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Limo rental for young kids' birthdays?

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  • Limo rental for young kids' birthdays?

    Is this really a thing? I'm out of touch since my daughter is 22.

    A woman at work today was saying that her son's birthday is coming up and he wants to have a limo for whatever they're doing that day. He is turning 9!

    I didn't say anything but another woman said, "Yeah, we did that for my son's 8th birthday." They went to Dave and Buster's and a couple of other places - BY LIMO, FOR AN 8-YEAR-OLD.

    These are not wealthy people. A short time later they were talking about their credit card bills and car loans.

    Have you heard of this? Is renting a limo for a young kid's birthday some new craze?
    Steve

    * Despite the high cost of living, it remains very popular.
    * Why should I pay for my daughter's education when she already knows everything?
    * There are no shortcuts to anywhere worth going.

  • #2
    I've never heard of that, but it doesn't surprise me.
    I mean, why wouldn't the average person engage in activities that they can't afford?

    Those people will be on this forum some day looking for advise on paying off their credit card debt......
    Brian

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    • #3
      Why not add the money used to go "all out" for an 8-year-old's party to a college fund or savings account instead? This just seems like a waste of money... To me, a limo or even a "van" would be necessary for, say, a 21st birthday (where drinking would be involved).

      Maybe the limo is so that the parents can get boozy at D&B?

      Comment


      • #4
        Originally posted by amastewa93 View Post
        Maybe the limo is so that the parents can get boozy at D&B?
        Except it isn't the parents pushing for it. It's the kid asking for it. Surely he didn't think of it all by himself. He must have friends who have done it and given him the idea.
        Steve

        * Despite the high cost of living, it remains very popular.
        * Why should I pay for my daughter's education when she already knows everything?
        * There are no shortcuts to anywhere worth going.

        Comment


        • #5
          Ive never heard of it for an 8 or 9 year old. Kids did it for their prom in high school...but that was 16+ year olds.

          It must be one of those hip things people do for their kids now so they can brag to their friends at starbucks.

          Comment


          • #6
            Originally posted by rennigade View Post
            Ive never heard of it for an 8 or 9 year old. Kids did it for their prom in high school...but that was 16+ year olds.
            Definitely for prom. I didn't do it personally but I had friends who did and that was 35 years ago.

            I didn't have money for that. I borrowed my brother's Trans Am instead so we could show up in style.
            Steve

            * Despite the high cost of living, it remains very popular.
            * Why should I pay for my daughter's education when she already knows everything?
            * There are no shortcuts to anywhere worth going.

            Comment


            • #7
              I'm hopelessly out of date with ways people spend money they have not yet earned, to impress people they don't know or don't like, who don't care a twit! Why would parents bend to the will of an 8 y/o?
              Last edited by snafu; 10-30-2017, 08:40 AM.

              Comment


              • #8
                Originally posted by snafu View Post
                I'm hopelessly out of date with ways people spend money they have not yet earned, to impress people they don't know or don't like, who don't care a twit! Why would parents bend to the will of an 8 y/o?
                I think some of the "reality" shows aggravate this. I know there's some inane show about sweet 16 parties where people go outrageously over the top. People - kids and adults - see those things and decide that's what they want for their parties.

                Just thinking practically (not that this is a practical matter) but if you do decide to rent a limo for your kid's 8th birthday, what do you do to match or top that for his 9th or 10th or 12th?
                Steve

                * Despite the high cost of living, it remains very popular.
                * Why should I pay for my daughter's education when she already knows everything?
                * There are no shortcuts to anywhere worth going.

                Comment


                • #9
                  Originally posted by disneysteve View Post
                  Except it isn't the parents pushing for it. It's the kid asking for it. Surely he didn't think of it all by himself. He must have friends who have done it and given him the idea.
                  Sure, why wouldn't the kids push for it? (I pushed for a lot of stuff when I was young. It's probably unnatural for a child not to push for stuff.)

