Okay fellow mylotters, I need your help
By patgalca
@patgalca (18212)
Orangeville, Ontario
February 28, 2009 3:22pm CST
My daughter is turning 16 in April. This is a milestone birthday and would really like to do something special for her but money is tight. In a perfect world, she would like to take a couple of her closest friends to a spa day but we know that is pretty costly and you can't ask you 'guests' to pay their own way, or can you?
We are really broke this year and have two milestone birthdays as my other daughter will be 13 in August. I'll worry about her then. When my older daughter turned 13 her best friend (with my financial assistance - paid for cake, pop, chips, etc.) had a surprise sleep over party for her at her house. But I'll worry about 13yo later.
Does anyone have any ideas as to what we can do to make Sweet Sixteen special for my daughter without costing a whole lot of money? I appreciate everyone's input.
2 people like this
10 responses
@tess1960 (2385)
• United States
1 Mar 09
Do you have a friend that is a Mary Kay consultant? How about a consultant that sells massage oils and aromatherapy items? I once attended a womans afternoon retreat and the hostess had klines up several different consultants to pamper us. I had a facial and color analysis plus a hand and foot massage woth manicure/pedicure that afternoon. We drank tea and spritzers and ate finger foods. TRhere werew 6 ladies in attendance and we had a blast. Perhaps you could call in some favors or barter with some consultants for and creat a spa type birthday party this way. Our hostess stated she was going to make a purchase anyway and even though noone was asked to buy anything the consultants were able to consider the afternoon as a show on their records and they had a ggod setting for practicing what they do. I ended up buying candles from the aromatherapy consultant at a later date as well as purchasing some gifts for others from the Mary Kay consultant. A win/win situation all the way around.
1 person likes this
@patgalca (18212)
• Orangeville, Ontario
1 Mar 09
Tess, that is another great option. I can check with my Avon rep as she has some contacts. I doubt she would do it herself but she may be able to help.
I don't have much of a basement. No room for a party that's for sure. My living/dining room has much more room and not used much (except for storage) but I don't want this party to be like something she did as a kid. I know SHE doesn't.
1 person likes this
@tess1960 (2385)
• United States
1 Mar 09
Maybe you could redecorate the living/dining room area just for this occasion and make it more spa friendly. Keep the table of course. Or maybe you could borrow a room at a local church and it could be an overnight lock-in thing. Once all of the coslutants leave the doors are locked and provide music, movies and pizza.
Another thought I had was this:
One of my daughters rented a hotel room for the night at a hotel that had an indoor swimming pool and an exercise room with jacuzzi and hot room. They rented videos and had pizza. Her sister-in-law was allowed to invite 10 guests for a certain time frame with 3 being allowed to stay the night. It worked out great and all of the girls loved it. 4 of the short term guests were boys and the hotel new ahead of time what was up and supplied plenty of towels and even surprised them with a fruit basket and ballons in the room. My duaghter and son-in-law were chaperones as well as one other parent during the pool party.
1 person likes this
@marmis (70)
• United States
1 Mar 09
Do you have a basement and a stereo? Let her decorate the basement and she could have a small dance down there with some appetizers. Or, sign up online for all the different free samples of items and do a spa thing at your home. Set up one room to do this in. Then go to the public library and rent movies (FREE) to watch at night while enjoying homemade pizza. There's plenty of ways to have a party without going broke and the kids can still have a great time. A little imagination and some input from your daughter is all you need. Good luck - I hope she has a great birthday!
@Darkwing (21583)
•
1 Mar 09
When my granddaughter reached sixteen, her Mum took her to London for the day, for a makeover. Luckily, she got the makeover two for the price of one, so a friend could go along too, with my granddaughter. They went for the makeover, then to MacDonald's for lunch... five of them, my Son, DIL, two granddaughters and the friend. They had a great day, dressing up, having a makeover and their professional photos taken.
If you can't afford that, maybe you have somebody in the neighbourhood who likes to make people up and give the makeovers. My eldest granddaughter did that for her sister and her friends once. She did their hair all in special ways, using decorative things in their hair, put glitter and all on their faces and generally gave them a party makeover. I'm not suggesting glitter would suit sixteen year-olds but you get the idea, I'm sure. Or, most kids of that age enjoy tenpin bowling. How about taking a few to the local bowling alley, and then MacDonalds, Pizza Hut or something afterwards?
Brightest Blessings.
@patgalca (18212)
• Orangeville, Ontario
1 Mar 09
I love the idea of a professional makeover. I should check around and see if there is anything like that around here and what they charge. The other ideas have been done when they were younger but I will definitely check into a makeover. Thanks!
2 people like this
@laglen (19759)
• United States
1 Mar 09
I feel your pain. My daughter is turning 15. We have 16 figured out, we are using the clubhouse where we live (free) and she will have friends (30) with music and dancing, pizza and soda. Total cost will be less than $100. Now, 15! Um no idea. We were thinking dinner theater, but they are sold out so now I am back to the drawing board! So I will keep an idea on your discussion for ideas! Good luck!
@patgalca (18212)
• Orangeville, Ontario
1 Mar 09
Oh you are so lucky. I wish I had a hall at my disposal. I had a friend whose parents had a separate building from their house that was their party room. It was country cozy and would be great for something like this. Alas, I have access to nothing like that. Thanks for your input.
1 person likes this
@forslahiri (1042)
• India
1 Mar 09
Hi,
Can U cook?Make Birthday cake for her?What about a candle-night party,arranged at Home ,with Very near ones inclding her Bf(total not exceeding 5 Guests)?Soft drink/ Tea,cakes,Pastries,some snacks.Call a 'magician'/handshadow profs(not very costly proposition) to have fun in that party.Make it memorable with Ur Love,lots of homework,excitement,surprises...can U afford- Now?
=lahiri,Kolkata,India.
1 person likes this
@BarBaraPrz (45886)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
28 Feb 09
How about a do-it-yourself spa night?
Yeah, you're right... kids would think it lame.
Well, tough!
@sassymama1974 (178)
• United States
1 Mar 09
Give her some money for her and her friends for dinner and a movie make it her night out just her and the friends and when the time comes and you have the money have a mother and daughter spa day let her skip school!!!
1 person likes this
@violeta_va (4831)
• Australia
28 Feb 09
Why dont you do something just for her. Take her to have her nails done (that in australia would be some $30 aus which is $20US or so) or get someone that can do a dicent job to do the nails for few girls I am sure someone in your family can do a dicent job of that.
1 person likes this
@patgalca (18212)
• Orangeville, Ontario
1 Mar 09
Well... my daughter doesn't have much left for finger nails because she does Taekwondo. Also, she and one of her friends took cosmetology in her last high school semester so they spent a lot of class time giving each other manicures. I'm not really sure what she has in mind.
1 person likes this
@snowcat46 (2322)
• United States
2 Mar 09
Rent a movie you think the whole crew will love, let her have the group over for a sleepover, movie, popcorn and pop night. You'll be hearing a LOT of whispering all night long, but that's half the fun for them. Or make it movies and let them have a marathon. Sometimes they choose romances, sometimes horror. Like a marathon of Friday the 13th. Gag, for me personally.
My girl chose romances. It went on ALL night. Then they slept all day. But they loved it. Go figure.
@ladyblonde (115)
• Philippines
14 Mar 09
It would be nice to talk to your daughter and explain to her that your budget is only good for this kind of celebration. Ask for a less costly alternative of celebrating her birthday. You can also find ideas here: http://www.gifti.us
