Nothing is cheap! re: bday party

[illgetthere]

Is (s)he set on a pool party? Do you have a city pool that can be rented?
Our city park and rec has an indoor and outdoor pool. We were able to rent the outdoor after close for 2 hours for $70 including a lifeguard.
Also check on walk-in parties. We do a very popular party place during walk in hours for s2 and just pay $7 per kid (we limit parties to 5 kids for now) plus $25 deposit to reserve a few tables.

Edit: s1 (that had the pool party) now just does a cousins sleep over at grandma's house. They have a great time, and we use the party money for an "experience" instead

[jinkies]

I forget how old X is? My kid turns 7 in a few weeks and I am having him pick 2-3 friends and doing something special (movies, or bowling, or rock climbing or something) because I can not deal with a party. Maybe that's an option?

A friend recently posted pictures of her kid at a go-kart bday party. It looks awesome, so I investigated having a party there for my son because he would LOVE that.

Parties are $45 per person. On weekdays. $65 *PER KID* if you want to do it Fri-Sun.

Just commiserating over here.

[Deleted]

I know, it is so freaking expensive. Sorry, it sucks.

We ended up combining the kids parties (their birthdays are only a few weeks apart) and limited it to 25 kids. But damn, it all adds up.

[alzi]

I'll meet you at the zoo and bring a present!

[jillybean222]

Yep, I host 3 birthday parties a year and they never get any cheaper. Princess party takes the cake(!) so far...that party cost me so much I stopped counting after $500.

[rosiebear]

Can you rent a park shelter for the day? Home made cake and snacks, juice pouches, some lawn games?

ETA: Jinx, aliciar!

[Deleted]

www.airheadsusa.com/birthdays/
$400, but includes pizza and drinks.

ETA:  Nevermind.  Lucky Monkey is probably the cheaper option of such activities.

[themysteriouswife]

Why can't you explain it isn't in the cards? Just be firm. and tell him pick a few friends to go to the park. Have a cake and picnic.

[rosiebear]

Mar 30, 2015 12:12:37 GMT -5 @smace said:

Mar 30, 2015 12:11:48 GMT -5 rosiebear said:

Can you rent a park shelter for the day? Home made cake and snacks, juice pouches, some lawn games?

Jinx, aliciar!

Summer time in Florida. newp. lol. 

Oh poop.  Hmm.  Are there any kind of recreation or community centers that might rent out an air conditioned room? 
I take it a backyard, with a couple of sprinklers running, is out of the question? 

[jinkies]

Maybe look into fire stations? Our local fire station will let you use the station for a donation. They let the kids climb in/on the trucks for an hour, then do a brief demonstration (showing how a fire fighter suits up and explaining that kids shouldn't be afraid of firefighters in a fire). Then cake and done.

[illgetthere]

My son has a summer birthday also. Class parties never really worked out for him since invites went over a month before his birthday, and he didn't see the kids between then. We had very few actually show up. After not seeing the kids all summer, he will probably be over the class party.

[speckledfrog]

Can you rent a room at a rec center?

[readyin07]

You sound like me...every freaking birthday! I have a September kid myself in south Florida.

Here is what I have found is pretty cheap...bowling, skating, movies, fire station if you have one that does such a thing (we do not). Groupon. Ds2 is going to be 4 and just starting school and I want him to have a big party so we can meet some friends so I just found a groupon at our children's museum. For reference that was $100 for 15 kids no food included and that is the groupon price

Build a bear wasn't that bad if I remember but that wasn't a huge group.

What about other county facilities? In the county north of me they have a Rec center that does parties. They have a few indoor inflatables and set up a few craft stations. Splash pad?

We also have a few small nature facilities that are also pretty affordable but you don't "get" much. Entrance to the facility and maybe a small craft. Not staffed.

A mall or a restaurant that has an indoor play area. Heck even Chic Fil A.

Chuck e cheese is pretty inexpensive even with a package.

[themysteriouswife]

Mar 30, 2015 12:18:49 GMT -5 @smace said:

Mar 30, 2015 12:13:04 GMT -5 themysteriouswife said:

Why can't you explain it isn't in the cards? Just be firm. and tell him pick a few friends to go to the park. Have a cake and picnic.

 cuz, I don't want to. of course i'm going to try and (a) find a cheaper option if possible and (b) not bankrupt myself over it. But, my kid wants something and I'll try to do it to the best of my ability. He hears no a lot. so it's not foreign to him, but at this point I don't HAVE to say no---yet. 
 

Gotcha.

DD has an Aug. birthday too. Between back to school shopping and a party money gets tight quick. In my experience beginning of the school parties do not have a lot of people show. Is your house completely out?

[themysteriouswife]

Mar 30, 2015 12:41:16 GMT -5 readyin07 said:

You sound like me...every freaking birthday! I have a September kid myself in south Florida.

