Twice a week, our CEO and resident money guru Jean Chatzky tackles your burning questions in the HerMoney newsletter. We’ve pulled some of the best to feature on our website — and this one made the cut! Got a question for Jean? Send it her way right here.
Q: Today’s question comes from a member of the private HerMoney Facebook group. She writes: “How much should I spend on a child’s birthday party at home or a park? I’m thinking Costco pizzas, salad, drinks and cake for the kids and parents. Thoughts?”
A: If you’re a parent, you know how easy it can be to have a birthday party budget go the way of My Super Sweet 16. One recent survey shows the average child’s birthday party costs $314. About 1 in 5 parents exceed that, shelling out more than $500 to celebrate their offspring.
Let’s bring things back down to reality. You don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars on a birthday bash – your Costco pizzas, etc. sound just fine (really good, actually…my stomach’s rumbling as I write this).
As you continue with your party planning, the ladies of the HerMoney Facebook group are weighing in with their best tips for keeping costs down. Here are my faves, in no particular order:
- “We just had my son’s 6th birthday at home…I had 12 pizzas, my mom made a big salad, my sister-in-law brought chips,” shares Andrea. “I bought a couple of 2-liter bottles of soda, a case of water, 3 boxes of Capri Sun, and a cake from Walmart. It was less than $200. If someone offers to bring something, we always take them up on it.”
- Shifting the party time can mean big savings, says Aria. “If you plan it outside of a meal time, a meal isn’t required. For example, if you did 2 PM-4 PM, cake and a goodie bag with fruit snacks or a granola bar should be fine.”
- “We usually save by doing decorations from the local dollar store,” says Bethany. PS, shoutout to Dollar Tree for having awesome helium balloons that you can pre-order.
- Don’t be afraid to limit the guest list, says Pesha. “My mom believed you should only have as many kids as the age the child is turning.”
The bottom line? Kids are expensive to begin with. You don’t need to go all out to have a memorable celebration for your child. Even if you stick to a budget, you can still throw a birthday party for your daughter that she and her friends will be talking about for years to come. We promise!
MORE ON HERMONEY:
- Ask Jean: “Should I Buy Used Luxury Items?”
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- Ask Jean: “What’s The Avalanche Method For Paying Off Debt?”
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