Parents spend nearly £5k on kids' parties

Parents will spend £4,858.56 on their child’s birthday parties by the time they reach 18, according to research.

Parents will spend £4,858.56 on their child’s birthday parties by the time they reach 18, according to research.

The findings emerged in the Holiday Inn study of 2,000 parents and shows that in a bid to out-do others, most fork out £269.92 a year on parties.

Almost half of parents polled admit to feeling incredibly stressed and overwhelmed at the thought of everything they have to organise. A third of parents are most worried about impressing other children’s parents with their party arrangements.

The research shows the average parent will allow their child to invite at least 11 friends to the party. Party planning also takes times as the average mum and dad spend up to three weeks organising the party.

The poll shows the average family will spend £12.47 on invitations and thank you cards, and a further £22.72 on decorations such as balloons, banners and lighting. Food and drink will cost a further £63.82. The birthday cake also costs an average of £15.32 – and parents are more likely to buy one ready-made than make it themselves. Party games such as pass the parcel, musical bumps, piñatas, pin the tail on the donkey and other more elaborate games cost £24.08, including prizes and parents spend an average of £3.77 on each party bag which is filled with goodies for the children to take home – that’s £41.47 for all 11 children.

Venue hire can cost a further £90.04 and 24 per cent of parents will then go on to hire some sort of entertainment for the children, spending a further £86.79. Most popular entertainment includes bouncy castles (44 per cent), clowns (31 per cent), magicians (30 per cent) and soft play areas (24 per cent).

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