Anyone else feel like they went a bit overboard with the first bday party?

tayrob1986 · February 2013

I feel like I went a bit overboard. I had a budget that I set for myself...thought I was doing a good job of staying within it. Went to add everything up and I have almost spend four times the amount. I really didn't meant to spend that much. Thankfully, the hubby isn't mad at me. But, we could have spend that money to pay a small bill off. Just wondering if I'm alone with this, or if there are others??

Please don't get me wrong, I am over the moon about celebrating. I just feel a little guilty.

2chatter · February 2013

I only got DS one gift to offset the spend. And even going what I think is sort of all out for a 1 yo (decorations, cake), it will be less than the parties cost of school age children, so it's all relative to me...I am looking forward to the next three years of inexpensive parties.

Karley0212 · February 2013

I feel that way about the guest list. We did not invite all of our family and we are still over 50 people. I just wanted a small family get together. Our budget is 250 does that sound reasonable? we got the hall for 15 dollars. How much did you guys spend

tayrob1986 · February 2013

We only got our daughter one gift as well. She will be overwhelmed with things from friends and family. I've tried to tell myself that I won't be throwing another big party until she is 4 or 5, which makes me feel a bit better.

I think one of the more expensive things was the food, because we will have close to 60 family members and close friends. Thankfully I'm not doing a big spread! We are just doing cream puffs, eclairs, fruit, ice cream, and cupcakes. It's a mid afternoon party.

tayrob1986 · February 2013

That is what my budget started out as. I've only told one of my closest friends how much we've spent because I'm pretty embarrassed. We are at a little over 900**wincing**at this point. But, that does include her first birthday pictures/framing (only professional pictures we've had done.)

nebraska84 · February 2013

I think I am! I feel like I am going to overboard on decoration and party favors. I am probably spending around 200 dollars but that doesn't include food yet. I am having such a great time planning and make that I don't want to stop.

ChristinaL27 · February 2013

I spent WAY TOO MUCH!!!!!!!! My daughters birthday was Saturday... lodge was 150 alone....between decor, invites, stamps, balloons, napkins, utensils that was over 150. Food, apps, drinks, dessert was over 250. I bought her one toy that I never even wrapped or pulled out that was 50. We had 55 guests... So I'm sure I spent close to 700-800. Which seems nuts.

tayrob1986 · February 2013

I am so glad there are some women out there that went/will go overboard like me! I haven't even finished buying everything yet. I assume that my total will be about 1,00 when it is all said and done (fresh fruit, beverages, flowers, balloons, and other last minute items.) I will be putting my daughters party on Pinterest afterwords, (party is on the 23rd.) I really am truly very excited!!

Mar5195 · February 2013

My kiddo's party is a few weeks away. I've worked really hard on alot of DIY. Not getting too crazy. Keep the cake, food and decor simple.

But I can see how easily overboard you could get. I almost dropped $100 on Etsy on papergood stuff. And thank god my good sense kicked in and I realized that would be like dropping $100 in the trash. (couldn't really see reusing the stuff).

Anyway even today I was going to drop $25 on cupcake topper decor and I put the brakes on and walked out of the store. It's so easy to get crazy because it's the first party.

But in reality we need to keep it simple. All said and done this party will probably cost me $550. My ILs and parents are making food and my Mom is paying for the face painter.

Fortunately I spread out the money and bought things early like favors and candy in December. Now in January it was all the decor. And February will be about the food and the venue.

Ashes_3 · February 2013

From a mostly lurker, my mom is going crazy with the party. It is set for Friday the 23rd and she has ordered all sorts of etsy items, made some diy items, bought candy and dishes for candy bar, and said she and dad were buying the food. That leaves me and dh to just pretty much get the cake. Crazy grandparents!

