Spending on Children’s birthday parties out of control

The spending on children’s birthday parties is ‘out of control’ according to UK mums.

A survey of parents from website Netmums, reveals the staggering amount of money families are prepared to pay for their child’s birthday celebrations.

While two thirds of parents spent between £51 and £200 on parties, 25 mothers admitted to typically spending more than £250 and 4 blew a whopping £500, all before a present had been purchased.

Mounting costs included hiring an entertainer and 13 per cent thought nothing of spending a costly £6-£10 on each party bag.

Though it seems the traditional games of pass the parcel and a home made cake simply won’t do these days, 33 per cent of mums over-stretched their finances to pay for the top of the range parties.

Other parents were ready to admit they had become too expensive, competitive and commercialised. 
 
The survey was carried out with the Lumos charity, founded by popular children’s author JK Rowling and aiming to support children living in institutions across central and Eastern Europe.

Lumos is urging families and groups to come together and help raise vital funds for its work on 1 June by hosting a fund-raising ‘birthday’ party.

Chief Executive of Lumos, Richard Aldersalde said: “We believe institutionalised children in Eastern Europe should experience all the joys of childhood as well as the basic rights of food, warmth and physical safety. That’s why we are asking people in the UK to hold fund-raising birthday parties in their honour on International Children’s Day, 1 June. The money raised will pay for children to be moved out of institutions and into family-based care.”  

To find out more about Lumos and to organise your own party, visit:  www.lumos.org.uk