                  But my grandparents said, "No" and I stopped asking for unreasonable stuff. That's what people have forgotten how to do in the past 30 years. Apparently it's supposed to "damage" the children.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Originally posted by Nutria View Post
                    Sure, why wouldn't the kids push for it? (I pushed for a lot of stuff when I was young. It's probably unnatural for a child not to push for stuff.)

                    But my grandparents said, "No" and I stopped asking for unreasonable stuff. That's what people have forgotten how to do in the past 30 years. Apparently it's supposed to "damage" the children.
                    Oh, I agree 100%. I was just making the point that it isn't the parents suggesting this so they can drink. It's the kid suggesting it and they had to get the idea somewhere. They didn't just wake up one day and decide they wanted a limo to go to Chuck E. Cheese.
                    Steve

                    * Despite the high cost of living, it remains very popular.
                    * Why should I pay for my daughter's education when she already knows everything?
                    * There are no shortcuts to anywhere worth going.

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Originally posted by disneysteve View Post
                      Oh, I agree 100%. I was just making the point that it isn't the parents suggesting this so they can drink. It's the kid suggesting it and they had to get the idea somewhere. They didn't just wake up one day and decide they wanted a limo to go to Chuck E. Cheese.
                      I'm sure they've seen adults on TV getting chauffeured around, and one kid had the bright idea, and it spread. Just like every other trend.

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Are you (they) talking a full-size stretch limousine, or a more common chauffeured town car? A full limo (especially for a young kid who may not even remember it as an adult) would be excessive pretty much anytime... But then, that's sort of the idea, isn't it? Limousines are all about one-off, special occasions that are entirely meant to be excessively posh (like a wedding). I could maybe see doing it for a special, exceptional experience for an older teenager to get all starry-eyed about with his/her friends....once.

                        I've ridden in a limo twice -- once for a high school prom (splitting the cost a dozen ways), and once when my brother got his "wish" to meet Steve Young and the Make-A-Wish foundation flew us to San Fransisco & drove us around in a limo to the game & such. I'll admit that it was fun and kind of exciting. So I guess realistically, I can see where they're coming from to do something like that for their kids... But it's completely unreasonable, and almost certainly not a great idea. But hey....their money, their life....I'll just sit here filling up my retirement accounts and DK's 529's....

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          They don’t do limos here but hotel rooms are big for sleepovers at my 8 year olds private school. Apparently it is a good deal to get a weekend rate at a business hotel. Kids can swim in the pool, crash on the floor, parents stay in an adjoining room. There is a cleaning service as well.

                          We haven’t done it, but I guess if you are going to spend a lot on a party it is a way to go?

                          I think they invite about 8 kids to keep it within ok numbers?

                          Limo seems like much, but I had a wealthy relative once rent a limo and drive me and my cousins around NYC when I was about 9(their idea) and it is a memory I have had for life.

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                          • #14
                            Originally posted by Mjenn View Post
                            They don’t do limos here but hotel rooms are big for sleepovers at my 8 year olds private school. Apparently it is a good deal to get a weekend rate at a business hotel. Kids can swim in the pool, crash on the floor, parents stay in an adjoining room. There is a cleaning service as well.

                            We haven’t done it, but I guess if you are going to spend a lot on a party it is a way to go?

                            I think they invite about 8 kids to keep it within ok numbers?
                            That's actually a clever idea...

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              I hired a limo to drive me home from the hospital when I delivered our daughter. People acted like no one has ever taken a limo from the hospital before!

                              I can see the appeal, at least around here. Limo rental really isn't that expensive, except during prom and wedding season. Any type of place that is similar to Dave and Buster's is between 30 mins to an hr around here, and there aren't a lot of other good places to have a party. A lot of parents would ask if I could drive their kids. I have a problem with kids coming late, or RSVP'ing and not showing up. If I said you must be here at 1pm or you can't ride in the limo, I'm willing to bet every kid would show up on time.

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