kids parties.

My kids have only had 1 actual birthday party and that was with family when they were toddlers/infants and that was it. We can't afford parties with friends ect we are just getting by like most people I know. I'd love to have a nice party with a bounce house and all that. But in my world it's not happening. Same with buying fancy $30 trays of cup cakes to bring to school. I just can't afford it.

Your children must very happy for that birthday party can bring them joyous experiences. In China, birthday party is not common. We usually have a dinner with family and friends at birthday.

Wow, I guess these kinds of shindigs makes my little Mcdonalds parties look pitiful, but I enjoyed myself! I think parties like that are a little over the top, but let people do what they do as long as they are not harming others. I hope if they can spend money on parties like this, that they have their kids college funds started too.

Obviously you're in the UK since you're using different currency, even so that sounds like a lot. I guess it just depends on what you normally do. I probably spend around $300 total on a party because we usually do them at a venue, my daughter has had a party at a tea house, at Chuck E Cheese, and at a bounce house place. Her birthday is in the middle of winter and the weather is usually kind of miserable. Our pool isn't clean and we can't really do a party outside at that time of year. She will be 9 next year so next year might be our last 'party'.... I am thinking about steering her more towards choosing a couple friends and then doing something else, like going to Disney or Medieval Times or just a special day out with two or three good friends vs doing a party with 15. It's more fun with only a couple kids and their parents. I usually do my goody bags myself and just put little fun things in them relating to the party theme, and a thank you card from my daughter. I like keepsake type things that people can remember the day with vs junk that just gets broken later.

I have 6 boys. The older three are from my first marriage and they are 23, 21 & 18. When they were growing up I was a single parent after my ex decided he wanted to forego all responsibility for the kids. I always had them a birthday party. We would normally grill out hotdogs and burgers, potato salad, cole slaw, baked beans, cake and ice cream. We would play simple games when they were smaller, pin the tail on the donkey, etc or if I came across a good deal on pinata I would buy one of those and fill it with cheaper candy. Mostly family were invited and a few friends. (Most of my family would bring something to drink or contribute plates, napkins or something of the sort as well.) Now that my younger three kids are 2, and 9 months old the same thing will apply to them. Cookouts with the trimmings and mostly family will be invited. I can't afford to go rent out skating rinks or bowling alleys for their parties. I have seen a few family members do this for their kids and I just don't know how they can afford it. I don't think you are miserable and tight, just frugal.

Moms can really be exaggerated when it comes to celebrating their kid's birthday, especially if it's a one and only child and the family is capable of giving out a huge celebration to everyone. I don't see any problem with that actually. We, mothers, want just the best for our little ones.:) It will be a problem when the family's finances can't cover for all the expenses and still, a grand celebration is planned. This might cause serious debts that will no longer be good for all. It's like trying to become a one day millionaire and striving the next day. Better to plan a simple celebration if that's all you can afford. So for me, parents should always take into consideration what is only enough for the budget when planning on birthday celebrations. This year, we can make it big since we have more than enough to celebrate junior's big day. If by next year though we find ourselves in tight finances on his next birthday, then we'd settle with a nice cake for the family or a simple dinner for the family outside. It's not too much, it's just giving what you can for them. And you won't feel sorry, because the kids will know it always just depends on your budget, not on what you want, neither on what your kids or the other people around you expects.