Create a Birthday Party Budget
Parents often tell me that the cost of all of the birthday parties their children attend each year really adds up—and that doesn’t include the expense of throwing their own children’s birthday parties. Why is attending parties so expensive? Gifts!
If your child attends a birthday party for each classmate, even spending a small amount on each present can result in a big expense. Kids often feel pressure to give a good gift, and parents can feel this way as well. But these days, when some schools require that all children in a class be invited to birthday parties, the cost of gifts can be a problem. If you have 25 kids in a classroom and 20 decide to have some sort of party, at $10 a pop for each gift you have just spent $200 on presents. This only takes into account one of your kids; if you have more, you can see how quickly the costs multiply.
It all adds up, but you can make a budget so you won’t break the bank. Think about how many parties your child will be invited to this year. If you have more than one child, you will have to take all the parties your kids will attend into account. Once you have this estimate, you can work out a budget for gifts.
Spending anywhere from $5 to $10 on a child’s birthday gift is plenty. The present doesn’t need to be big, just thoughtful. You might consider spending a little more only on your child’s special friend or a family member.
$5 to $10 can purchase great activity books with colorful markers or crayons, interesting little games to play in the car, a cool miniature toy, a candy surprise, an interesting book, etc.
One party present won’t break the bank, but 20 party presents may during one school year. Be aware of this, plan a present budget, and stick to it. Ask yourself this question: Do you remember what you got on your 7th birthday? Neither will this generation.
Get your family organized and on the same page with Cozi, the free online family organizer.
--Lisa Kothari, Peppers and Pollywogs
Comments
Even though I only went to a few birthday parties, maybe 3 or 4 max each school year...along with my brother..$10 here, and there could really add up. So, what my mom did was find out what sort of stuff my friend liked, and then she'd go and find a few things. I.e., if it was a female friend, we'd get her like a pretty smeling lotion, hair clips, and some candles.. just typical, inexpensive, but useful girly stuff. And if it was a guy, I have no idea, because..well, I don't remember what I gave,lol. I do remember a girl I was friends with way back in 2nd grade (I'm a college freshman now) that her and her mom made me a box, decorated it with my name, glitter and some beads...And well, frankly it was one of the best presents I've ever had, and still do have somewhere. For me, what qualified as a great gift, was NEVER the amount spent on it,especially since I didn't grow up with a lot and don't put a lot of stock into expensive, pointless things..But the thought behind it. I have gotten some great gifts that didn't probably cost more than maybe $10...but, were always appreciated. I think that the more thought out a gift is, the more well-recieved it is. Love this article by the way, and sometimes a home-made present is even better.
I agree completely, each year I have to come up with a bigger better faster cooler party theme; finally I threw in the towel this year. My husband and I decided that we would have one big birthday party, instead of 5 small ones. The results: we went to the Disneyland celebration for the same cost as the parties we sacrificed" and I guarantee we will all remember what we received for 2009:-) Next year we will return to the birthday party scene. But with creativity on our side instead of big budgets. We have always used the $10 or less template (and a well quizzed mom of birthday boy or girl when RSVPing) we have been able to provide well received presents. I have learned one thing, there are a lot of readers out there--and books are usually under $10:-)
Exactly! We as women/mothers must lead by example. Our children will repeat what they have seen us do. Not to mention the fact of recycling gently used items that have already been paid for once. Good article.
I agree with this articule. It is very expensive going to birthday partys nowadays. My children dont remember what they got or gave for that matter. I remember when my 12 yr old turned 3 or 4, she got a little horse (which she loves) that cost about $.50. The mother also bought a book. She felt she was being cheap only buying the horse. Needless to say that the $.50 horse was her favorite gift, she played with it more than any of the other toys.
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some good points here.
any personal finance budget should cover things like this. the only really successful way to budget properly is the method i use - tracking and categorizing every single penny that i spend, every month.