Hello Ladies,
My daughter went to two birthday parties with in these two days and so I ended up spending a little over $50 on the two girls. I mentioned it to my dear friend and she almost had a heartattack! She said I spent to much and that the gift should be no more than $10 tops. My problem is...where the heck can you find something thats reasonable for that price!?! I don't like buying gifts that I know the birthday child wont get any use out of it so I do clothing like shirts, hair bows-ties-headbands, perfume-body spray-lotions, little cute girly purses-handbags. Things that I know will be used. Everything is too darn expensive and I had a difficult time finding something in that price range. So, did I spend to much ($25 and some a kid) or is that about accurate? I also want to note, I'm not one that tries to "show off" or anything and we definately are NOT rich either. I also look at the gifts that our kids get and it looks to me that they spend about the same amount. It's just soo hard to find a really good deal on gifts now'a days..Any thoughts?
I agree! I have 22 neices and nephews and that not even including my husbands side! For them,depending on their age, I spend around $50-$100 on them. They just opened a Ross store near our house and I went yesterday and was shocked on how low their prices were! They just had the grand opening yesterday so for future parties i'll definately be shopping there! But the two girls are close friends of my daughter. I called the moms and asked them what the birthday girls wanted or needed thinking it would be easier for me, the first mom insisted that I dont get anything and then said that she loves lipgloss and so I ended up buying her lipgloss from VS, a shirt from Marshalls and a necklace and some bows from Forever 21, the other mom had the nerve to ask me to get her daughter the Justin Bieber perfume! I was in shock only because it's a $65 bottle of perfume and it's barely 3 oz's! I got it for OUR daughter for Christmas and at that time it came with a cute purse. I'm just glad that we dont have any more birthdays for this month! But I appreciate all of the feeback you wonderful ladies have given me!
I think $20-25 is reasonable but if you don't want to spend that much go to Michaels or AC Moore and buy something using the 40% off coupon.
I spend $15, but i buy clearance. So, two weeks ago I gave a $60 dollar toy. Next week I will give a $50 toy.
Start building a toy closet, that way you can give quality toys on the cheap.
I know how you feel. The more babies that are born...the more gifts to be bought. I always try to think about how generous people are with my son; however try to keep the price down as much as possible. Two things that I do...I try to think ahead for birthdays coming up and buy the gifts when they are on sale or I have a coupon...for example I get the $10 off a purchase of $10 or more at JCPenney...basically $10 free! I will use that for clothes or a small toy or to put towards something. Another thing I do is shop at Marshall's or TJMaxx for my son's friends. They have great deals for kid's clothing and especially toys/books...I feel like I get more for my money there. Just a thought. You are very generous and I am sure it is appreciated!!
I try to keep it to $15 or less for a birthday. Luckily, we have a toy store in our neighborhood (Creative Kidstuff) that has fabulous choices for that price.
I would spend $25-30 or more on a close friend. But for every kid in my son's class, I keep it in the $10-15 range. But I have been finding things on clearance and keeping them for these parties, so the gift really is a good quality and I don't feel bad about giving it.
I try and keep birthday gifts like that between $5 and $10.. $15 if for a better friend. I can get really good deals, $25 items for a lot cheaper at places like Ross and such or on clearance. We are also a very limited budget so I really try and shoot for less than $5. I personally would be embarrassed if a friend spent a lot of money on my children.
I spend $10-$15 on my children's friends' gifts. They are invited to so many birthday parties that I would go broke if we spent more. Barbies, craft kits, books, Play Doh, Hot Wheels, Legos, puzzles, and board games are in my price range.
I just spent $30 + card + paper + bow for a party my son went to today. But I knew specifically it was something he wanted AND he's a close friend of my son, so no, I don't think $25 is too much. I probably spend min $20-30 per kid.
