At 13, Surely we are over 'party bags?'

[RatherBeOnThePiste]

Are we? Please say yes!

DD is inviting some mates out for dinner for her bday, nowhere posh, more of a party place think TGI Fridays type thing.

It will be a couple of hours of eating and squealing with laughter, then au revoir!

I bet 13 year old girls would LOVE party bags

I'd say no way! But if you were feeling generous (and I hope I don't offend you in any way as obv I don't know your situ, but I'm skint lol), you could get them something girlie in the pound shop? Just as a token? You could get a pack of lip glosses or nice soaps or something and give them one each? Well she is a teenager, to sort of mark that fact??

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

That was the wrong answer!! Do you really think we should? It will be boys and girls.

We could make ironic party bags with stretchy men, plastic tat and smarties - they'd probably think that was a laff.

I just believe we are over it

You can get multipacks of earrings really reasonably too, split them and wrap them one pair each?

Or, I think it is reasonable not to do it at all.

Ooops cross post Rather.

No, don't do it then! Sorry.

You might get more support in the Teenagers thread.

Or maybe just leave it at that. lol

Hope she has a lovely time, sounds great.

I have a teen and pre-teen. Would say no party bags. All the other parents will thank you.

Why not buy a Clares £3 mystery bag. I have done it for DDs' friends when they were a bit younger for party bags. DD is now 12 and still loves them!

bruffin, sorry, I think a) £3 is way too much for a party bag and b)12 is old enough to understand party bags are for younger kids....

that said, up to you, but please do think about other parents who might not be able to afford that kind of money

at my DD1s 13th, as she wanted a 'grown-up' meal, we booked her and 9 friends a table at frankie and bennies.

They then let me go in early to set up the table, and in leu of party bags, I did little favours......as it was also easter, I bought little gold and silver cardboard boxes and filled them with cadburys mini eggs.

they loved them, and I felt it was a nod at party bags and the childhood they were leaving behind.

that was however the last party that anything like that happened.....not that I get away with doing party bags......I still have boys who like them!

oh, and the little boxes were re-used as trinket boxes, so in all, nothing wasted, which was doubly fab

Just give them all a piece of cake and/or a bag of sweets!

Sorry but I don't see why anyone should dictate to me what I what on my own daughters party, just because others might not be able to afford it. Last two parties she had at 10 and 11 were parties at home watching HSM2 and Camp Rock premier on Disney Chanel. Apart from a take away pizza and a few drinks the party cost me virtually nothing so 8 clares bags were hardly a huge expenditure. The girls loved it and had a huge swap

Her previous party was a build a bear at Hamleys where every child went home with a bear t, was that wrong? Thankfully I don't know anyone who gives two hoots how much anyone else spends on their parties and never noticesd anyone trying to outdo anyone else.

hey Bruffin, no-one can dictate to you what you do for your kids' parties. Do whatever works for you. But if others ask for input, they will get it. If you post, expect that not every one agrees with you. That's the way MN works. Be confident in your own decisions, and ignore those of us who don't agree with you! No ill feelings I hope.

Lilo there is a diffence between disagreeing and telling someone off for posting a perfectly reasonable suggestion, which was how it sounded to me, if that was not the intention then I apologize, but i have never come across anyone setting a budget for an OP before

read the posts in context bruffin, I think you have over reacted.