £25 per child (including food) and usually has a minimum of 10 children.

Also someone asked why have a whole class party? I'm guessing because the child is in reception and there aren't established friendship groups. All the parties in Reception were class one IME.

Fully expect to see this thread in my Facebook feed. Doubt OP is genuine

who Spends £190 on a balloon arch for their home? You’re bonkers! What happened to buying a £7 balloon number from the card factory and still being annoyed at the price of a flipping balloon

Balloon arches ought to be banned.

You’ll have a great party at home. Best thing at that age.

For my 5 year old I’ve hired out a soft play (£170). Organised a Costco cake and pizza run.

They don’t care about it being ‘nice’ that’s for you for photos if you’re being honest.

You are being ridiculous. You don’t need a balloon arch that is ultimately going to go into the bin and kids don’t want a £75 cake.

ask yourself are you wanting these things for the children or to show off to the other parents

DC isn’t called Ophelia, but this is the cake they’ve picked

Has anyone actually tried Colin the caterpillar dry as anything after 2 tried we gave up on him lol

Yes that sounds ridiculous. Why not buy a couple of sheet cakes - about £5/each at Tesco and already decorated with sweets.
Forget the ballon arch, just order a bunch of helium balloons or do it yourself.
You can decorate a room or space quite well with a few supplies - no need to spend so much!

We think Colin is dry too, we like the mini ones better. Though they're clearly useless/expensive for parties.

The larger Sainsbury's have a great collection of cakes for parties. Mine loved the Thornton one (bit small, great for when I pre-cut and put into party bags before the party though) and the Flake cake. Throw some candles decorations on = job done.

Of course mine didn't think it was a birthday cake unless it was chocolate. Still don't in their teens, now I just buy 2 small supermarket mud cakes and stack them.

Exactly. In many ways we have all made life far more complicated for ourselves that it needs to be causing stress and money pressure for many. People’s expectations about what is essential has changed and children always need to have ‘the absolute best’ ( through the adults eyes) Perhaps the balloon arch is a recommended thing as it’s instagrammable? Really? Is this necessary at all? It’s pervasive in all of society now.

I was listening to a radio show a few months back about food banks and some people using them were questioned about basics and essentials. Apparently mobile smart phone and sky subscription are now basic necessities. Anyone who pays out £500 to £1k for a child’s party needs their head examined.

I earn alot of money but I would never spend that sort on my child’s party. I soon realised spending lots of money on children just creates entitled brats!

Could be put to much better use. Wise up folks, pull out the musical chairs, bring back the cheese and pineapple sticks - you have all been sucked in!! Don’t go there.

@Leaningtowerofpisa true.

Whatever cake you get they will want a caterpillar cake more. The kids love bursting the balloons. One year I got a load of balloons and put a couple of sweets in each one. They loved bursting them and that cost a couple of quid. If you want to spend money get an entertainer.

I spent about £200 for 20 children aged 3 - 9, including Hall hire and bouncy castle, plus food, crafts and party bags (biggest expense).

I voted YABU because kids’ parties are what you make of them. Both of mine have theirs at our local football hub: £10 per head inc food and coaching which works out around £150 depending on how many children I invite (usually between 6 and 13). We do party bags ourselves, a few banners and I buy a tesco cake for £15 max. I totally get that even that amount of money is too much for some people, but I’ve never let mine have massive birthday parties unless it is going to replace a main present (they’ve always chosen not to!).

Whatever cake you get they will want a caterpillar cake more.

This is true. When DS was 5 he had a joint birthday party with his friend. I got DS a caterpillar cake (can't even swear it was a genuine Colin) and his friend's mum got an amazing hand made themed cake. It was big, it was fresh, it had about 10 thin layers, it had mousse and chocolate cream between the layers - not just one of those big lumps of Madeira covered with thick fondant. It was delicious too. The kids oohed and aahed and I was a)mortified and b) worried that DS would feel cake envy. The children all got a slice of each cake.

At the end of the party each paper plate had a few crumbs of the caterpillar, and a largely uneaten slice of the better cake. Children have no judgement about these things, so you might as well just buy a Colin.