NatesLady1309 · February 2013

Wow. I predict my total for the party will be under $50. Truly. And that's including pictures that a friend is doing for us (said she would do it for free but I insist on paying her $20 for her time at least). I will make cupcakes using ingredients I have all or almost all of already on hand, and I got a cheese/meat/crackers party tray for $3.50 the other day using some awesome coupons that I am saving for the party. Other than that I might make finger sandwiches or put out Chex mix or something else that I already have in the pantry (I coupon so we have a lot). Maybe a veggie and dip tray. For drinks I have plenty of 2 liters in the pantry to use already, most of which I got on sale for 49 cents from Publix when they do a sale on their brand of soda. The only things I'll be spending actual money on are plates, cups, etc and that is most likely coming from Dollar Tree, they have a cute butterfly theme so that's what I'm planning to base the decor on. I already have plasticware. I might try to make a banner or something and will probably get some balloons, also from Dollar Tree. I am also eyeing some Valentines things that I could use for the party from Target and I will go there the day after Valentines day when it all goes to 50% off to see if I'd like to snag any of that. As far as a gift for Addy, there is an adorable child-size apron at Target that's part of the Valentines stuff that I'd love to get for her once everything hits 50% off, I'm crossing my fingers it will still be there. I truly cannot imagine spending close to $1,000 on this. That blows my mind. We will only have around 20 people there I am guessing (don't know yet, RSVPs not due yet) so that does help with the cost but even if we were having 50+ I don't see how I would possibly spend more than $100 for EVERYTHING to do with this party. If this makes me a "bad mom" to some people, then so be it. We'd rather pay off the house faster, or meet various other financial goals, than to spend that kind of money on a single party.

kayladay · February 2013

We have spent around $300 but that is including, pictures, gifts, food, decor, plates and such and everything.

hayliedc · February 2013

How awesome for you Nateslady! I don't think anyone would say you are a "bad mom" for not spending more money...weird that you would think that. I think everyone could agree that they would rather pay off other things then spending what they did on their LO's party, but dont regret spending the money on the party either. No one here was bragging that they spend x amount, but we are all happy for you and that you were able to keep your costs down.

I am with the other posters and I had a budget of $250. I don't bake so I had to buy cupcakes and cookies because we invited around 40 people and those were almost $75. Then invites were more than I wanted to pay, but I am so happy with them. Then decorations, her birthday outfit, etc, etc, etc. Should we have spent less probably but I have loved being able to go all out on this party. Like some of you already said, we have another few years before parties get expensive again.

jju_stb_jju · February 2013

NatesLady1309:
Wow. I predict my total for the party will be under 50. Truly. And that's including pictures that a friend is doing for us said she would do it for free but I insist on paying her 20 for her time at least. I will make cupcakes using ingredients I have all or almost all of already on hand, and I got a cheese/meat/crackers party tray for 3.50 the other day using some awesome coupons that I am saving for the party. Other than that I might make fingernbsp;sandwichesnbsp;or put out Chex mix or something else that I already have in the pantry I coupon so we have a lot. Maybe a veggie and dip tray. For drinks I have plenty of 2 liters in the pantry to use already, most of which I got on sale for 49 cents from Publix when they do a sale on their brand of soda. The only things I'll be spending actual money on are plates, cups, etc and that is most likely coming from Dollar Tree, they have a cute butterfly theme so that's what I'm planning to base the decor on. I already have plasticware. I might try to make a banner or something and will probably get some balloons, also from Dollar Tree. I am also eyeing some Valentines things that I could use for the party from Target and I will go there the day after Valentines day when it all goes to 50 off to see if I'd like to snag any of that. As far as a gift for Addy, there is an adorable childsize apron at Target that's part of the Valentines stuff that I'd love to get for her once everything hits 50 off, I'm crossing my fingers it will still be there. I truly cannot imagine spending close to 1,000 on this. That blows my mind. We will only have around 20 people there I am guessing don't know yet, RSVPs not due yet so that does help with the cost but even if we were having 50 I don't see how I would possibly spend more than 100 for EVERYTHING to do with this party. If this makes me a "bad mom" to some people, then so be it. We'd rather pay off the house faster, or meet various other financial goals, than to spend that kind of money on a single party.

Who said anything about being a bad mom? No matter what anybody spends, the most important is the memories weas parents will forever have!
We spent 350 on professional photos, then 250 for the hall, another 200 for food, drinks, appetizers, and the cupcakes for 125 people, we also knew there were going to be kids there so we had a guy come and make popcorn and cotton candy for 2 1/2 hours for everybody and that was 125, the decorations we spent about 100 on and then candy for the candy bar we spent about 100 as well. Hey how I see it is that he's our first baby, and will be the only one for awhile, and in our family we always have big parties, so it wasn't a big deal.
ETA we didn't buy everything at once either, starting last june we started getting things little by little with every pay check, and we are going to do the same this year!

pinkshades05 · February 2013

With everything, I think we'll spend close to $200. It includes food, decorations, invitations, etc. It's over budget so my mom is helping out as her gift to Nat. I want her first birthday to be special and I don't mind spending a little more so that I have good memories of her birthday!

