09/07/2026
Birthday Trip vs Birthday Party?
Where do you stand and why?
I tend to lean towards a trip that costs roughly the same amount as a birthday party. 🎉
Now I understand that there’s different ways of having a party. There’s a low key option…rent a water slide, invite some neighborhood kids, grab a cake from Sam’s and have a great day. If you keep it that simple, that’s probably cheaper than a trip.
But the minute you start looking at taking 15 kids to a location, the dollars start stacking up.
And those are the parties I’m talking about 😉
Those costs add up, QUICKLY!
1. The package price is always short about 4 or 5 kids that you need to invite, so you pay for them by the head.
2. Sometimes you can’t bring outside food in so you have to pay more to be fed by that venue.
3. A lot of things are an additional fee.
4. Decorations add up.
5. Party favors add up.
6. Got to include gifts for your kid to open at the party.
7. Got to spend time prepping if you’re a go all out type.
Before you know it, you’ve dropped $500 (likely more) for a party that’s going to last 2 hours at a location you’ve visited 10 other times and you’ve fed 10+ adults that don’t even really know your kid.
Will your kid love it? YEAH
Will there be memories made? YEAH
But… for that cost , you could get a night or 2 in a hotel in a city close to you and explore a new place for a weekend.
Ideas in a city that will get you a whole day worth of memory making time:
- Zoos
- Theme Parks/Water Parks
- Museums
- Other attractions
Get your kid a couple gifts to open on the trip (because they probably have enough toys anyways) and spend the rest of YOUR hard earned dollars on making core memories with YOUR family.
That’s just my thoughts on parties vs trips.. but I’m always looking for an excuse to travel. 😂🤷🏻♀️
Curious to know how yall feel!
