How much to spend on baby’s first birthday?
Sam is nearing his nine month mark and Jeanine is already thinking about his first birthday party. Based on this, I can tell she’s going to be the better mommy when it comes to holidays and milestones like the first day of kindergarten or losing a tooth. Fairy, I’m not.
If it were up to me, we’d be doing it on the cheap and without much fuss’¦ after all, he’s not going to remember any of it, so as long as we have a couple of key photographs, he won’t look back and say we were being chinchy.
Let’s be honest, the first birthday party is more for the parents. So what’s the right amount to spend? Babycenter reports and suggests:
According to our poll of more than 5,000 parents, the amount spent on a baby’s first birthday party is all over the map, from less than $50 to more than $500. A majority ‘” 61 percent ‘” of parents spent $200 or less, 25 percent spent between $200 and $500, and 11 percent dished out more than $500.
The amount you spend is up to you, and depends on what kind of party you want to have for your child. Keep in mind that food is the main thing that drives costs up, followed by decorations and the cake. Don’t feel pressured to spend more than you can afford ‘” small is beautiful at this age!
That’s right small is beautiful. Less is more. Here are ten ways to save money when throwing that first birthday party which includes: staying close to home, shaving your guest list and sticking to simple foods. I remember when Jennifer wrote about her plans for Baby N’s first birthday and she did it for fewer than 300 bucks. I also love how she handled the gift question:
Family members will probably consult my mother, who knows N’s size and our values all too well! I also told her that if anyone asks, N has her own bank account, so checks can be made out to her. I hope that’s not too tacky, but we’d rather put money in her college fund than get another too-small overpriced baby product. And hey, they asked!
Well spoken. I’d rather put money in his college fund than get more stuff. I’m still amazed at how much a little baby can accumulate in less than a year.
Anyway, I’d love to hear the parents weigh in on this one. What’s the right amount to spend and how did you stick to the budget? Comments welcomed below.
Photo credit: stock.xchng.
I don’t think there’s any “right” amount for all parents. My personal preference, like yours, Nina, is to stay cheap for the early birthdays and load up the college fund. People with large families or groups of close friends who have been supportive through the days of family creation and early parenthood, however, might feel obliged to invite more people. I don’t think the party has to be overly fancy, even in that case, but to each their own. (And to each their own socioeconomic status.)
The only categorical advice I’d give is to keep the child’s needs in mind. Schedule the party when the child is most likely to be awake and not yearning for a nap. Similarly, don’t make the party too long–or at least make provision for the guest of honor to nap while the adults continue to party. “It’s my party and I’ll cry if I want to” still holds true–but that doesn’t make it fun.
For close relatives who insist on buying presents, despite one’s objection that one already has enough toys from the baby shower to last another couple of years, you might suggest they get you a membership to a local children’s museum, zoo, or aquarium. It cuts down on the “stuff” around the house, and promises good memories for a whole year.
We’ve never spent a lot on the kids’s birthday parties. The kids kind of don’t care what they get as long as it’s a party. A one-year old won’t even realize what a party is or why there are people around. S/he might like cake and might like new toys but mostly won’t care about any of it.
We’ve always concentrated on the guest list (biggest for first birthday party). For the first party we invited friends, family, other babies, and all our friends with older kids too. Once the kids get old enough to care a little more, we started to pare it down to just families with kids the birthday child’s age.
We usually have some theme and go with colorful but not extravagant decorations and some activity for the kids to do like paint a thing or make a frame or something. Some will do it, some won’t. We also always always always make the child a personal and personalized cake that shows an interest of theirs. Once our kids are 2 or more, they get to pick the cake theme. Another cool thing is to think about either a cake that has parts that can come off so kids can say they want the turrett or nose or making a cake and also cupcakes for all the kids.
We usually plan the party not at a meal time but we provide enough food that people can feel comfortable staying for a few hours even if our kids or theirs go into the nap during the party. And we try to make the food healthy, organic, and varied.
Re: gifts. No one has ever given us money for any college savings fund and I can’t imagine that they would. That said, people are awesome about finding gifts that totally fit our kids whether books about puppies because it’s a puppy party or whatever.
For my daughter’s first and second birthday we went small, the 1st we had a small party at our house with a few family members, hamburgers, hotdogs, and a cake my mom made. We asked for books, simple non-electronic toys (blocks, balls, etc.). For her second, I baked cupcakes, we went to Peter Piper with just us and went home and ate cupcakes. She got a couple of Dvds and a Big Wheel. She couldn’t be happier and she actually loves the Big Wheel better than the DVDs. The kids don’t care at this age and we want to do something low stress.
Yes, definitely go frugal on the first few birthdays. They don’t need anything, want anything, and you will have PLENTY of future birthdays where you spend tons! Load up the college fund. My “baby” is a senior in high school this year – it went FAST – and I am happy that I had the early years of savings bonds for gifts from everyone, we racked up around 3K for college from Christmas, bdays, Christening, etc. And do either of us remember anything else he received during his 1st 2 years? Not at all. Have fun, enjoy these days – as I said they go FAST!!
Our early year parties are all pretty frugal. We generally stick to having family (grandparents) over, ordering pizza and having cake and ice cream. We may or may not have kiddie plates and cups involved. We haven’t stressed over wanting to have college fund money as gifts- allowing grandparents to indulge the kidlets a little.
The first “friend” party our kids have is the birthday after they have started kindergartnen. Younger than that, too many behavioural issues come into play. And that first party- we only have a few friends over, not the whole class.
Once kids are a little older, we offer the 3 choices. Big birthday party w/ a small present, medium party w/ medium present, or just grandparents party w/ a big present. This year, both of my older kids picked the big present option. We have been open to other options too- one year, eldest daughter wanted to go American Girl Place in NYC- a $90 each bus trip for her & I plus some money for dinner was what she got. Grandparents gave cash to spend, and my daughter had saved all her Christmas money too. My eldest son’s “trip” birthday was to have my partner drive him and his buddies plus their moms to an amusement park we frequent and pay for all day passes. Pizza was bought at the park and she brought in a cake.
But I certainly agree that the first few years are easiest with smaller parties- not just for saving money, but the birthday kid can’t necessarily handle much more.
Dana: I love the idea about suggesting a membership if someone asks what they can give him.
Debra: Thanks for the ideas… and re: the college fund – it will be interesting to see if anyone offers to add to it instead of giving a gift. Jeanine has a large extended family and I’ve noticed the cards with cash – especially from older relatives – at parties for all the young cousins.
Liz: I hear ya… I’m all about low stress these days. We just had a summer party for thirty of our neighbors and we have the tendency to go a bit overboard on the entertaining. We spent the entire weekend getting ready for a Sunday afternoon party that lasted 3 hours.
KellyB: Ah, fast, yes! I’m amazed at how quickly this first year went by.
DivaJean: I like your “3 choices” method when the kids get older. That’s a really great approach.