NatnDyl · February 2013

I'm going to Costco for the food on Thursday but I think the total will be in the neighborhood of $150.

jja0812 · February 2013

I have no idea, because I bought things little by little and didn't keep track. As for everyone else, I like seeing the DIY parties as well as the mega-buck bashes. Both kinds are awesome in different ways.

Shmogan09 · February 2013

We don't really have a budget, we are just trying to go simple. Burgers, hot dogs and chips for food, I bought some cute "first birthday" decorations and we got him a few presents. My parents got him a clown because Logan asked for it for his bday but it isn't allowed where we are having it.

I think first birthdays are great and so fun and everyone should do it how they want. We are going simple because we have to afford the 4 year old party a month later. Not that Kellen isn't as important, it's just that he has no idea and Logan does. Once they are both old enough to know we will split the budget in half.

JeniLovesNeil · February 2013

I've definitely gone overboard. I have no idea how much I've spent, but I'm guessing it's about $300-400. But it's a great occasion and we have several family members flying in for his party.

We're doing a Seuss theme and I made a cute banner with Seuss characters, cute party favors, Seuss-themed snacks and I'm making a ball pit for the other babies that will be there.

michelle7482 · February 2013

We are spending about 1000 and most of that is food, beer, cake, and decorations for about 50 people. We are getting it catered. I am not cooking lol.

Lena122 · February 2013

We spent about 130 on decorations, I went WAY overboard at the party store, and about 60 on the cake and smash cake. MIL offered to buy the food so we made out under 200.

cmd9465 · February 2013

We are having a family party on the 23rd @ my parents and close friends with their babies @ our house on the 24th for lunch.

We saved up cash doing some side jobs so it won't come from our monthly budget.

karleegirl · February 2013

Now I don't think anyone is a bad mom for spending a lot vs a little but I do think a lot of it is over blown.
Personally I think 1000 is a big ol waste and that it would be much better spent in your kid's college account. But that being said we all have different budgets and financial goals. So it doesn't make anyone right or wrong.
As a mother of an almost adult the one thing I regret not having more of is pictures. So I'm having nice professional pics of dd. But that's my priority.

MrMrsandBaby · February 2013

I honestly have no idea what we have spent so far. I pick things up as I see them and have been for about two months now. I'm not worried about how much money I spend on her party. As I've said before, it is more about the parents than the child and we don't have parties very often so I'm going all out.

NatesLady, for you to say you may be a "bad mom" is just strange to me. Why even make that reference? You clearly know you aren't a bad mom, so why are you trying to justify your choices? Honestly, it came across as condescending and more than a little pretentious by implying that those of us who are spending more than $50 are neglecting our bills/financial futures. Good for you that you can spend that little, but I don?t hoard 2 liters, clip coupons and can?t have it at my own house due to size. So congratulations for being frugal, but just because you spent so little doesn?t mean you are any better than someone who spent more ? just different.

suitern · February 2013

Jessicameron:
I have no idea, because I bought things little by little and didn't keep track. As for everyone else, I like seeing the DIY parties as well as the mega-buck bashes. Both kinds are awesome in different ways.

I agree. I like seeing both. We did a DIY party; I made most of the decorations, cake, cupcakes, etc. If people have the bucks to shell out for a huge bash, then more power to them. I think anything that a Mom does for her child's birthday, even if it is simply going out to dinner, then that is enough. Again, this isn't a competition....

With that said-even with a DIY party, I STILL blew the budget. I didn't set one initially, which was probably a huge fail on my part. I would venture to say I spent close to $400-500 but that includes pictures which we haven't had taken yet.

NatesLady1309 · February 2013

Woah Nelly! It was just a disclaimer in case anyone happened to think that spending very little = "bad mom." I wasn't calling anyone out and sorry if it appeared that way. I have just felt like I am part of a minority that isn't spending multi-hundred dollars on first birthday related stuff. And I find that when I am in the minority, I am often judged.

tayrob1986 · February 2013

I was planning on doing everything myself, as far as baking and such. I LOVE to bake(almost went to culinary school), but I keep another child part-time. I happen to keep him at the end of the week, and with Waverly's party being on a Saturday there is no way that I would be able to bake 60 cupcakes from scratch, make the icing from scratch, and decorate without it turning into a disaster or me staying up all night the night before. My hubby insisted (for our sanity and the sake of our marriage-total joke, but somewhat true) for me to order them from my favorite bakery. That costs $120. I actually had a really hard time letting go of me baking everything, it's my thing. Its what all of our friends and family know me for. I had a lot of mommy guilt for not doing it myself. But, my husband was right, and after weeks of mulling it over, I feel okay about it now.

