Opinions please on Birthday Plans

[chkpea]

Our DS is turning 5 and has never had a "kid party" yet. I work at a farm and he really wants to have it there. I have worked out a budget for everything and it will run around$400 which seems like a lot to me for a party. If we had it at home the cost would be way less, but he really wants to have it at the farm....ahhh. What does everyone else usually spend on a party?

Also, I have thought about who should be coming. He just started at a new school...only 12 in the class, so the numbers wouldn't be extremely high, if only half came it would definately cut down the cost. The reason that some might not come is the distance, it would be a 30 minute drive, and with the gas prices I can see some not coming. And that leads me to another question, is that too far to ask people to drive to come to a party?? I mean I would do it no probelm but I can see some people looking at it as a major inconvenience. Thoughts?

[lucyem]

I probably spent about $100-150 on the last birthday when my son turned 6. We had it at home and I made all the food and activities. But the glue for the pinata was not inexpensive nor was the duct tape for the foam lightsabers, not to mention the 200 balloons, pinata stuff and food. We own our own moonwalk and I have a big barn which worked out perfectly. I could see hitting $400 very easily if we rented the moon walk and bought a cake and purchased goodie bag stuff for example.

We invited the class of 13 and two other friends. I ended up feeding cake & snacks to 11 children and parents and a couple of siblings. We live 40 minutes from the school. Most children had to travel 40 minutes to an hour to our home. I would not count on no shows to keep the price down.

[LuckyMommaToo]

Through the years my friends and I have determined that we spend, on average, $500 throwing a bday party. And we would definitely drive 30 minutes to a farm party! I also wouldn't count on no-shows.

Hope you can find a way to make it work. Can you make favors? Or not have them? I always overdo the food.

Good luck!
-e

[chkpea]

well instead of loot bags I am going to have the kids decorate a paper bag and then pick apples. I am going to make the cake, and probably do hot dogs although I am not that fond of them they do seem to be a hit with kids.
I included in our budget our present too.