How much is acceptable?

catsareniice1 · August 2013

I was invited to a birthday party. Well, more like three kids at once. Is $20.00 per kids enough? It's gonna hit me hard having to buy gifts/stuff envelopes for THREE children. My parents are throwing a combined party. The greeting cards alone are going to cost like $10.00.

Their normal birthdays are April, November and June.

orangehills · August 2013

Go to Dollar Store/Tree- they have tons of cards for $1- do those. Or make them! Do not spend $10 on just cards that most people don't look at! Make the extra trip to Dollar Tree.

As for the presents, $20 is plenty! You can get a lot of awesome gifts for about $20 at Target. If you find something that's awesome for less, go for that! Kids don't need expensive gifts, most of the time they are happy with anything that is fun.

Sisugal · August 2013

Forget buying the Birthday Cards - a gift tag is all you need. (or buy the cards at the dollar store)

Add that $10 to your $20 and you have $10 for each child. A book for each child that would interest them would be what I would do in that situation.

WHY are they celebrating their birthdays NOW?

smbenevides1989 · August 2013

I wouldn't bother with the cards. If you really are sentimental, Dollar Store is a must. You can get 2 cards for $1. I also agree with the gift tag. Even then, you can always write their name on the gift with a marker in a fancy font (if you can do it) - Think Christmas presents!

HoneyBee973 · August 2013

$20 per child is fine. And I am also wondering why are all three birthdays being celebrated now?

vlagrl29 · August 2013

we get dollar cards at target or dollar store and no more than $10 per child for gift.

catsareniice1 · August 2013

Thanks! Just some family things going on that made it easier to have them all together. Just tougher on the wallet.

catsareniice1 · August 2013

Thanks! Just some family things going on that made it easier to have them all together. Just tougher on the wallet.

Erikan73 · August 2013

I'm totally on board with $1 store cards. It's not how much you spent on the card, but that you took the time to get a card. $20 is plenty. For my nieces and nephes I started a tradition that they found fun several years back. They got $10 until they reach 11 years old. Then they got $1 for however many years old they were. Cheesy? Yes, but the kids got a kick out of it and it helped to keep the budget in control

NestCayla · August 2013

Totally agree with everyone about buying cheap cards -- the dollar store, Trader Joes (they have very nice $1 cards) or even just a simple gift tag like a previous poster mentioned would be just fine. That's so interesting that the family is celebrating all three birthdays all at once -- won't that confuse the kids? haha! How old are they?

mcskatcat · August 2013

Do you have a Five Below? They have lots of awesome stuff for super cheap that doesn't really look like cheap stuff. Also, check out places like TJ Maxx or Ross. They have good toys, books and games at lower prices than you'd find at Target.

moonprincessd · August 2013

$20 per kids is more than enough! My husband and I usually only spend $20 on his 2 nieces and 1 nephew, that's about $8 per kid. Children don't need much,

Also, I agree with the others, make cards or buy cheap ones, Target has 99 cent cards.

takmjs · August 2013

My parents have always given us a card (I agree, don't spend much on cards, or include that as part of the total price you wanted to spend) with the dollars that match our age. They still do it to this day. I got $31 this year!

I don't know how old these kids are, but a lot of kids think that $5 or $10 is a lot of money, if you are doing cash, especially if you consider that others will also be giving them money. Little kids (maybe up to 6 years old) think $1 is a lot, so put like five single dollars in theirs.

catsareniice1 · August 2013

Thanks everyone! Some great ideas! The kids range from 1-6

ta78 · August 2013

I am cheap and write names across the wrapping paper for kid unless Im giving cash. I would spend 5-10 on books for each.

mssm2012 · August 2013

You could look into a family gift that would benefit all of the kids - like a membership/passes to a museum, splash park, community pool, etc.

maple2 · August 2013

You definitely don't need a card (kids don't care), and you can probably find a good gift for less than $20. Rocket launchers are popular in our neighborhood these days and they are like $10. The kids enjoy them more than the more expensive gifts.

Mama-Bear · August 2013

$20 is plenty IMO. I don't spend more than that on any kid other than my own. We also have a sinking fund for gifts because it seems like all of our neighbors and our kids have birthdays in the same time of year (August, September, and October, then our twins are in December) so we get hit with a bunch of parties at once.

littlelamb99 · August 2013

I buy toys throughout the years as gifts, have you thought of a "gift closet" in your house? Some of my toys I have purchased have only cost about $6.

catsareniice1 · August 2013

Excellent ideas!! I never thought of a group gift or starting a gift closet!! TY!

Mom987 · September 2013

I never buy cards and $20/KID is more than enough. I'd say $30 combined and not buy cards.

Mom987 · September 2013

takmjs said:
My parents have always given us a card (I agree, don't spend much on cards, or include that as part of the total price you wanted to spend) with the dollars that match our age. They still do it to this day. I got $31 this year!

I don't know how old these kids are, but a lot of kids think that $5 or $10 is a lot of money, if you are doing cash, especially if you consider that others will also be giving them money. Little kids (maybe up to 6 years old) think $1 is a lot, so put like five single dollars in theirs.

Haha DH's grandfather also gives us our age in dollars.

Also we gave my grandfather $83, but that was from all aunts/uncles.

short+sassy · September 2013

Big Lots has a lot of nice and brand name toys that are often 25-50% off the normal retail.

How much is acceptable?

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