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Original poster

What is the going-rate for gifts for school friends parties?

29 replies

fernie19 · 04/02/2025 11:34

My DSS has a party in a month's time with a school friend, a few of them are being taken bowling and to the arcade by the parents. What is the average spend/any ideas for a gift for 7 year old boy?

When I ask DSS what his friend likes I get the usual "well I dunno". I guess football, lego etc but any ideas would be great!

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Unexpectedlysinglemum · 04/02/2025 11:39

I have a younger boy and I have just spent £30 a head on party activities food and drink for kids and parents and I think average gift was 10-15 value.
I think any activity you take kids to is 10-20, out for lunch would be similar, so try to base it on cost per head of doing what you'd normally do (obviously don't stretch yourself for budget of a very expensive party if you wouldn't usually spend that)

SillyNavySnail · 04/02/2025 12:18

Around a fiver, up to £7/8 on the rare occasion

Koalaslippers · 04/02/2025 12:21

I set a budget of £10 including card. Will sometimes spend more on a particularly close friend.

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DanceMumTaxi · 04/02/2025 12:23

About £10 for gift, plus card and wrapping. More like £20 for close friends.

mindutopia · 04/02/2025 12:27

Generally £8-10. There’s very little these days you can get for a fiver.

yesereen · 04/02/2025 13:04

Generally I buy things with an RRP of £15-20, but usually spend £6-12.

unlimiteddilutingjuice · 04/02/2025 13:06

Used to be £5
Now crept up to £10 with COL crisis
I will occasionally spend £15 if I see something really cool and I like the kid a lot.

OnlyThickBeans · 04/02/2025 13:06

Around £10. £15-20 if they’re close friends.

OnlyThickBeans · 04/02/2025 13:07

Totally besides the point of this thread but I wish we all got more comfortable NOT giving gifts or a small cash token like £5. The kids love opening it all but it’s just absolute junk (with the exception of one or two) that clutters the house and ends up in landfill.

Redfred00 · 04/02/2025 13:10

For me it depends what they are doing. A party at our local softplay is £16 per head. I usually try to spend around the cost per head. I have 2 that generally both get invited and I buy present from each child.

RosePosse · 04/02/2025 13:16

I try to keep it under £10 (although often get stock up in the sales so RRP might be higher) and buy 50p cards in Tesco. For a close friend I might go up to £20.

I don't factor in the cost of the party, and I wouldn't expect anyone to do that if they came to my child's party. I'm buying a present for the child, not trying to reimburse the parents 🤷‍♀️

Spudalot · 04/02/2025 13:18

Max £10. But I often get stuff in the sales and stock up when I see it. I think the cost of the party is irrelevant. Bizarre to suggest spending more on a gift just because the venue/activity is more expensive likewise spending less if it wasn’t!

NormaleKartoffeln · 04/02/2025 13:19

I'd say around 10-15, it was 5-10 when DS was small, 10 years ago.

DorotheaHomeAlone · 04/02/2025 13:22

I strongly disagree with those matching it to the spend. Would mean richer kids getting better gifts surely! They are celebrating and have chosen to invite your child to share a fun activity. Your child is celebrating and taking them a gift they will enjoy. The costs shouldn’t be linked. You’re not paying for your child to attend!

Similar to others, I used to aim for under £10. Inflation has pushed that up to around £10 or a bit more for a close friend/small party situation. I bulk buy in sales and either get cards from card factory or have the kids make them.

pearbottomjeans · 04/02/2025 13:24

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 04/02/2025 11:39

I have a younger boy and I have just spent £30 a head on party activities food and drink for kids and parents and I think average gift was 10-15 value.
I think any activity you take kids to is 10-20, out for lunch would be similar, so try to base it on cost per head of doing what you'd normally do (obviously don't stretch yourself for budget of a very expensive party if you wouldn't usually spend that)

God I don’t consider the cost to the host at all. Either when a guest or a host.

My kids are 7 & 9 and both been to a few parties in the last couple of weeks. I don’t keep tabs and just let them get whatever they think their friend would like, but wouldn’t spend over £30. And that’s for the older end of the scale. Have put £10 in a card before for non-best friends.

SatinHeart · 04/02/2025 13:27

I usually spend about £10-12. Recently had a 7th birthday party for DS and I think most gifts he got were probably around the £10 mark, several parents put a fiver in a card instead which he was very happy with!

Snorlaxo · 04/02/2025 13:32

You should be able to get something for under £10. A bit more for a very close friend.
I used to buy the Argos 2 for £15 and saved the extra gift for another party. I have a stock of cards from Card Factory (they have a deal for 10 cards ) and always have some wrapping paper.

HundredPercentUnsure · 04/02/2025 13:35

Whatever you are comfortable spending and can afford, surely?

Be that £5, £12 or more.

🤷

NowStartAgain · 04/02/2025 13:35

Based on what my DD has been given (she’s 8 so we have had a few years of parties) there is a range of approaches to present giving. At one end it’s regift of any old item that your own child didn’t use, regardless of suitability of gift… up to about £10 spent thoughtfully. One memorable hand made gift. I don’t think she’s had anything that would have cost over £10.

I would budget up to £10 and if I have no idea what the child would like, I tend to think £10 note in a card is better than something they might not even use.

voodoodollwithmyname · 04/02/2025 13:40

I have a limit of £5 gift card - my child gets invited to every child's party which is lovely they are so popular and well thought off but it becomes horrendously expensive and difficult to think of a gift they don't already have

TheHeadOfTheHouse · 04/02/2025 13:40

I buy clothing on Vinted with the tags on.

i spend about £10-12 and that includes the postage.

i look at the child when I see them and compare them to my ds to work out what clothing size they most likely are and buy on Vinted.

TheHeadOfTheHouse · 04/02/2025 13:42

My ds has had a party every year and I would say the average spend on him is £15

hideawayforever · 04/02/2025 13:44

£20

user1491396110 · 04/02/2025 13:46

My little one recently had a party and people spent between £5 - £12

I would have been happy with them spending £5, I think that's plenty.

I usually buy things in the sales so spend £5-7 on a £10-£15 gift and have a multipack of birthday cards, but money is very tight, id love to spend more

Allyballyxx · 04/02/2025 14:20

I try spend as little as possible as they get so many invites to parties. Since nursery I've had a stock of toys in my loft that I buy from big sales like the B&M sale before Xmas at 3 for £20. Most things are really good gifts that I don't think would just get shoved aside like art sets, jewelry kits, slime sets, hot wheels car tracks, avengers sets and dinosaur nerf type sets. So RRP is around £12-17 but I've paid much less.

For best friends I tend to give them a home printed voucher in their card that says your getting a trip to X place (trampoline park/theme park/ice skating/soft play/food place child loves) with my child. I see it as a win for me because it allows me to take my child to a place he wants to go to with his friend 😊