Hi ladies hoping you could help. We've been getting invited to birthday parties and I'm always wandering what I should spend on these gifts? The age ranges of the kids is up to 8 and I usually look for something around $10, unless they're close friends. Is this too cheap??? The parties we have attended they have not opened the presents but the gifts are so big?? so I'm curious if I'm spending enough?? Anxious to hear from you and thanks for your help!
Hi, we usually spent about $20 on the gifts for classmates at their bday parties, and more if it was a close friend. Hope this helps.
Debrah
Angie--I had the $10 rule for a long time too, but it's hard to find much in that price range so I raised it to $15.
my MO has been around 15-20, but I spend about 10 on the gift, then I spend a few bucks buying candy, trinkets, confetti, etc. and then I wrap the present & put it in a bigger box and spread all the extra fun stuff around it and then wrap that box. I've found this is a really fun way to give cheap gifts, as the young kids REALLY like getting a LOT of anything - even if it's tootsie rolls & stickers. You can score the cheap stuff at party city, or order from Oriental Trading - just about any bags of "party favors" work.
(and hint: all parties my son attends and gets the favor bags, I save most of the favors and recycle in the next gift we give.)
Don't waste money on cards - they're expensive & that money is better spent toward the gift. You can print out a hand made card that's better and personalized.
Angie,
Hi. I go by the gift more than the price. If I can find a really cute doll for $5, I give that. Most of what I find really cute at Walmart is just under $10. Thats what I usually do. But once in a while I can find one cheaper thats really fun and cute.
If it is a close friend of the family, sometimes I'll up it so I can get more than one item.
I don't think price is the issue. Its the cuteness of the gift. The way I see it....the kids don't care how much it costs. And if the parent cares...oh well, I wouldn't want to be her friend if she cares how much I spent on her kid!
Hope this helps!
I am glad you posted this. I recently took my son to a party for a 2 y.o. and spent about $15 on the gift. I saw a couple of others sitting out that looked a bit more expensive and was feeling somewhat guilty. This was my first kiddo party. Anyway, now I am thinking that around $15 is good. Those others may have been from family or much closer friends.
We do $10 however let me explain why. I go once a year to the Mattel outlet store in Fort Worth and buy different kinds of toys. When my son gets invited to a birthday I tell him to go pick a toy out of the birthday bucket for his friend. The toys are all last years models but kids don't care they like them anyways and my son feels special because he feels like he picked the toy for his friend. I would recommend the Mattel store to anyone it is so affordable. Here is there website http://www.mattel.com/matteltoystore/ it has directions to the store.
Hi Angie,
It really all depends on how well you know that friend's family or how close your children are. I usually spend $20 +, but again I base that on individual person. I normally do not receive invites unless they are close friends anyway, so my gift is usually around that amount. It really should not matter, but it just all depends.
It is the thought that counts, but I have to be honest and say, I have seen people re-gifting and giving from stores such as Dollar General or Dollar Tree gifts which I personally think is tacky and really cheesy. ($1.00 gifts, is what I am referring to) Have some imagination or at least get the kid a GC card from Toys R Us..or a store you know they like..so...again, that is up to you, but that is what I do.
Thanks!
Gladys
We usually stick to $10 or less because we are on a budget. It forces us to be creative, but I also stock up when I hit sales and clearances. We start the year off with a set amount for birthday spending, so it allows me to buy in bulk. For younger kids, I often find Melissa & Doug puzzles on clearance at Toys R Us for around $3. The school supply sales in August are great for fall birthdays. Journals and cool pens have been a hit with the early elementary friends. As they get older, it's harder, but we got preteen boys $10 blockbuster gift cards and a box of raisinettes and they were excited about getting to rent video games.
Sticking to your budget is a wise idea. If someone is shallow enough to be bothered by it, you can happily decline the next invitation from them.
Hi I spend $10 on gifts, too. If its a close friend I will spend around $20.
It really depends on the kiddo and what they like... typically I like to do about $15-20 -- I have a TON of gift bags and I never do cards -- we just make a little birthday card at home rather than spend $3 on one. I tend to do candy too because it makes the gift look quite exciting! We always hit the book store ... and get some fun books... and unfortunately, they're never cheap... :(
I spend about $10-$15, plus the cost of gift wrap, for most kids. For a really close friend, I usually spend about $25-$30.
Hi - I do the same as you. I spend $10 for the gift unless it's a close friend then a little more. I don't think that's too cheap. There have been times when our gift seemed smaller than the other ones but I still stick to the $10 rule...
My children's friend all have a little more money and I notice they spend more ($30-$40) and buy at Learning Express when it is not on sale...which I certainly can not match! So I try to shop early and get sales. After Christmas Toy's R Us always has sales and then I put it away in the closet. Or I try to go to Marshalls or someplace where they have last years toys on sale. But if it is a close friend I do spend more.
That is about what I usually spend, too. I now have two daughters though, and they are usually both invited. I have now uped the total amout to around $20-- $10 per child, because I figure if we were to return the invitation to come celebrate my girls' birthdays, they would end up buying 2 gifts. I know it is hard to think this way, but I would base it more on your own personal budget than what others are doing-- it is so easy to get drawn into doing "over the top" things in our culture. I do buy things ahead too when I see something I think would make a nice gift-- especially nice if you run into sales!
Amy
Hi Angie,
We usually try to keep the kid's gifts around $20. That opens you up to many other options. But I can understand if you're going to a lot of birthday parties - it can get expensive!
Angela
Times have gone up a bit, I think. We usually spend around $15-$20 on regular parties and closer to $25-$30 on close friends. Things just cost a lot more--Barbies, Bratz, Polypockets, etc!
we have a rule, $10 for all birthday presents. I'll buy ahead, though- when stuff is way on sale before/after the holidays and other times when toys r us has their 'buy one/get one free' sales on my little ponies and leggo sets and stuff. Then, when we are going to a party, my kids can "shop" in the hall closet for a gift for their friend. You will see people spend more, but most won't. We'd go broke if we went higher, though!
Hi Angie~
I also used the "birthday box" method...buy jewelry, books, toys, etc. and keep in the birthday box for my child to choose a gift for their friend. I also buy a box of blank cards and the tiny gift cards with envelopes to use, which are less expensive than the regular cards. I also found a bookstore with great prices on books. I do not know the name of it, but it is located on Spring Creek Parkway in Plano in the Garden Ridge shopping center. The children's books are really inexpensive there! Our limit is $15 - $20.00 until 18 years. Then we spend $25.00 on close friends and family until 21. Then we just send cards. We have a very large family...39 cousins! All are almost over 21 now!
For close friends and family, I usually spend around $50. But, just for casual friends I spend around $30. I can't imagine only spending $10. I figure that most parties cost the parents a good amount of money to invite all of the kids, so I should at least return the favor and buy a nice gift. I really like buying gifts for people and feel guilty if I go too cheap.