Parents 'genius' money-saving hack for kids’ birthday party

It sure beats the 'no gift' trend and there's no cash required. What do you think of this savvy idea?

Image: iStock.

The trend for ‘no gift’ kids parties has as many fans as it does detractors.

For parents of multiple kids and a house full of toys, it can seem like a good idea to ditch the gift requirement, but then how are the kids going to feel when they learn about this rule? Probably not great.

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Solving the parental guilt

No gifts can also be confusing for parents of the party going kids, who would rather not turn up to the party completely empty handed. 

The ‘fiver’ or ‘tenner’ parties solve the parental guilt issue, but don’t elicit much joy for little kids and - who has cash on hand these days anyway?!

One parent might have just solved the kids’ party dilemmas for all of us with her genius idea of a gift exchange.

Writer Katrina Donham explains how the overwhelm of receiving too many gifts at her daughter’s first birthday was what inspired the idea.

She says it was an especially big haul that year as her daughter was born during the pandemic and guests hadn’t yet met her little one.

“As I sat in our living room, staring at the mountain of new items in an overstimulated stupor, I realized that I had now been tasked with organising and finding a place for all her new gifts,” she writes in her article for Business Insider.

“The feeling of overwhelm started to grow; the ‘invisible load’ of motherhood began to accrue.”

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"No new gifts"

It was after being confronted with so much ‘stuff’, much of which her daughter never got to use, wear or play with due to the timing, gave way to her gift exchange idea.

“I would directly ask parents NOT to buy new gifts for our daughters' birthday parties. Instead, I would pick an item category, like books, and ask invitees to select a book from their own home collection to bring as a gift. 

“They could help their kids pick out the book or choose one to bring they felt their child wouldn't miss. Additionally, I would encourage parents to reuse old gift bags, wrapping paper, and ribbon to wrap them.”

Katrina says she would set up an “exchange table” where partygoers could place their offerings and also choose a different gift to take home instead of a party bag. She would add a selection of pre-loved books to the table to make sure no one would miss out.

She writes that there are broader benefits beyond parental overwhelm and the accumulation of stuff to this style of party.

“By gifting from our own collections, we're making choices that are less wasteful and are easier on the environment. 

“I also want my children to independently choose among their treasures and let go of something that might spark another's joy, which will hopefully spark their own joy, too.”

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The cost of living crisis and kids parties

In a cost of living crisis, this is such a great idea for parents on a budget as well as a wonderful teaching moment for the kids while they are young. 

Over on TikTok there are a number of mums discussing this topic and it’s benefit.

Gabrielle Legge is one such thrifty mama who is trying to save money on kids' gifts and shares a video on her second hand present haul.

Comments are supportive of the mum’s budget busting technique.

One says: “I have thrifted every single year so why not? Kids like their toys for five minutes. It’s smart.”

Another added: “As a mom of five I’ve learned thrifting is where it’s at for ages 10 and under. We have three in that range - most of our three year old’s stuff was thrifted. And our five month old things are thrifted.”

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"It's much easier when they're little"

Which raises the point of how thrifting for kids really only works when they are little.

Once they cross over into the fussier tweens and teen years this could present more of a challenge, as one mum points out.

“It's so much easier and cheaper when they're little. I have five teenagers!”

What do you think of this kids party idea?

Originally published as Parents 'genius' money-saving hack for kids’ birthday party