Going rate per head for party bags?

[Smithagain]

Am planning DD1's sixth birthday party. 12 guests. Would love to do some alternative to party bags, but she'd never forgive me. As far as she's concerned, it's the main attraction.

But I've only done them once before, when she was much smaller. So give me a steer how much you have to spend to get something that's vaguely worth having (not total tat), but still cheap and cheerful.

I try and do them for less than £1 a bag

Is there a party theme?

You can buy packs of books from Book People that works out very cheap indeed.

Or look in the sale section of Baker Ross for something craft-related. I bought mini wooden flower presses for about 30p each last year.

Really Hulababy? That's impressive (and reassuring!) Any tips?

£1 is very cheap. What do you buy?

Sorry, cheap sounded wrong. Low cost. Impressively low cost. What's in them?

£1

last time it was wooden alphabet blocks for 20

They loved them and the parents raved that there was no plastic toot.

i normally wrap stuff up and do a lucky dip with it all, so not in a bag iykwim.....
have you got instore near you? or wilkinsons
and then seperate cake

I aim at a quid but if I am honest mine always come in at around £2-3 pounds. Can?t help it - I love making them!
This year I did a big party for about 60 kids so had to be a little bit careful. Bought bumper stack of clear cello bags, big roll of brightly coloured tissue paper to make a little inner bag and matching pink curling ribbon on a roll (60m of the stuff so will last ages) to tie the bags up.
Inside I put a mini notepad and mini glitter gel pen, little sheet of stickers, a bouncy ball, 1 bag mini haribo and 1 mini choc bar, plus bit of birthday cake wrapped up.
I raid the internet looking for reduced party bag stock, buy bulk buy bags of reasonable party fillers like 12 bouncy balls for only a couple of quid, pack of 24 mini gel pens from a cheapy shop etc. Still nice items without the cost.
For a smaller number of children I add more expensive stuff like a fairy wand for younger girls, little wooden yoyo, wooden beads etc

or have you got hawkins bizzare near you? they have some good bits

I did a lucky dip and dd loved it. Wrapped up boy/girl presents around £1-£2 each. (colours different for boys and girls). Also put sweets and lollies in the dip too under loads of shredded paper. Each child had 2-3 sweets. Cake served separately. ( did party boxes for tea rather than big plates so less waste. Clingfilmed the cake and put it in the boxes)

Some of the party bags dd has had recently have had LOADS in them - I reckon around £5-£6 at least. Made me feel a bit mean tbh.

Multipacks from Ross Baker, etc
Mulitpacks of books from The Book People

This year I went to Home Bargains and each girl got a Polly Pocket set with doll and a couple of outfits - 99p each

DD has had 20+ guests each time so I refuse to pay much more.

Last year I bought the plastic beakers from partypieces.com, half filled them with crepe paper and then topped with a homemade mini cupcake, a mini chocoloate, some stickers and another item or two. Then wrapped in cellophene and tied with curling ribbon. Thy looked really good and came in at around £1 each.

I've just ordered books from the book people, for my 3 year old DD's party.

8 books for for £6, each book should be £3.99.

So they will each take home a book, a balloon, and a piece of cake.

Have you got a Factory shop near you? you can get some lovely little sticker sets and craft kits (beads and pom poms etc.)for about 50p-£1.

They also do some really nice little note books and pens (always a hit with little girlies) I saw some recently with monsters on the front and sets of 3 pens to match. (worked out about £1.20 each)We wrapped them up in coloured paper rather than using party bags. The dcs loved them.

Check out your local Pound Shop, Yellowmoon.org.uk (or Baker Ross), Hawkins Bazzar, Woolworths, sale sections everywhere etc.

I'm always on the look out for bargains but it takes time and effort to dig them out.

My local Tesco's were giving away selling a set of 3 mini felt pens or a four colour biro pen thingy for 10p each last week. I bought 10 of each to save for later! Usual Tesco price 49p.

I got a set containing 10 party bags, 10 invitations and a length of matching bunting at poundstretcher last year all for £1. Those got put away for a later date.

And pound shop have sets of ten pencils, note pads etc all reasonably priced. But you have to go in and check what they have regularly to know if somethings a good deal and decent quality.

So yes if you have the time and the inclination and can shop around then you can do a really decent party bag for around £1.

If you haven't got the time then you will pay a little more and probably have plastic toot in it. Or pay a lot more to have something worth having!

I usually spend around £2 and stuff them too full, but then I love making up party bags

Think about what you want to include and then price it out. I usually have something like:

1. Cake (You can get a 'block' cake cheaper if you have lots of party bags)

2. Couple of balloons or punchball/rocket balloon and/or party poppers

3. Stickers (buy a pack of sticker rolls and then cut them up - £3 for 9 rolls at woolies)

4. lollypop (cheap packs at pound shop)

5. Choc bar (such as frogger)

6. pencil pen/notebook (from poundshop)

7. 'toy' - whatever you can get cheaply (whistle, bouncy ball, bubbles, car, bugs etc - yes I have ds!). Aim to spend no more than 25p.

8. Don't forget to cost in the price of the bags and napkins to wrap the cake in. Your reasonably priced part bag can suddenly go through the roof otherwise!

Gilly

Definitely look in your local pound shops - I got fantastic quality bubbles there for dd's party bags (30 kids so wasn't going to spend a fortune!) 8 for a quid rather than the 50p each they charge on some websites. Also (you have to search them out as gillybean says) some reasonable-quality toys and good stationery items are usually available.