Comments on: Birthdays on a Budget http://www.edgren.com/wordpress/2008/04/14/birthdays-on-a-budget/ The musings and ravings of a bloggart family Fri, 29 Aug 2008 23:26:06 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.2 By: Aunt Kate http://www.edgren.com/wordpress/2008/04/14/birthdays-on-a-budget/#comment-8484 Aunt Kate Wed, 16 Apr 2008 23:34:36 +0000 http://www.edgren.com/wordpress/2008/04/14/birthdays-on-a-budget/#comment-8484 Happy birthday, dear Daniel. I am so glad to know you- I'm glad to be your Aunt Kate. I hope to see you sometime during your year of being 11 years old. I pray this will be a good year- a year where you are happy, where you KNOW you are loved and secure, and a year where you grow and learn and discover!! I love you alot. Aunt Kate Happy birthday, dear Daniel. I am so glad to know you- I’m glad to be your Aunt Kate. I hope to see you sometime during your year of being 11 years old. I pray this will be a good year- a year where you are happy, where you KNOW you are loved and secure, and a year where you grow and learn and discover!!

I love you alot. Aunt Kate

]]> By: Childlife http://www.edgren.com/wordpress/2008/04/14/birthdays-on-a-budget/#comment-8482 Childlife Wed, 16 Apr 2008 18:09:10 +0000 http://www.edgren.com/wordpress/2008/04/14/birthdays-on-a-budget/#comment-8482 Happy early birthday, Daniel! We have budget birthdays too, Kathy... oh, and dollar tree is a great source for inexpensive decorations :) Happy early birthday, Daniel!

We have budget birthdays too, Kathy… oh, and dollar tree is a great source for inexpensive decorations :)

]]> By: Cynthia http://www.edgren.com/wordpress/2008/04/14/birthdays-on-a-budget/#comment-8477 Cynthia Wed, 16 Apr 2008 13:11:45 +0000 http://www.edgren.com/wordpress/2008/04/14/birthdays-on-a-budget/#comment-8477 We like to give activity type gifts - things the kids want to go/do, but are maybe a bit too pricey to come out of our regular budget. And, I like to do those types of things instead of one more toy or "thing" that has to be stored somewhere in the house. We like to give tickets to the water park for a fun day out, tickets to a concert that the kids might want to go to, etc. We like to give activity type gifts - things the kids want to go/do, but are maybe a bit too pricey to come out of our regular budget. And, I like to do those types of things instead of one more toy or “thing” that has to be stored somewhere in the house. We like to give tickets to the water park for a fun day out, tickets to a concert that the kids might want to go to, etc.

]]> By: Chris http://www.edgren.com/wordpress/2008/04/14/birthdays-on-a-budget/#comment-8472 Chris Wed, 16 Apr 2008 00:39:10 +0000 http://www.edgren.com/wordpress/2008/04/14/birthdays-on-a-budget/#comment-8472 It must be "blog about birthday's" week. I posted on this subject (specifically gift options) on Sunday. (mountainhomeschool.blogspot.com) It must be “blog about birthday’s” week. I posted on this subject (specifically gift options) on Sunday. (mountainhomeschool.blogspot.com)

]]> By: Cindy http://www.edgren.com/wordpress/2008/04/14/birthdays-on-a-budget/#comment-8471 Cindy Tue, 15 Apr 2008 19:36:25 +0000 http://www.edgren.com/wordpress/2008/04/14/birthdays-on-a-budget/#comment-8471 Happy Birthday, Daniel! We just try to make our kids feel special that day- have a "Special Day"plate; birthday banner; get to pick meals, stay up later, etc. I try to pray aloud over the birthday girl, thanking God for traits and qualities we appreciate in her. I try to combine our gifts (cheap) with grandmas and aunts, etc., so it feels "bigger." I make their cakes, have a few friends over for a party... they just want to play, so that is cheap! :) Happy Birthday, Daniel!
We just try to make our kids feel special that day- have a “Special Day”plate; birthday banner; get to pick meals, stay up later, etc. I try to pray aloud over the birthday girl, thanking God for traits and qualities we appreciate in her. I try to combine our gifts (cheap) with grandmas and aunts, etc., so it feels “bigger.” I make their cakes, have a few friends over for a party… they just want to play, so that is cheap! :)

]]> By: Julee http://www.edgren.com/wordpress/2008/04/14/birthdays-on-a-budget/#comment-8470 Julee Tue, 15 Apr 2008 19:32:03 +0000 http://www.edgren.com/wordpress/2008/04/14/birthdays-on-a-budget/#comment-8470 Happy Birthday Daniel- Our family loves you a ton! You have an amazing gift with children. I can't wait to see how God uses you for his glory. I know he has great plans for your life. Your name is very special and I know you will live up to the integrity and closeness that Daniel had with our almighty God! Have a fun day being the center of attention!!! The Dilley Family Happy Birthday Daniel-
Our family loves you a ton! You have an amazing gift with children. I can’t wait to see how God uses you for his glory. I know he has great plans for your life. Your name is very special and I know you will live up to the integrity and closeness that Daniel had with our almighty God!
Have a fun day being the center of attention!!!
The Dilley Family

