Home › Forums › Other › What is the appropriate amount to spend for a kid’s birthday present (not your kid)?
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March 15, 2010 at 4:39 PM #527065March 16, 2010 at 12:08 AM #526282sdduuuudeParticipant
[quote=UCGal]On a semi-hijack… when did it become requisite to have elaborate parties at places like Pump it Up, that Laser tag place, etc? What happened to back yard parties?[/quote]
I’m sort-of with FLU on this one, too. In the last three years, we have done all 3:
1) Big party at home.
2) Skip the party and go to Legoland w/ 1 friend.
3) Pump It Up.The big party at home cost about $150 less than Pump It up after decorations, games, prizes, food for adults and kids. And we had to plan activities, decorate, set-up, and clean. For $150 more, Pump It Up is a no-brainer. It just makes for an easier day for everyone. I’m all for easy days.
We all liked legoland, but I think the kids and I all feel that birthdays should have parties.
Our kids choose their friends well, it seems. Having good kids there makes parties fun.
When I was a kid, we used to go to a place like Bulwinkles, and Ferrel’s Ice cream. That can’t be cheap. Parents would spend about $20/kid (5-10 kids) for games and another who-knows how much for food. Not too much different.
Oh, we also did one at the Woodward Animal Shelter when they were 3 or 4. That was money well spent, too. You felt good about spending it and everyone attending enjoyed it.
March 16, 2010 at 12:08 AM #526414sdduuuudeParticipant[quote=UCGal]On a semi-hijack… when did it become requisite to have elaborate parties at places like Pump it Up, that Laser tag place, etc? What happened to back yard parties?[/quote]
I’m sort-of with FLU on this one, too. In the last three years, we have done all 3:
1) Big party at home.
2) Skip the party and go to Legoland w/ 1 friend.
3) Pump It Up.The big party at home cost about $150 less than Pump It up after decorations, games, prizes, food for adults and kids. And we had to plan activities, decorate, set-up, and clean. For $150 more, Pump It Up is a no-brainer. It just makes for an easier day for everyone. I’m all for easy days.
We all liked legoland, but I think the kids and I all feel that birthdays should have parties.
Our kids choose their friends well, it seems. Having good kids there makes parties fun.
When I was a kid, we used to go to a place like Bulwinkles, and Ferrel’s Ice cream. That can’t be cheap. Parents would spend about $20/kid (5-10 kids) for games and another who-knows how much for food. Not too much different.
Oh, we also did one at the Woodward Animal Shelter when they were 3 or 4. That was money well spent, too. You felt good about spending it and everyone attending enjoyed it.
March 16, 2010 at 12:08 AM #526860sdduuuudeParticipant[quote=UCGal]On a semi-hijack… when did it become requisite to have elaborate parties at places like Pump it Up, that Laser tag place, etc? What happened to back yard parties?[/quote]
I’m sort-of with FLU on this one, too. In the last three years, we have done all 3:
1) Big party at home.
2) Skip the party and go to Legoland w/ 1 friend.
3) Pump It Up.The big party at home cost about $150 less than Pump It up after decorations, games, prizes, food for adults and kids. And we had to plan activities, decorate, set-up, and clean. For $150 more, Pump It Up is a no-brainer. It just makes for an easier day for everyone. I’m all for easy days.
We all liked legoland, but I think the kids and I all feel that birthdays should have parties.
Our kids choose their friends well, it seems. Having good kids there makes parties fun.
When I was a kid, we used to go to a place like Bulwinkles, and Ferrel’s Ice cream. That can’t be cheap. Parents would spend about $20/kid (5-10 kids) for games and another who-knows how much for food. Not too much different.
Oh, we also did one at the Woodward Animal Shelter when they were 3 or 4. That was money well spent, too. You felt good about spending it and everyone attending enjoyed it.
March 16, 2010 at 12:08 AM #526957sdduuuudeParticipant[quote=UCGal]On a semi-hijack… when did it become requisite to have elaborate parties at places like Pump it Up, that Laser tag place, etc? What happened to back yard parties?[/quote]
I’m sort-of with FLU on this one, too. In the last three years, we have done all 3:
1) Big party at home.
2) Skip the party and go to Legoland w/ 1 friend.
3) Pump It Up.The big party at home cost about $150 less than Pump It up after decorations, games, prizes, food for adults and kids. And we had to plan activities, decorate, set-up, and clean. For $150 more, Pump It Up is a no-brainer. It just makes for an easier day for everyone. I’m all for easy days.
We all liked legoland, but I think the kids and I all feel that birthdays should have parties.
Our kids choose their friends well, it seems. Having good kids there makes parties fun.
When I was a kid, we used to go to a place like Bulwinkles, and Ferrel’s Ice cream. That can’t be cheap. Parents would spend about $20/kid (5-10 kids) for games and another who-knows how much for food. Not too much different.
Oh, we also did one at the Woodward Animal Shelter when they were 3 or 4. That was money well spent, too. You felt good about spending it and everyone attending enjoyed it.