Then her professional pictures cost us a bit over 200(and that was after my mother in law paid 200 for my daughters bday gift.) We have had no professional pictures done, so I feel that it was more than worth it.

Then, as far as decorations-a lot came from etsy. But, the door sign I can use in my daughters room after the party. The banner only says "happy birthday" so we can use it years to come, her highchair banner...can't reuse that, but I figure a friend down the road can use it and it could save them some money! I did splurge on 4oz ice cream cups with a personalized sticker and decorated little wooden spoons. But, the lady also printed out water bottle labels for me and food tent cards for only 10.00(our printer is out of commission.) So, I cut the water bottle labels out, then used packing table to attach them to the bottle(Super cheap, and super cute way to do water bottles!)

The real kicker is the pictures, cupcakes, and her outfits. I splurged and went to my favorite children's boutique in town (which I had not shopped at until now, since this is a VERY special occasion.) The outfit was 40% off, but then we had to get it altered, which ended up costing pretty much the 40% I saved in store. BUT the guy altered it to be let out so she can wear it again next year. Then the smash cake outfit was a little pricy...personalized bloomers(but we can wear those over and over) and a personalized party hat. Then I had a shirt made as well.

I SINCERELY hope that none of you think that how much you spend on your child's party reflects how good of a mother you are. All of you are fantastic mothers. Money has no reflection on that, in the slightest bit. It is very tough for me to wrap my head around how much I've spent, when I'm the type of person that has trouble spending 25-30 on a shirt for myself. This was, in no shape or form, a place where I wanted to brag. I just wanted to talk with ladies who may have done the same thing. The party got away from me. I should have had a running doc with the prices as I purchased. But, I didn't. I learned what NOT to do next time. We are going to enjoy this party, and celebrate this huge, and fantastic milestone with our sweet daughter! I hope all of you truly have a blast with all of your parties!! :-)

karleegirl · February 2013

NatesLady1309:
Woah Nelly! It was just a disclaimer in case anyone happened to think that spending very little = "bad mom." I wasn't calling anyone out and sorry if it appeared that way. I have just felt like I am part of a minority that isn't spending multihundred dollars on first
birthday related stuff. And I find that
when I am in the minority, I am often
judged.nbsp;

I can see your point.

mac&chip1 · February 2013

If someone likes entertaining/throwing parties ? I think they are more likely to go all out, because it's something they enjoy doing. Everyone has different priorities and there is nothing wrong with that.

I think I spent $350ish for a party with 35 adults and 7 kids. It would have been $75 more, but FIL did a grocery store run for me and refused to let me pay him back.

Since I'm a graphic designer, I do all the paper projects on my own, so I saved a lot of money. I also have a Silhouette, which helped out greatly.

I decided to hire out for all my desserts, and I'm happy I did. I don't enjoy baking, but I love to decorate for parties. So I decided to focus on what I liked and be able to do it at a leisurely pace without stressing out, and hire out what I knew I didn't have time for.

While I'm sad we didn't get a photographer, it wasn't in the budget. I took the photos myself, but I think I got a lot of good ones.

pennyandandy · February 2013

We spent about $200 total. The food was about $150, so that was the big expense. I DIY'd almost all of the decorations, and my sister made (and paid for) the cupcakes.

bikitybinx · February 2013

No big party here. All our family is hundreds of miles away, and we recently moved here so we don't have a lot of friends nearby. My party plans: Bake some cupcakes - DH wants them to be funfetti - and watch her go to town on one of them.

My brother and his family are planning to come visit this month over their winter break, so we may do the celebration the weekend they are here. I have been putting together a list of gifts I want for her - my amazon cart is almost $200, but I have to weed out some of that They are mainly educational toys (I always feel like I'm not challenging her enough, so I wanted to get her educational toys and toys that will help her with her motor skills).

So, I guess you total up the ingredients for the cupcakes ( I will be making from scratch) and the gifts I'll probably be spending about $200.

poobear2015 · February 2013

I probably am spending about $50-60 when it's all said and done. While Nateslady pulled hers from the pantry - I pulled mine from the supply closet. I made 95% of the decorations myself with construction paper - including the invites, any of my teaching supplies, etc. (I bought balloons that I'm coloring black dots on with a sharpie and some streamers - all dollar store). I'm using coupons for the food too - and we're keeping it simple. It also helps that we cut our guest list down to 25.

Anyone else feel like they went a bit overboard with the first bday party?

Re: Anyone else feel like they went a bit overboard with the first bday party?

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