Is £500 Too Much to Spend on Childrens Birthday Party

We have always had traditional birthday parties at home or gone for a meal, my sister in law had one last year for my niece, cost nearly £1000 and they wonder why she's a brat.....

If you can afford it then go for it. As long as the child spends quality time with parents and friends why not. Only be extravagant if you can use your own money.

Parties are very expensive nowadays. I remember the local soft play being a huge hit and very cheap whereas now you're looking at over £200 for the cheapest package.

I don't think that's too expensive for the price of a happy memory if one has offspring and the amount of money needed. If I had a child, partner and the money then I would hope that my partner and I could discuss it and both be on the same page. Grab any chance of enjoyment you can in this life.

Depends on the age I reckon. Milestone birthdays I don't see a problem 13, 16, 18 etc assuming they can afford it. Just a regular birthday and a small house get together or a meal out seems more reasonable.

We had egg sarnies , jelly and ice cream and played pass the parcel and pin the tail on the donkey. Maybe a 6d jamboree bag for a take out.

Problem is modern day parties now are nothing like before. It's all posh and glam now, champagne and caviar and that's jusy kids parties. They're like an accessory now for some parents

This was what I was referring to that I saw in the mirror newspaper..

www.mirror.co.uk/money/500-much-spend-childrens-birthday-35182763?hx=a75e01e8fd1a30d1ad23430f0fa5903136dd0f5d576361f180cc5e329be487f7&ruid=14783998-ec0f-4e6c-a921-f1829576610a

Play centre parties are expensive and home parties wreck your house! If you have a garden that is your best bet apart from the weather!

This sort of thing used to wind me up but with age comes different perspectives. A rich person would see £500 in the same way as a poor person might see £5 or £50 and therefore it is a pro rata situation. I don't believe in kids being spoilt early on, they need to learn the value of money as it may not always be available. I suppose the up side of this is that the money is usually going to businesses and as the saying goes 'money makes the world go round'.

I think sometimes it's the parents trying to out do the other parents at kids parties. Yes the children have fun and when they are younger have no concept of a £50 or a £500 party.

That’s steep for a kid when they’ll have a birthday party every year. But if one can afford it, then I guess it’s fine. But it’ll only get more costly as they get older

I remember parties before McDonald’s and the likes. We went to each others houses and had great parties that the parents had organised. I had special long dresses that I used to wear.

Oh that's madness

I used to hire a bouncy castle and a hall. I brought my own bits from home to add like footballs for the kids to play. Was around £150. We catered ourselves. My home is too small for a party. We reused as much as we could of party stuff I.e plates cups etc.

Agree 5 hundred pounds way too much but parties do cost.

I always try and go for the cheapest options I can find

Omg you have got to be joking!! £500 for a birthday party?! That’s so ridiculous! £500 can pay for a lot of things including groceries and bills. But if they can afford it then good for them. Spoilt children and their parents.

I had a birthday party at Burger King when I was a kid lol those were good times. Don’t remember much of it now lol

I suppose it’s down to the person’s budget, it does seem a lot to me as well but it’s not coming out of my wallet.

It depends on where you are having the party and how many people you are having. My sons birthday party last year cost £250 for all of the guests, food and party bags. It will probably be the same for this year's party. I know that his other friends parties have cost the same or even more.

I can't just shove the kids out in the garden as he is a winter birthday. And haven't got the room to have 10 plus kids running my house, not comfortably anyway.

It depends on your income, I personally think it's too much but it's down to the individual. When my son was young it was normally paintballing for him & 5 mates, maximum we could get in the car, and then take away pizzas I think that was about £100 but that was a long time ago

I think its too much unless its a special birthday. My mum couldn’t afford parties etc when I was growing up but as my birthday is in August she used to borrow a few tents so me and a few friends could have a sleepover in the back garden. Pop, biscuits, sweets and a battery operated tape player. Loved it ! And the other parents appreciated a night off from their own kids I’m sure lol.

I think it's down to the parents, if they can afford to pay that much. David and Victoria Beckham spent 1 million on a party for one of their kids. Obviously they're loaded though.

It seems a lot to me, but I guess it depends on the age. My youngest nephew (4yo) just wanted a party with his family so nothing too expensive. But my eldest nephew (13yo) wanted a day out at a theme park with his mates which obviously cost more. I think big birthdays could be justified but you have to be careful that kids don't just expect it every time.