March 16, 2010 at 12:08 AM #527215sdduuuudeParticipant[quote=UCGal]On a semi-hijack… when did it become requisite to have elaborate parties at places like Pump it Up, that Laser tag place, etc? What happened to back yard parties?[/quote]
I’m sort-of with FLU on this one, too. In the last three years, we have done all 3:
1) Big party at home.
2) Skip the party and go to Legoland w/ 1 friend.
3) Pump It Up.The big party at home cost about $150 less than Pump It up after decorations, games, prizes, food for adults and kids. And we had to plan activities, decorate, set-up, and clean. For $150 more, Pump It Up is a no-brainer. It just makes for an easier day for everyone. I’m all for easy days.
We all liked legoland, but I think the kids and I all feel that birthdays should have parties.
Our kids choose their friends well, it seems. Having good kids there makes parties fun.
When I was a kid, we used to go to a place like Bulwinkles, and Ferrel’s Ice cream. That can’t be cheap. Parents would spend about $20/kid (5-10 kids) for games and another who-knows how much for food. Not too much different.
Oh, we also did one at the Woodward Animal Shelter when they were 3 or 4. That was money well spent, too. You felt good about spending it and everyone attending enjoyed it.
March 16, 2010 at 12:10 AM #526287justmeParticipantI liked (as usual) what Scredycat said.
I will add that children can get birthday presents from their parents. That should be enough.
The purpose of a children’s birthday gathering should be to enjoy some fun together and some tasty treats, not some endless exchange of junk that should never have been produced in the first place.
March 16, 2010 at 12:10 AM #526419justmeParticipantI liked (as usual) what Scredycat said.
I will add that children can get birthday presents from their parents. That should be enough.
The purpose of a children’s birthday gathering should be to enjoy some fun together and some tasty treats, not some endless exchange of junk that should never have been produced in the first place.
March 16, 2010 at 12:10 AM #526865justmeParticipantI liked (as usual) what Scredycat said.
I will add that children can get birthday presents from their parents. That should be enough.
The purpose of a children’s birthday gathering should be to enjoy some fun together and some tasty treats, not some endless exchange of junk that should never have been produced in the first place.
March 16, 2010 at 12:10 AM #526962justmeParticipantI liked (as usual) what Scredycat said.
I will add that children can get birthday presents from their parents. That should be enough.
The purpose of a children’s birthday gathering should be to enjoy some fun together and some tasty treats, not some endless exchange of junk that should never have been produced in the first place.
March 16, 2010 at 12:10 AM #527220justmeParticipantI liked (as usual) what Scredycat said.
I will add that children can get birthday presents from their parents. That should be enough.
The purpose of a children’s birthday gathering should be to enjoy some fun together and some tasty treats, not some endless exchange of junk that should never have been produced in the first place.
March 16, 2010 at 11:58 AM #526521UCGalParticipantDon’t get me wrong – we’ve gone to pump it up as guests, and hosted at pump it up. I fully understand the allure. My kids have December birthdays – that month is crazy enough and it’s not conducive to outdoor parties.
But to do that every year – if you have multiple kids… that gets pretty pricey pretty darn quick.
I remember parties at Farrell’s. They’d order a “zoo” for the whole party.
The balance we found is that we do “big” parties on the birthdays divisible by 5. We always have a family birthday party separate. Since my oldest is turning 10 this year I better figure out where I’m going to have it.
March 16, 2010 at 11:58 AM #526654UCGalParticipantDon’t get me wrong – we’ve gone to pump it up as guests, and hosted at pump it up. I fully understand the allure. My kids have December birthdays – that month is crazy enough and it’s not conducive to outdoor parties.
But to do that every year – if you have multiple kids… that gets pretty pricey pretty darn quick.
I remember parties at Farrell’s. They’d order a “zoo” for the whole party.
The balance we found is that we do “big” parties on the birthdays divisible by 5. We always have a family birthday party separate. Since my oldest is turning 10 this year I better figure out where I’m going to have it.
March 16, 2010 at 11:58 AM #527101UCGalParticipantDon’t get me wrong – we’ve gone to pump it up as guests, and hosted at pump it up. I fully understand the allure. My kids have December birthdays – that month is crazy enough and it’s not conducive to outdoor parties.
But to do that every year – if you have multiple kids… that gets pretty pricey pretty darn quick.
I remember parties at Farrell’s. They’d order a “zoo” for the whole party.
The balance we found is that we do “big” parties on the birthdays divisible by 5. We always have a family birthday party separate. Since my oldest is turning 10 this year I better figure out where I’m going to have it.
March 16, 2010 at 11:58 AM #527198UCGalParticipantDon’t get me wrong – we’ve gone to pump it up as guests, and hosted at pump it up. I fully understand the allure. My kids have December birthdays – that month is crazy enough and it’s not conducive to outdoor parties.
But to do that every year – if you have multiple kids… that gets pretty pricey pretty darn quick.
I remember parties at Farrell’s. They’d order a “zoo” for the whole party.
The balance we found is that we do “big” parties on the birthdays divisible by 5. We always have a family birthday party separate. Since my oldest is turning 10 this year I better figure out where I’m going to have it.
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