How much do you spend on your kids' bday parties?

shouldbworkin

Between food, entertainment, favors, etc.?  Even when I try to be budget conscious, I feel like it's $$$.  DD's party is this Sun and I think I'm over $300 now and the party is at home and from 2 to 4, so no meal. 

joseysbride

We just had my dd's party a couple weeks ago.  We spent around $250 and a little over half of that was food (we had two parties in one day, so two meals).  We had it at our house, so there was no expense for venue.  I made most of the decorations myself.  Made all the food and cake myself, which definitely saved us money.  For favors, I got a couple packs of little card games, and some punching balloons, all of which were pretty inexpensive and then the rest of the favor was the candy from the pinata.  It all went into one bag.

grja

I'm no help - we just spend over $1k on a party (we did a combined party). Between food, decorations, bouncy house, face painter, and goody bags it really added up.

But we got two for the price of 1. And we also had over 100 adults and 35 kids (our families are HUGE).

peekaboo716

We try to limit our spending on parties too. I think we spent about $200 on DS's party this year. We went with cupcakes, ice cream and cake, and didn't do a proper meal (just heavy apps) since the party did not span a meal time. I don't like goodie bags, so I just went with one toy for each child at about $5/each. DS wrapped each one with paper he decorated, and was so proud to hand out their presents.

I think this is the last year I will be able to get by so inexpensively. DS has been going to some friend parties and they are more elaborate. So far, we have "family"parties - we are far from family, but we have friends that are our local family.

ppants

Around $250 for my twins' party.  So far, we've kept the number of kids pretty low considering.  I'm dreading when we have to have both of their classes for a party. 

hopefulmom

Total...about $300.  We don't do one every year though.  Once they got older and we spent a night at a hotel (with pool, etc) it was more.  I'm sure the younger ones will want the same.

tmp-726880625006534

I just had DD's on Saturday and we probably spent around $250.  It was at home, we ordered the main food (beef sandwhiches and chicken) and cake and then I made the sides and appetizers.  Decorations are minimum - ballons and colored table clothes.  We bought a big pack of plastic silverware and divided plates at Sam's and it has lasted us 3 parties.  I bought favors a few months back when I saw some on clearance.  We watched for pop, juice and bottled water to go on sale and stocked up.  I had no entertainment but some yard stuff (and it rained) the kids just played with the toys inside. 

xbrooklyngrl

We spent a ton this year. We had a lot of people and I don't know how it got so expensive but whatever, my baby is worth it, she had a blast.

shouldbworkin

xbrooklyngrl:

We spent a ton this year. We had a lot of people and I don't know how it got so expensive but whatever, my baby is worth it, she had a blast.

DD better have a blast!  We're having the gymnastics teacher from school come to teach a class.  Knowing her, she'll sit on my lap the whole time. 

Angela814

We spent a lot more than I realized we were going to - probably about $600.

$250 + tax for a bouncy house with slide - it was a huge hit.

$100 in party favors - $5 each for 20 kids

$250 in food and drinks - brats, hot dogs, fruit, veggie tray, chips, cake, ice cream, Koolaid, soda, water, beer (We still have a ton of fruit left, another gallon of ice cream, a case of soda, some bottles of water, and at least a case of beer.)

$50 in decorations - plastic plates, forks, spoons, napkins, balloons, Happy Birthday banner

Here we thought it was going to be less $$ than having it at the bouncy house place. At least it was more relaxed with better food!