How much $ on kids bday present?

[cara1]

How much do you spend when you go to a BDay party? What if it's not someone you know well, e.g., kid in DC's class?

[saschalicks]

$20 I don't know that well and $40 for someone I do. Money is very tight in our house. HTH.

[MelissaTC]

$10-$20, depending on the item and kid. Sometimes I catch great things on sale or I find cool stuff at TJ Maxx, Marshalls, etc.. For kids we know really well, I spend $30-$40.

[deenass]

WOW, you are really generous!!! $10-20 for a kid in DS class, $20-25 for a kid we know well.

[dules]

Same here. $10-$15 buys a very decent amount of Play Doh, crayons, and other art supplies, which are my favorite gifts for kids I don't know well. :)

Best,
Mary

[o_mom]

$20 is my average for neices and nephews - I bargain shop alot to get that though. For younger kids it is easy it's the older ones that are hard. (What DO teenage boys want?)

We don't have any classmates yet, but I am already stockpiling.... :-)

[cara1]

So, 2 Gamewright games instead of one, huh?

[Moneypenny]

$10-$15 for the "not well knowns" and about $25 for family (unless precedent has already been set for a different amount - the ILs all do about $15).

ETC - why can't I spell "precedent" today? It still doesn't look right...
Susan
mama to my cutie pie, Avery
http://www.gynosaur.com/assets/ribbons/ribbon_emerald_18m.gif[/img][/url]

[kelly ann]

I spend around $20 (give or take a few dollars) for any birthday...whether we know them well or not. I tend to stockpile gifts so keeping the same $ amount for all kids just broadens my selection when I dip into my gift stockpile :)

[jillc]

We usually spend about $12-15 on birthday presents for the kiddos in our circle of friends. My moms' group about 25 ladies & we've all got one or two kids now, so there are parties GALORE! It just gets too expensive to spend more than that.

We've been gifting lots of play-doh & arts & crafts stuff.

[lisams]

Usually around $15. If it's a close friend or relative more like $30.

[o_mom]

See, I would count one as enough unless it was just one of the card decks - then I would go with two.

It is so hard to quantify - I have found things like that that I would be fine with just one thing, then other times I feel like I need to get two items (color wonder paint and paper). It is less about the price to me, than a good gift.

[egoldber]

I spend around $10 or so for a kid I don't know well. I will spend a little more than that if the parent is spending a good bit per child on the party (like at The Little Gym or Build a Bear). For friends I spend around $20.

[kijip]

I spend about $10-15 for kids that I don't know very well. For Toby's best buds or for my dear friend's 4 year old daughter or my nephew, I usually spent $25-40 dollars but have spent as much as $100.

[megs4413]

$20 for non-close friends....$30-50 for close friends and family. I tend to go crazy at baby showers, though! (probably bc we had no money when i was pg with DD and I know how scary it is to feel like you can't afford the things you need)...i've spent as much as $300 for preggo pals!

[g-mama]

If it's a classmate or someone we don't know too well, I'd say $15. For close friends, $25-$30. I admit that I also feel compelled to spend a bit more if I know the birthday party is expensive, like at Gymboree for example.

Somehow it's gotten easy to spend less per gift for my oldest ds' friends. I think when they're younger, you're trying to please the parent. When the kids really care (beginning around age 5, maybe) you start trying to get what you think they'd really like and 5yo boys can have very simple taste! :P I just bought this "rocket balloon" thing for my ds' friend and it was the hit of the party. Everyone wanted to play with it and asked their moms to get it afterwards. It cost $10.


~Kristen

Paolo 11-00
Benjamin 8-03
Marco 12-05

[KBecks]

$10. Even for kids I know well. We don't have a lot of extra money to throw around and you can get a decent toy or book for right around $10.

I like giving books as gifts.

[Wife_and_mommy]

http://www.gynosaur.com/assets/ribbons/ribbon_gold_12m.gif[/img][/url]

[cbm]

I usually buy two books for a child I don't really know. The total varies depending on which books I buy, but I try to keep it within $ 15.00 - $ 20.00 range.

Claudia
DS 12/18/04

[egoldber]

I agree that its MUCH easier to find nice things for older kids for less. There's so much more to choose from and you realize how little they play with "toys" and generally prefer activities.

[SpaceGal]

I usually stock up on gifts...that not one sale would run anywhere from $10 and up. But I usually spend about $10-20. For kids I don't know probably $10. For those I do know...$20ish without going overboard.

[HoneymoonBaby]

>$10. Even for kids I know well. We don't have a lot of extra
>money to throw around and you can get a decent toy or book for
>right around $10.
>
>I like giving books as gifts.

Us, too. Matchbox sets, art supplies, books, and playclothes can all be found for under $10. The kids don't care how much you spend, they just want to have fun. I used to go all-out with the $50-$100 presents but we are in a tough spot financially now with me home, and I really have not noticed a difference in the gratefulness of the kids in our family or the parents since scaling back the expense.

[saschalicks]

The $40 is usually my nieces and nephews and that includes shipping. I stick to $20 98% of the time.

[maestramommy]

depends on the age, but I would say between $10-20? Maybe a bit more if you know the kid well.

ETA: first time mom here with friends just starting to turn 1. I love all the ideas y'all posted! Learn something new here every day :-)

[HannaAddict]

Probably $15-20 for a child from class and maybe $20-25 or $30 for a child we know better.