Here is what I have found is pretty cheap...bowling, skating, movies, fire station if you have one that does such a thing (we do not). Groupon. Ds2 is going to be 4 and just starting school and I want him to have a big party so we can meet some friends so I just found a groupon at our children's museum. For reference that was $100 for 15 kids no food included and that is the groupon price

Build a bear wasn't that bad if I remember but that wasn't a huge group.

What about other county facilities? In the county north of me they have a Rec center that does parties. They have a few indoor inflatables and set up a few craft stations. Splash pad?

We also have a few small nature facilities that are also pretty affordable but you don't "get" much. Entrance to the facility and maybe a small craft. Not staffed.

A mall or a restaurant that has an indoor play area. Heck even Chic Fil A.

Chuck e cheese is pretty inexpensive even with a package.

Groupon is an excellent option. I see deals all the time for paint your own pottery places and indoor bounce places.

[lilles]

Does he like animals? We Just went to a bday party at por local SPCA and all the kids seemed to love it.

[themysteriouswife]

Forget feeding them. Have the party at 2. Serve cake and ice cream. Goody bags are overrated so skip those.

[bittybomb]

Mar 30, 2015 12:08:18 GMT -5 @smace said:

Mar 30, 2015 11:50:42 GMT -5 @licia said:

Maybe have him ask 1 or 2 friends and you can go to the movies/have a movie in or take them all out for lunch? That's outrageous. I am clenching on your behalf, lol.

he really, really, really, really, wants a class party. 

Is he into crafts at all?  My cousin had her daughter's birthday party (turning 6) at Michael's and from what she says, it was quite reasonable.  And really cute too!

My son turns 7 this year and is also dying for a class party (well boys only).  Thankfully his birthday is in summer so I have some time to come up with something.

[Deleted]

Under $200
www.farrisandfosters.com/party-details

[readyin07]

Mar 30, 2015 13:31:42 GMT -5 @bigtowlittletoe said:

Under $200
www.farrisandfosters.com/party-details

That looks cool! I also forgot some kikwins do parties if you have one of those around and my neighbor just did a party at our local froyo place. Idk how much but it couldn't have been that much. There is a pizza place here called Stevi Bs that is just a pizza restaurant with a small game room that does parties pretty cheap.

But honestly the $300 for the place you mentioned is not "bad." Pay the deposit now, the rest in August and it will feel like less lol. I get not wanting to disappoint him, but you do have to set the expectation that it might not be every year too ds1 was used to bigger parties, he had a big class party in Prek that set us back $750...groan. I posted here back in January bc he wanted another big party,  but we just couldn't make it happen. His K class has 17 kids, I knew hardly any of the parents, he only has three buddies...I just couldn't spend a fortune reserving a place when I had no clue who would come. I ended up telling him he could invite his three buddies to a restaurant with a few bounce houses and games. They had a great time...we still dropped like $200

[Deleted]

What about starting a rule of one guest per year you are old? So this year he gets 5 friends and he can take treats to school.

[pantsparty]

Roller skating rink?

Ice skating rink?

Mini golf?

Lazer tag?

Why not a movie? Movie and go home for cake/presents?

...McDonald's?

[pantsparty]

IDK, my parents told me the party I was getting every year: cake and my local relatives coming over. Don't give your kid choices! LOL.

[Deleted]

What about a big blow up water slide thing? They generally aren't over $200.

[xtine22]

Not sure what part of florida you are but could you find a kid friendy restaurant (I'm thinking Beef O Brady or that type that had a party room so you would be out of the way. Give the kids a couple bucks for games you could probably do a couple games in the room maybe. I know DHs old beefs had a party room and they didn't charge a room rental. If you could find something like that, and depending on the restaurant they might work out a good price for food.

[Deleted]

Mar 30, 2015 16:59:07 GMT -5 @smace said:

Mar 30, 2015 16:21:56 GMT -5 @libellula said:

What about a big blow up water slide thing? They generally aren't over $200.

I can't host at my house, too small. Ive tried and it sucked ass. Plus, once food is added I'm at 300 again

Dollar store sprinkler snd slip n slides?!?

[karinothing]

Does 300 include food? That doesn't seem like too much, even without food honestly. I feel like i easily get to 300 at home with pizza, fruit and drinks. But i can understand it is still expensive. Since it is Florida can you do a evening party on the beach? Not sure what part of FL you live in

[lilafowler]

I'm having birthday anxiety as well-except E's bday is only 2.5 months away!
I feel for you.

[redheadk]

Do you have a CiCi's Pizza near you? I did a thing one summer with some kids where they got to go at like 10:00 and they got to tour the kitchen then everyone made their own mini pizza in the kitchen on the assembly line. They ate their pizzas at about 11:00 when the restaurant opened at some reserved tables. It was really cheap, under $10 per kid and that includes the activity AND lunch (drink was included)! Serve cake and sing happy birthday, done!

ETA: It was probably closer to $5 or $6 per kid.

[speckledfrog]

Have you thought about having it at home? Or just telling him no? Have you? HAVE YOU?