Kid's Birthday Parties - Can one avoid the expense?

My youngest niece Erin (My sister's daughter) turned 7 this Saturday just past. We decided to to save expenses by having the party at home, instead of either hiring a venue or going to a kid's theme restaurant etc.

The theme was "funky" witches and wizards. We baked and decorated the cake ourselves, we made up our own party packs, entertainment came courtesy of them playing good old fashioned games (admittedly with prizes) instead of them having magicians and jumping castles etc. They all loved this!!

All in all it was a total success and a marvellous day, but it still ended up costing us an arm and a leg!

We don't regret or begrudge the the party at all. We are all in agreement that until the next big milestones such as becoming a teenager, sweet sixteen etc , this will be her last "big" party. For the next couple of years she can take a couple of select friends to the movies or to eat out etc!

I am just awed at the expense of it all. We have always vowed not to be competitive in the party stakes and believe you me it is very competitive and mothers do anything to try and throw the best party for their kids. That aside, the cost is incredible. One can no longer claim (as I had naively thought) that "we can do it at home for much cheaper" ... that is just not the case!

Whilst on the subject, I am also amazed at the inconsiderate behaviour of parents. Some just never bothered to RSVP and the kids pitched. Some did RSVP, but kids didn't pitch and we never received phone calls to apologize. One mother insisted that if her older daughter was not allowed to come then the younger one ( my niece's friend) could not either as it would not be fair on the older child!

Parents came with their kids ('spose still to be expected with little ones, and we had catered for this) and then sat apart in little huddles and just chatted to select people, whilst ignoring the rest. Some even totally ignoring their ittle darlings too!

Then of course there were the real gems, the parents who arrived and basically rolled their sleeves up and asked how they could help!

I suppose one could well say that the party was a synopsis if you like, a microcosm of people and the world and how we inter relate and interact! If were to go into an in-depth analysis, one could even pick out distinct personality types etc!
But I won't (grin)

It was a good party in the end and the most important thing was that our little princess had an amazing time!

Have to admit that Mummy and Auntie had a whole lot of fun dressing up too!

Pictures will follow!