Am I being cheap?

[cschin4]

I can't believe schools think they can dictate what goes on in our lives outside of school. I can see not passing out invites at school, but at the same time kids need to learn about coping with rejection.

I agree completely. The idea is to teach your children how to invite other kids is a discreet manner so as not to hurt others' feelings. But, kids also need to learn that they are also not going to be invited to everything and that's life. However, expecting someone to host a party and invite 20-30 kids is ridiculous. I am inviting the entire K class for my daughter this year. But, I am doing it because I think she will enjoy it and we are having it at the YMCA so additional children really won't cause any problems. After that, I will probably have smaller parties.

[nelson84]

It only happens once a year, I think you are being cheap. Do to others what you would expect from them. When you are old they will probably not go out of their way to visit you, so be prepared.

[cicy33]

[QUOTE=FrugalFish;138239]We have a lot of problems around this area with schools having a policy that a child can't have a birthday party unless they invite everyone in the class- I can't believe schools think they can dictate what goes on in our lives outside of school. QUOTE]

Schools cannot dictate your personal lives. They can state and they do here: You cannot give out invitations at school unless it is for the whole class and I agree with that! For one thing, kids can be very cruel. and little Bobby might tell Jimmy that he is not invited since he wasn't handed an invite whereas if it is received at home Bobby won't know who got one. But there is no way a school can say you cannot have a private party and invite anymore you want. Just mail the invites to the families you want to invite.

When the kids were smaller we did the family thing for birthdays. Now that they are older I have started asking them what they would like to do. The ones I did last year was rent the local pool for two hours $50. Ordered Pizza hut Pizza 10@$5 = $50. a couple of cases of cheap soda and juices, paper plates (which nobody used!) and napkins $20.00. the pool allowed us to invite up to 100 people. scary enough the family takes up approximately 40 and that is immediate! We invited the whole family and my daughter was allowed to invite only 5 friends. Her brothers were allowed to invite each 2 friends.
Pool and supply Cost: $120.00
No kids to deal with at my house, tramping in dirt and driving me nuts: Priceless!

I am the same as the other poster I don't want to deal with a houseful of kids. We have also done Chuckie Cheese, Bowling alley (we actually had the child invite a couple of friends and we just took them bowling, we did not rent the alley) and the skating rink. If you budget properly you can do it tastefully. Some of my daughters friends go to a place called Extreme Sports. It is a place where they jump and tumble and stuff like that. It is too pricey for me. So I can't allow that. I want to do things that I can afford and the family can still attend if they wish. The skating rink we split last year with my sister in law and the whole family attended. Safer skating too!

[leggzz66]

I dont see the problem with how much one spends on a party. Money doesnt equal love. I buy supplies at the dollar tree, plates, napkins, cups, decorations, a balloon for each year of life, all different, silverware, etc. same stuff as wm, only less then half the price, doesnt mean i love less. same plates at walmart, exact same, are 2.38 plus tax, they are 1.00 at dollar tree, only difference is the cost. To me being frugal on that note, is a good thing, saves more money for gifts and what your gonna do that day, pool party, horsebackriding, bowling, etc.

[Rick01]

I totally agree that there's no need to spend a bunch of money on a 2 year old. We have three kids and only on the third has my wife started to see it my way. Before, she just go crazy (in my opinion).

[leggzz66]

oh also for my dd's bday, one of her 13 balloons, was a butterfly shaped bfly balloon, that walmart was selling for 5.49, some of that stuff is just rediculous. i got same balloon, for what? 1.00 of course. I was referring to the kind that shine like tin foil, not just regular balloons. they wont air those up at our dollar tree, i dunno why, they do in michigan, i guess its a store by store deal. I also got at the dollar tree, and hand balloon blower, cause all those balloons for everyone, just hurts my cheeks anymore.lol.

Last year all the dks parties were at home, we had a 5 ft rises as you fill it pool, same price id of paid renting a pool, it was at home, i didnt have to go anywhere, plus a moonbounce, my mom bought my kids a few years back at Christmas when they first came out to the public instead of just retailers/rentals, and bought a 10 dollar spongebob slip n slide, used for all 3 parties. My expense, 175, for 3 parties as far as things to do, we also had a putter set up, that dh made hisself and his big gift was one of those bball hoops that you can move around, with the heavy bottom, from walmart, not the fisher price kind, so kids into darkness had a fun day at his party. My daughters unfortunatly got cut short by tornados. and weve had that pool 2 summers now, and everyday use as well thru swimming season has been awesome. When my mom comes down from mi. she gets a room at drurys which has an indoor pool, so one of those 2 bdays for dd was at drurys which she enjoyed and we ordered pizza hut as well. she remembers those well and have loads of pix. We also have a trampoline which the kids love and it being outside is just another item to add to the i can do this list for thier bdays, just put the party papers up and the tablecloth and stuff from dollar tree, food and cake which i always do order at walmart. A theme cake, yes im guilty of that.lol, my daughter saw they made ones with cupcakes now, one looked like a butterfly, i got 2 for her bday, they use 24 cupcakes for it at 26.95, one for her class and one for her party. she wont get one for school this year though, as she has 7 different classrooms a day now.lol.