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Parenting
How much do you spend on loot bags?
Debate between DH & me on how much to spend on a kids birthday party in general, and how much to spend on loot bags. Curious what other do. We've never spent more than $50-$100 on a birthday party, including loot bags. (except when we order pizza).
Dh thinks that the whole birthday party thing has gotten out of control. I agree that we never had 'theme' parties, or location parties when we were kids and we really enjoyed the very basic birthday parties we attended.
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Re: How much do you spend on loot bags?
I try not to spend more than a couple of bucks. The most I have spent is $5 per child. So far we have done all at home parties.
I try to keep it to under $5 per bag. But I don't invite a lot of kids (most has been 6).
We do old fashioned parties too. At home, burgers and dogs, ice cream and cake. Games for the kids.
I usually do a $5 gift card to TRU or Target.
This time, for Joey's, I'm doing a Mario Kart water bottle with Mario Kart colored pencils inside the water bottle. I think I paid about $3.50 each. There are 20 of them. So I normally spend $100, not incl. the pinata. But I also usually have 4-6 gift cards left over so my next trip to Target gets some taken right off the top -- which is FUN!
I usually spend about $3 per child....and useful stuff, like crayons/markers/color pages, bubbles.....or food (cookies/pops).
DS's party was yesterday - each kid got a pack with 2 glow sticks and 2 little play dough containers. 10 kids. The glow sticks were off of woot, so $5 for a dozen sets of 2 glowsticks and $7 for the playdough.... just over $1 per kid. At this time of year, most parents are grateful that there is no candy in the bag. But we just got lucky with the glow sticks, I'd say $3/bag is more normal.
His party was in the park. We always do a theme, but it's not a big deal - mostly just the cake and evites have the theme. We had sandwiches, grapes, and cake, all homemade.
As a kid all my parties were at home, but there was always a theme. I don't see how that makes it over the top.
We have done home based theme parties. The theme thing makes it easier to plan and doesn't add to the cost, just gives direction. It is also fun for the kids to choose. I remember having theme parties when I was growing up, so it isn't a new fad.
For goodie bags we spend under $5 per kid, usually around $3. For a Tianna cooking party I made aprons, they decorated chef hats that they took home and we gave some playdough, rolling pin and cookie cutters as the favors...that one was closer to $5, but it included one of the activities. For a pirate party they collected the favors on the treasure hunt, things like necklaces, rings, spyglasses, chocolate gold coins and I sent home a pirate hat, cutlass and eyepatch and made pirate vests. I think that one was closer to $5 for everything too. We've also done ladybugs (little ladybug stuff, like stickers, pop-ups and waterbottles with graham cracker bugs), princesses (crowns, wand, bubbles, necklaces, etc.), bubbles/mermaid (giant bubble wand, some stickers and necklace), fairy (fairy wings, wand, tutu & some small stuff). All those were closer to $3. How much the party costs usually comes down to how many kids come and how much food we feed. I do use alot of coupons and look for sales too.
DD's loot bags came with her party this year. (It was $175 for 6 girls but came with everything but the cake). It was a diva dress, spa, karoake type party. It was $16 each additional girl. We had 10 girls. I had to buy the cake ($40- actually grandma did) and a gift. Another set of grandparents chipped in $100 for the party.
DS1's- 5-10 for the loot bags. They had a couple of squinkies (Cars), 1 hot wheel, candy, a blow out thing, etc...However, grandma (different one- my mom) and she's a big spender purchased some of the stuff... His party was $200 for 20 kids at a bounce house with pizza. Again we had grandparents chip in $100--not asked it's just something MH father does. I don't think I paid for much of this party....
MH usually asks how much after the party. I tell him the cost of the party itself. I do also tell him what I plan to get the kids...before hand.
We are going to do my younger DD's at home, I spent about $80 for decorations/games/loot bags.
Older DD will be a craft party at Michaels. I spent $70 on hers for loot bags/ decorations + whatever I spend on crafts at michaels
The parties I have been to in the last 6 months include 2 gymnastics parties ($250+), a pottery party ($350), a princess tea party ($450), a dance party ($150) and a swim party ($200)