Birthday Parties

[DomDad101]

It's time to start planning (and saving) for our sons birthday party...

I understand some parents can afford everything, some need to get a little more creative and outside the box.

All the parties we've been to have bouncy castles, disco and food...

My question is what is a reasonable price for a birthday party (5th specifically)

Soft play/ trampoline parks are roughly £15-£20 per head all inclusive.

A bouncy castle and a village hall can be 250-300 before catering.

We're not in a position to spend 4-500 quid on a party but at the same time, we don't want anything inferior to the others...

Thanks in advance :)

Ps: sorry I'm not a mum, there doesn't seem to be a dadsnet website!?

[Boomboxio]

I can't see how you'd get it much cheaper than what you've stated. Unless you ask another parent if they'd like to do a joint party with you?

Or have a bouncy in your garden and the kids in your home (my Idea of hell).

Meet at the park and provide a picnic & games?

All the 5th class parties we've been too this year have been softplay, apart from one which was a local hall with music and a bouncy castle.

[ZippyGoose]

I reckon you can do it cheaply and think most people prefer parties that are thoughtful.

Do you have space at home? You guys can run party games. 5 is probably young for dropoff, so you need to think about parents too.

For a home party do the morning and have coffee and pastries for the grownups, then just do party games for the kids, pass the parcel etc.

If no space at home go outside. Go to a park and mark an area with bunting. Or go to a woods and have a forest school party - show the kids how to build dens out of branches and stuff, you can look online for ideas.

Another option church hall and entertainer like magician.

For food most kids tend to like pizza and you can order in a bunch of margaritas from deliveroo for £50 or so. Or else popcorn can be a winner, also cheap.

For party bags you can do all sorts. I have done cupcake kits a few times… just get a bulk load of cake mix (the type you just add oil and water to), a load of cupcake cases, icing and maybe sprinkles, and decant into little paper bags. Takes some time but can be done for £15 tops and looks super cute. The kids all get an activity they can do after and the parents are happy they don’t get plastic crap they need to chuck away.

[AuntMarch]

I'm really hoping mine chooses a day out somewhere over a party, but following this just in case!
I wouldn't mind so much when we reach drop off age, probably. Maybe.

[YourSpryWriter]

My son has just turned 5 and I paid for 12 of his friends and him to have a party at a farm. Food was included and it was less than £20 per head.

[StaySpicy]

My son recently had his 5th party and there were ten of them at soft play for about £150 including private room, choice of hot dog or burger and a party host. All I had to take were party bags and a cake. The whole thing was less than two hundred quid. It was cheaper than hiring a hall and bouncy castle, plus I had zero setting up and tidyding up to do!