I don't know how old your daughter is, but I was shocked w/that amount as well! My daughter just turned 9 and with all the Birthday parties she has went to since her toddler years, I have never spent more than $15 on a present for a child. Watch for sales at the major retailers and shop at stores like Ross or TJ Maxx, Old Navy etc. to get the deals. I shop the dollar stores as well but will only buy name brand items as gifts (you have to look but sometimes you get a good find). I NEVER buy anything full price (accept food items); if it's not on sale, I don't buy it. The other good thing to do like Julie V. says is to stock up and have a toy/present closet. I also save gently used gift bags, tissue paper, bows and I buy bulk cards on sale or make my own to save costs and be "greener" w/wrapping and presentation of the gift itself.
II usually try to keep it at $15-20 for my daughter's friends (4yr olds). A little less if it's not a close friend; a little more if it's a best friend. I'm not sure how old the kids were shopping for, so that might make a difference. For her 4th birthday, my daughter received things that varied from a big package of markers to a my leappad laptop. One of her favorite gifts was 10 jars of crayola paint (from hobby lobby), a big pack of paint brushes, and some rubber stamps. She also enjoyed a little laptop desk, the Elefun game, etc. She got no less than 25 containers of Playdough (4 playdough kits plus individual cans), so I avoid buying that. I've also bought little girl purses or bags from Wal-Mart or Children's Place and put some little kid sunglasses, stickers, and lip balm in them, and that can be done for about $15. Books for any age - - kids books for preschool, a diary with a set of colored pens for teens - are affordable. I'd think for tween girl you could get silver earrings or silver chains/necklaces for about that price or some make-up kits or lip balms, etc. If I know bdays are coming up to plan for them, I'll stock up on things that I see on sale/clearance. I usually have good luck at Children's Place, Gap Outlet, Kohl's or JCPenney for non-toy gifts. For toys, ToysRUs is a good option if you are buying multiples of toys that are on sale...they often have buy 2, get 1 free for Hasbro Games, Crayola products or books.
$20-$25 is my normal go to for a friend. I do more for relatives.
I would say $15 to $20 per kid, maybe a little bit more if it is someone your child is very good friends with. You might be able to cut it down a little bit by stocking up on things when you have a good coupon somewhere....
Twenty to thirty is the amount our family spends for presents for kids outside the immediate family. We spend approximately that much on cousins and for friends. I aim for $20 and have been finding lately that isn't quite enough.
One of my son''s good friends? Absolutely. $25-30
Classmate / not great friend? $15-20
Niece/Nephew/Goddaughter/etc.? $50
Heck. It's $25 for a hardback book, or 2 paperbacks.
Yes, in my opinion you spent too much. I spend 25 on my teenage neices for christmas let alone birthdays (I hae 7 neices and 5 nephews money matters). I spend according to ages - I think 10 would have been quite addequate - you can go to places like Ross or TJMaxx, Marshalls etc to find WONDERFUL gifts for MUCH MUCH MUCH less. This year for two of my nephews who needed hats/gloves/scarves I got them more mature masculine scarves they could take with them into adulthood their mother asked me where I got them because they looked too expensive. I told her that had I paid retail (40 each) that it would have been too much but I paid 7 for one and 9 for the other so we were square! She just about toppled over but I told her where we went (Ross) and she has gone back several times since. You can often find things that SHOULD be expenisve, look expensive but because you are a smart shopper are not expensive if you take the time.
We spend between 20-25 for kids presents :) If it's a REALLY good friend, or his best friend, then probably about 40 :)
On just a school friend, 10-15 dollars. If it is their best friend, a little more. You are spending the amount that we spend on nieces and nephews...lol! We have about 18 of them though.... so we cant go overboard.
I try to spend in the 10 dollar range. I think it's more important to buy something that you know the child will like than the actual dollar amount. My son (who is 4) would be just as excited about getting a car that he doesn't have than a $30 dollar toy that he is not interested in. You can get good deals at Marshalls/TJ Maxx, Walmart, and clearance racks. If you want to get clothes, use a combo of coupons and the clearance rack for a great deal.
