Birthday presents-How much?

[MrsWhirling]

DD has just finished her reception year.

Her school has three reception classes (90 kids). She seems to be invited to a classmates birthday every other week or so and I'm really unsure as to how much is acceptable/normal to spend on a present?

Thanks xx

Books are boring? Really??

My DCs love a good book although probably prefer their iPads on balance

I've given up buying presents and give £5 in a card. Last yr my dd had a birthday party and about half the guests did this. She ended up with £55 and was able to buy herself a really decent present ( a bike that was half price in halfords) which she's still riding 18months later whereas most of her other gifts have broken.

I agree with £5-£10.

About £8 when they are in reception and are invited to every party in the class. About £15 once they are going to parties of children they are actually friends with. I also stock up on books, around Xmas time I give annuals which are often on good offers or things like Guinness Book of world records which is often half price. In the summer I often do a nice T-shirt or swimming costume from H&M for about £7/8

i try to spend near £5 than £10 but it depends if I've been able to grab a bargain. i spent £15 on dd1's best friend.
I don't like stocking up as even though dd1 is only going into yr 2 the parties are already thinning out a bit (or perhaps we're just getting invited to fewer of them)

Folks expect their children to receive tat?

I don't expect anything but DD values every gift. But I as a parent try to buy sensible. You can get decent chapter books for under £5 and even if the birthday child doesn't like it and it ends in a charity shop or is regifted than another child will hopefully enjoy it. Better than buying things which just gets broken.

Some of DD's friend's mums I asked actually asked for books, especially Summer ones so they have some reading material for the holidays.

DD got a gift card and some cash this year, I find it a bit sad but maybe better than buying crap.

£10 for a best friend, everyone else gets sticker books etc.

Phew a few more on my wave length! I was starting to panic!

Never more than a fiver but in general as little as possible, while still getting good stuff. Wilkos had stationery stuff on sale a while ago so I stocked up then - tins of colouring pencils, cute notebooks all 10p. DS has got a party coming up so it'll be tin of pencils, notebook and a puzzle book from a set from Book People (of course!) and probably cost less than a quid all in. Plus a card from Card Factory's 7 for a pound range.

I am so tight.

gosh I think that is sad if people wouldn't like books. I thought all children loved listening to stories.

£5-10, I always pop into TK Max when I'm in town as they often have little craft sets or decorate your own mirror/jewellery box/pony etc for less than a fiver. If anyone asks what to get I always say crafty stuff, but then I've got 2 DDs who love that kind of thing. I don't tend to give books as you never know if they already have it.

The one thing I avoid like the plague is anything that involves sewing or knitting- after spending a whole afternoon making a crappy rubbish sew your own bag set that was given to DD!

£8/£10 here. That seems to be the norm going by what ds got given at his "whole class" party. I do look out for sales and bargains.

I had a run of little girls parties (I only have ds's) and I got Melissa and Doug wooden beads from Amazon for about £9 which seemed to be really well received.