$10,000 for child's birthday party?

[Ptarmigan]

$10,000 for child's birthday party?
CNN
Lifewire
April 18, 2008
By Anna Jane Grossman
 
Two years ago, Stephanie Kaster of Manhattan set out to plan the birthday party of a lifetime for her daughter. Granted, little Sophie didn't have many parties under her belt with which to compare it: She was not yet 3.

"I just thought, 'If I go to another paint-a-ceramic-bowl or stuff-a-bear party, I'll shoot myself,'" says Kaster.

So she booked a fondue restaurant, hired a musical troupe to perform as the Wiggles (her daughter's favorite group) and ordered a four-layer cake. Each guest took home a Fisher-Price guitar and custom CD.

The price tag? $5,000.

Full Article

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This is ridiculous. I am for capitialism and making a lot of money. If it is among adults, I could care less about it. However, we are talking about children. $25 million for a Bar Mitzvah is too much. Even if I was Bill Gates, I would not spend that much for my child's birthday. These parties seem to be more for other parents, not the children. We have too many self-absorbed people.

My parents did not spend a lot for my birthday parties and I enjoyed it a lot. Children should be children and do what they like. We are so worried about children's self-esteem that any failure is bad. Children need to know that spending too much is not a good thing. What kind of message do we send to children?

It would not surprise me, if many of these parties are paid in credit which means larger debt. I can see why we have a debt problem in America.

[DixieBelle]

*reads thread, shakes head muttering "hell....handbasket"*

[Ptarmigan]

*reads thread, shakes head muttering "hell....handbasket"*

It's probably why we have all these school shootings and case of parents gone bad like Lori Drew or those kids who post beatings on YouTube.

[Chris_]

Yet another kid who will grow up feeling entitled.

And that $10K would have been much better invested for college.

This is even stupider than people who spend $50K on their weddings.  And that is damn stupid.

[Ptarmigan]

Yet another kid who will grow up feeling entitled.

And that $10K would have been much better invested for college.

This is even stupider than people who spend $50K on their weddings.  And that is damn stupid.

Tell me about it! This entitlement culture is ruining America. That's just wrong. We have parents suing schools over their child not making the cheerleading team or not making it an Ivy League School. My type of wedding would be simple and fun.

[DixieBelle]

We will be done in from the inside folks. I used to roll my eyes when I would hear my parents and grandparents say, "What is this world coming to!?" Now? Not so much. Frightening. Really, really frightening.

[Dixie*Darling]

The only birthday party I had as a child (I was 10) included one guest and a one layer cake.  Mother dropped one of the layers when she was taking it out of the oven.   

It scarred me for life.  Boo fricken hoo! 

[JohnnyReb]

Ever notice that these "high dollar" parties, weddings etc. are usually thrown by those of the more liberal bent?

[Ptarmigan]

Ever notice that these "high dollar" parties, weddings etc. are usually thrown by those of the more liberal bent?

Yeah, I notice that.

[Wretched Excess]

*reads thread, shakes head muttering "hell....handbasket"*

DB is officially infected with the "WE thinks everything is a sign of armageddon-itis"

we are hoping for a cure soon.

[jendf]

I remember my birthday parties. My mom would buy paper plates, napkins, and cups with a cartoon theme like Rainbow Bright or Strawberry Shortcake and she would bake a cake. Years where I was a really good girl and the money was flowing, my parents would even splurge for a pinata or a pin the tail on the donkey game.

I bet they didn't even crack $100.

[Chris_]

Ever notice that these "high dollar" parties, weddings etc. are usually thrown by those of the more liberal bent?

That's because liberalism, in the final analysis, is all about MEEEE and MY happiness NOW.  Conservatives are just that -- they know the value of a dollar and generally are against waste.

[DixieBelle]

*reads thread, shakes head muttering "hell....handbasket"*

DB is officially infected with the "WE thinks everything is a sign of armageddon-itis"

we are hoping for a cure soon.

ROFL! I'm turning into my parents whether I like it or not

[Duke Nukum]

I don't know, I read the article and fail to find the outrage.  I mean, if someone wants to spend $5,000 on a party and they have the money, I don't see a problem with it.  On the other hand if someone things $5,000 is too much there is the frugal party place.

I had a party once with friends over and games and it was pretty fun.  I think each of us kids got one party like that and then the rest were like just family and friends.  I didn't mind either way because either way it was my birthday.

Anyway, the universe is always expanding so parties are bound to get bigger.  Then there will be sort of plateaus and pullbacks like in the market, and then they get bigger again.  One can never become less as life progresses, one may sort of stagnate but the purpose of life is growth and expansion.  Even the Vulcans know it, Live long and prosper.  And Be fruitful and multiply is like the first pre-Moses command.  And it's a very hard one to try and defy.  More of an imperative than a command, really.  Life, I think, is supposed to be fun so why worry about how much somone else spends on a party?

[Chris_]

I don't know, I read the article and fail to find the outrage.  I mean, if someone wants to spend $5,000 on a party and they have the money, I don't see a problem with it.  On the other hand if someone things $5,000 is too much there is the frugal party place.

I had a party once with friends over and games and it was pretty fun.  I think each of us kids got one party like that and then the rest were like just family and friends.  I didn't mind either way because either way it was my birthday.

Anyway, the universe is always expanding so parties are bound to get bigger.  Then there will be sort of plateaus and pullbacks like in the market, and then they get bigger again.  One can never become less as life progresses, one may sort of stagnate but the purpose of life is growth and expansion.  Even the Vulcans know it, Live long and prosper.  And Be fruitful and multiply is like the first pre-Moses command.  And it's a very hard one to try and defy.  More of an imperative than a command, really.  Life, I think, is supposed to be fun so why worry about how much somone else spends on a party?

I think this is more tsk tsk tsk than outrage.  It seems a waste of money, but you are right it is their money to waste. 

But  if that kid comes asking for a non-merit scholarship loan or grant when that $10K could have been invested, then he/she should be turned away. Actions have consequences and yes, the sins of the parents do get visited onto the kids.  That won't happen -- I am speaking morally.

In fact there is agood percentage chance that we will end up subsidizing these types of parties.  So I want to be invited next time.

[Ptarmigan]

I rather invest $10,000 in a college fund or mutual funds and stocks and give it to them when they become 18 than splurge it on the party. Most kids are not going to remember an extravagent party. Most kids remember what fun they had as kids. People are free to spend how much on a party. We also have to right to criticize. It is called the First Amendment.

If people wanted to spend a lot for a party among adults only, I can careless about it. Since we are dealing with children, that is a different story. Also, I like to point out, many of these people who do that are likely social climbers and will likely be in huge debt, which is a common sight in America. Sadly, most of these parties are not even about the kids, it mostly about the adult.

[Duke Nukum]

Yes, people are free to complain about anything they want too.  I just thought it was going to be something like $10,000 birthday parties for thrown by parents who's kids are on welfare or something and I didn't get the outrage.  I think it is really hard to say how people should be allowed to spend their own money.  It strikes me like something the government tries to do via tax laws and such.

And the lady in the front of the article who spent $5,000 when her child was 3 cut way back for the next year.  And who's to say a $10,000 birthday party isn't a better use of the money than saving it for tuition to some elitist university who's only going to change the child into a left-wing wacko?

I read something recently that 85% of self-made millionaires don't have a college degree.  And that C students end up owning the companies that A and B students work for.  So maybe a $10,000 birthday party isn't such a bad deal after all.  Maybe it's time to go into the Birthday Party Planning business?