Can you host a children's birthday party for just $40?
Sometimes, kids want the simple things.
Want to know what other parents really think about birthday parties? Come peer into the results of the survey accompanying our story on outsourcing birthday parties.
Can you host a children's birthday party for just $40? One Melbourne parent claims they've done just that.
Fairfax Media reported on the growing trend of parent's outsourcing their children's birthday parties on Wednesday, and we asked readers for their feedback on how much they spent, whether they outsourced to venues and professionals, the number of guests and possibly the most controversial of all, whether they would ever consider a gift-free party.
We received dozens of responses, with the cost of $330 being average but others splashed out $1000 on their child's event At the other end of the scale, some parents spent just $80. Two responders claim to have forked out $40 to celebrate their little one's birthday - we definitely need to know what their secret is, unless they actually meant to write $400.
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For some parents, they initiate a $10 per guest limit for children aged up to 13 years and work by the very sensible rule of "the age of the child approximately equals the guests". So if your child is five years old, that's five guests for a rather nifty $50.
There was widespread agreement that outsourcing a party was not much more expensive than hosting one at home, but on the plus side, it allowed parents to avoid the hassles of cleaning. As one parent noted, the cost of taking everyone out was about same as hiring a superhero at home.
One parent said: "I could outsource most of the party for a similar cost but I'd still need to make a cake, organise party bags, etc. So the home option comes in a shade cheaper."
The respondent who spent the most - $1000 ��� said hosting a party at home was more expensive than outsourcing. However, they had the highest number of guests, with up to 60 attending.
Parents also discussed whether they felt pressured to invite their child's entire class. Guest limits ranged from five up to 20, although if you want an outsourced parties, the minimum guests is often 12. All preferred smaller parties and several cited the age-equals-guests rule.
But if you think kids want the flashiest celebration possible, you'd be wrong. It turns out that children really do like the simple things in life. When asked what their child's favourite party activity has been, the responses included charades, soccer, sack races, eating donuts off a string, and the classic "running around the park hitting each other with foam rollers". Also popular were adventure games, such as "Minecraft" and adapting "The Great Race" in their home. No passports required.
The favourite outsourced options include trampoline parties, the movies, cooking parties, paint ball and laser parties.
But what about the gifts?
"I'd love it! But he wouldn't," said one parent.
"Obviously they would prefer [gifts]. I, on the hand, love the idea of not getting ten bits of Chinese plastic," said another.
���Top tips for hosting a thrifty party
Initiate a $10 per guest rule Parks, playgrounds and the beach are cost-free and popular party locations Only invite as many guests as the birthday girl or boy is turning, ie 10 guests for the 10-year-old's party Foam rollers are highly entertaining for young kids Old fashioned games like egg-and-spoon and sack-races are cheap and popularWith Alana Schetzer