Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Parties/celebrations

Whether you're planning a birthday or a hen do, you'll find plenty of ideas for your celebration on our Party forum.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Party bags - can I ditch them?

45 replies

grumpypants · 29/09/2009 18:52

I am increasingly getting fed up with providing 'presents' to guests at the end of my childrens' parties. Can I stop the whole party bag thing or is that really mean and horrid? I just feel I'm paying c. £10 per head for the guests at a venue, and then have to source a load of tat for a bag. I used to do nice bags (£5 type things) but can no longer afford this and I resent spending any money on a load of cr*p. Please tell me what you think - would you be annoyed if your child didn't get a party bag?

OP posts:

BoysAreLikeDogs · 29/09/2009 18:54

Send em home with a slice of cake

job done

pasturesnew · 29/09/2009 18:54

No would not be annoyed

Original poster

grumpypants · 29/09/2009 18:56

Really? I feel like I would be breaking some unwritten rule...

OP posts:

pointydoug · 29/09/2009 18:56

Of course I wouldn;t be annoyed. My child would b e slightly disappointed, that's all

starwhores · 29/09/2009 18:57

No i wouldn't be annoyed at all. I usually give a fun size bag of sweets/chocolate, a helium filled balloon (not foil £1.12) and a slice of cake.

ChasingSquirrels · 29/09/2009 18:58

no I wouldn't be annoyed - and I have never given party bags either (do have a treasure hunt to finish with, where every child finds a small prize).

mwff · 29/09/2009 18:58

noooooo! i did this figured a slice of cake and a balloon was good enough for us... it didn't go down well at all

Original poster

grumpypants · 29/09/2009 18:59

OK. Bought little packs of candy sticks with superhero on as a start, but then got fed up thinking of buying themed bags, bubbles etc. Can I just eat then myself and let the guest go home empty handed?

OP posts:

Ivykaty44 · 29/09/2009 18:59

I did - ballon and a piece of cake at the end to go home.

I hate them, they are full of c*ap and get stuffed under bed, so why bother

mwff · 29/09/2009 18:59

whether or not parents are annoyed, children are disappointed/confused, because it's what they've come to expect.

Original poster

grumpypants · 29/09/2009 19:01

ohh. mwff - cross post. That's a bit worrying. But I do feel like the kids are coming to celebrate my childrens' birthday, not to perform an exchange of gifts. Esp as lots of the presents they get are very cheap so everyone is obv. feeling the pinch. And, no, I don't mean anything other then everyone is feeling the pinch.

OP posts:

Original poster

grumpypants · 29/09/2009 19:02

mwff - that's what worries me. But I would like to not do them.

OP posts:

LynetteScavo · 29/09/2009 19:03

i wouldn't be annoyed if my children didn't get a party bag...my children would wonder why though. I think a pice of cake, adn a helium ballon with a lolly or mini chocolate bar tied to it to weigh it downn would be sufficeint.

Or just a lucky dip of one small pressent.

I think parents around here have goine so over the top (I include my self in this) that no one is eally impressed any more with party bags.

The best bag my DS2 recieved (in his opinion)only had sweets in it.

mwff · 29/09/2009 19:06

don't get me wrong, no-one screamed and shouted and refused to leave without one, but every single one was clearly puzzled and felt a little let down, no matter how polite they were about it and how much the parents smoothed it over. i felt rotten and like i'd let dd down for the sake of a couple of bits of plastic tat

Original poster

grumpypants · 29/09/2009 19:24

But how did it all start? And why? Isn't a birthday expensive enough? Or am I just getting tight in my old age?

OP posts:

piscesmoon · 29/09/2009 19:25

I would think you were very sensible and hope that others would follow. Dreadful things!

piscesmoon · 29/09/2009 19:26

I used to put a slice of cake in them and leave it at that.

Original poster

grumpypants · 29/09/2009 19:27

Thank you pisces moon. Am thinking of maybe detoxing with cake; candy sticks; bubbles. Get braver next year?

OP posts:

blowbroth · 29/09/2009 19:27

We call them 'sod off bags' ! ( and for the last few parties haven't given any)

bigchris · 29/09/2009 19:29

what age birthday are we talking about?
I think a 4 or 5 year old would be very disappointed, a 7 or 8 year old less so

Original poster

grumpypants · 29/09/2009 19:34

age 7 , jt with his db (2). Just so fed up with another £x on cr*p, y'know?

OP posts:

blowbroth · 29/09/2009 19:43

Don't do it grumpypants! Be strong!

Original poster

grumpypants · 29/09/2009 19:45

maybe I could start a revolution. Or a petition...

OP posts:

piscesmoon · 29/09/2009 19:46

I was too much of a coward to do away with -which is why I put just cake or,when younger, cake and something like bubbles. Some that my DCs got were way OTT-they cost more than the present mine gave!

Original poster

grumpypants · 29/09/2009 19:47

Sooooo, bubbles and a cake and the candysticks. Still a waste of money but can't see me doing this alone

OP posts:

Flip

1 2