]]> By: Anne http://www.edgren.com/wordpress/2008/04/14/birthdays-on-a-budget/#comment-8469 Anne Tue, 15 Apr 2008 13:15:40 +0000 http://www.edgren.com/wordpress/2008/04/14/birthdays-on-a-budget/#comment-8469 This is a great topic and I look forward to reading the responses! I am not creative so I need ideas. I like that you have another kid planning the party! I think life at your house sounds like a fun party all the time, so I know your birthdays must be very fun. Birthday parties here in Texas seem to be a world class event...people spend hundreds on entertainment, gifts, and favors. I am not joking -- our neighbors go crazy with limosines, dinners out with all the visiting kids, wildlife shows with real, exotic creatures, etc. I am wondering when the kids will start to notice that ours are different. For birthdays at our house the birthday kids picks out what we eat for 3 meals a day (within reason -- we won't have pizza for breakfast, lunch, and dinner as much as Ben would like that!) is $40-50 budget for gifts, and for the party we invite other families over for snacks and cake. I buy some bulk items like a big box of Taquitos from Costco and dipping sauce and we serve those, and lemonade and tea, both inexpensive. I have had snacks and cake at the neighborhood pool before, too, for birthdays. (Food idea, My friend puts a bunch of queso in her crock pot and people can dip chips in warmed queso!) My kids like to get cash lately or a Target card so they can pick out their own gifts, so that is mainly what we have been doing -- one gift and some money. It seems like they prize the thing more if they have gone in and purchased it on their own. This is a great topic and I look forward to reading the responses! I am not creative so I need ideas. I like that you have another kid planning the party! I think life at your house sounds like a fun party all the time, so I know your birthdays must be very fun.

Birthday parties here in Texas seem to be a world class event…people spend hundreds on entertainment, gifts, and favors. I am not joking — our neighbors go crazy with limosines, dinners out with all the visiting kids, wildlife shows with real, exotic creatures, etc. I am wondering when the kids will start to notice that ours are different.

For birthdays at our house the birthday kids picks out what we eat for 3 meals a day (within reason — we won’t have pizza for breakfast, lunch, and dinner as much as Ben would like that!) is $40-50 budget for gifts, and for the party we invite other families over for snacks and cake. I buy some bulk items like a big box of Taquitos from Costco and dipping sauce and we serve those, and lemonade and tea, both inexpensive. I have had snacks and cake at the neighborhood pool before, too, for birthdays. (Food idea, My friend puts a bunch of queso in her crock pot and people can dip chips in warmed queso!)

My kids like to get cash lately or a Target card so they can pick out their own gifts, so that is mainly what we have been doing — one gift and some money. It seems like they prize the thing more if they have gone in and purchased it on their own.

]]> By: Monica http://www.edgren.com/wordpress/2008/04/14/birthdays-on-a-budget/#comment-8468 Monica Tue, 15 Apr 2008 11:48:13 +0000 http://www.edgren.com/wordpress/2008/04/14/birthdays-on-a-budget/#comment-8468 Birthdays are our favorite time to spoil our kids. It's a lot easier to do so when there is only one to focus on. We try to buy them three things smaller type items that they've been wanting. This means that they have likely been asking and we've been denying them for some time, which makes the gift all the more sweeter to them. We also plan a special time out with the family. We've done ice skating, movies, horseback riding, bowling, state parks.... It's always something that requires much of a day and that we don't do often. I'm often able to collect coupons or make special arrangements for these times to bring the cost down a little. Believe it or not, I think that the kids feel even more special on their birthdays because of the budget. They have the sweet reward after waiting and we have the absolute pleasure of giving them what they want after having saved for it. Oh, also many years ago I took a cake decorating class for the sole purpose of being able to make their birthday cakes. I'm not that good, but I learned a few techniques that have helped. I do my best to make any kind of cake they want. We've had princesses, Thomas, Pooh, Elmo, cars, planes, PBS kids, horses, cats, even a replica of a Bitty Baby Cake..... It is so fun!! We love birthdays!! Birthdays are our favorite time to spoil our kids. It’s a lot easier to do so when there is only one to focus on.

We try to buy them three things smaller type items that they’ve been wanting. This means that they have likely been asking and we’ve been denying them for some time, which makes the gift all the more sweeter to them.

We also plan a special time out with the family. We’ve done ice skating, movies, horseback riding, bowling, state parks…. It’s always something that requires much of a day and that we don’t do often. I’m often able to collect coupons or make special arrangements for these times to bring the cost down a little.

Believe it or not, I think that the kids feel even more special on their birthdays because of the budget. They have the sweet reward after waiting and we have the absolute pleasure of giving them what they want after having saved for it.

Oh, also many years ago I took a cake decorating class for the sole purpose of being able to make their birthday cakes. I’m not that good, but I learned a few techniques that have helped. I do my best to make any kind of cake they want. We’ve had princesses, Thomas, Pooh, Elmo, cars, planes, PBS kids, horses, cats, even a replica of a Bitty Baby Cake….. It is so fun!!

We love birthdays!!

]]> By: tina http://www.edgren.com/wordpress/2008/04/14/birthdays-on-a-budget/#comment-8466 tina Tue, 15 Apr 2008 08:33:04 +0000 http://www.edgren.com/wordpress/2008/04/14/birthdays-on-a-budget/#comment-8466 Happy Birthday Daniel! I know you will have a fun day and be covered in love and affection from your family and friends and all will enjoy it all the more knowing there will be no interest to be paid later. :) OK, so maybe your parents will enjoy that more than you. Wish we could be there to celebrate with you and have fun and be silly and celebrate another year in the life of Daniel Edgren, good friend and beloved son of one of our favorite families! Happy Birthday! Happy Birthday Daniel!
I know you will have a fun day and be covered in love and affection from your family and friends and all will enjoy it all the more knowing there will be no interest to be paid later. :)
OK, so maybe your parents will enjoy that more than you.

Wish we could be there to celebrate with you and have fun and be silly and celebrate another year in the life of Daniel Edgren, good friend and beloved son of one of our favorite families!

Happy Birthday!

]]>