Back in May I shared our June birthday budget for our kids. Yes, both of our children have June birthdays. It is quite a tight rope walk on a smaller budget, but we managed it pretty well. How We Budget for Two Birthdays in One Month detailed our budget plans for gifts and parties. How did that work out? Here is the budget recap for their birthdays this year.
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THINGS DID NOT GO ACCORDING TO PLAN. AT ALL.
We had hoped to invite extended family to the house for our son’s third birthday and invite our daughter’s first grade classmates to the local aquatic park for a swim party later in the month.
Then COVID hit our area a little harder and we decided it just wasn’t a good idea. I was surprised the aquatic park even opened, albeit it was a month late for their typical season, but we’re not going.
We saved $150 on the pool party booking, another $20 on cupcakes, and weren’t out any extra on food for a family BBQ with our son. I’m not really calling this a budget win, so much as a disappointment for our daughter.
THE BUDGET BREAKDOWN ON OUR SON’S BIG THREE
I ordered our son’s gifts the last half of May, which was big mistake! It’s a good thing he’s not hung up on birthday gifts yet because only one arrived in time! He was excited that gifts came in the mail off and on the whole week.
We ended up spending a little more than planned but were more impressed with the quality and how colorful the tool bench we bought is. It’s actually significantly less now than it was a month ago!
I also happened across a great Memorial Day sale online and got him a few new outfits from Carter’s as well as a pair of sunglasses. My in-laws mailed money for his birthday so they chipped in on the clothes. Our budget was out just under $25 for three complete outfits and two pair of soft pants, and the sunglasses.
We also bought him this adorable explorer set. His sister has a pair of binoculars from a kid’s meal somewhere and he desperately wanted to play with them every time they went outside. So we got him his own set. As a bonus, the seller is a small business! This was the only gift that came in on time.
We also got him these boots. If they look familiar… they are. We purchased a darker pair and I mentioned them in Brand Loyalty: Is it Worth the Price You Pay? back in the fall.
We bought them in a larger size as he really loves his “cow boots” as he calls them and they’re easy to get on and off. At $18 they’re a great little boot that holds up well.
We also spent about $20 on the red velvet monster truck cake he requested. Total spending including pizza to ring in little man’s third birthday was $207.10. So we were slightly over, but he was very happy.
THE BUDGET RECAP ON OUR DAUGHTER’S SEVENTH BIRTHDAY
Things did not go according to plan at all for our party. While we saved $150 it was far from a win. She had her heart set on a pool party that just couldn’t happen.
It was harder than I realized finding surgical grade stainless steel studs made for children. I did find this pretty pair in her favorite color which she seems to love. She just hasn’t asked to wear them yet… We got these butterflies. They do not seem to be currently available in lavender.
And now that she has more than one pair of earrings we decided to get a small jewelry box. I settled on this travel case with plenty of space for earrings.
It should work out well and has already come in handy to hold a pretty little necklace gifted by a cousin. I like this one because it isn’t too big for her little hands to hold, but it’s too big for her to stick in one of her little purses and try to take it with her.
It’ll be interesting to see what she fills it with as she gets a little older. I’m curious what her jewelry taste will be!
Since she is on quite the Frozen kick and was low on pajamas we got her this two-pack of these Anna and Elsa pajamas as well. Between these and a set from her cousins, she is stocked on pajamas for a few months!
And since I’m that mom, I bought socks and underwear as well. Her brother gave away the socks because he was talking too loud watching me wrap presents. Whoops.
After a rather disappointing grocery store cake for our son’s birthday (for the adults, not the kids!), and the fact that we weren’t out on party cupcakes, we sprung for a $30 cake from a local bakery called Briar Rose. It did not disappoint!
I was however a bit disappointed that while I’d ordered a little Elsa doll to go on the cake (our little Frozen fan wanted an Elsa cake) and Walmart put an Anna in our pickup order. Ella said she was cute too and wasn’t the least bit upset thankfully!
All in all we were out $113.13 in birthday gifts and her birthday dinner . We still plan to take her out bowling as soon as it feels safe enough. Add about $30 in for bowling, and we will round it out just under budget.
Aw, glad your childen had nice birthdays. 😀
That’s a very busy month for you! In October, it’s my dads and my brothers within the space of a week which is always interesting! Thank you for sharing your budget breakdown – it’s really interesting to see what you spent and even though you went over budget, it worked out for the best!
Em | http://www.loveemblog.com
Those cakes look delicious! Your kids are very lucky! Nice one on sticking to your budget, I know exactly how you feel. December is the worst month for birthdays in our family, we have 4 to celebrate!
Four birthdays and Christmas?! That is an expensive month!
So glad your children had lovely birthdays. It has been a strange time, so great you were able to do as much as you did. Everything seems so much more expensive since COVID too. I don’t know if you’ve found that too x
Helen | http://www.whathelenloves.com
Loved reading it
The Anna cake is adorable and the rose design is beautiful! For my family, June is the busiest month for birthdays. I have a large family, and it feels like everyone’s birthday is in the month of June. So I completely understand your struggle.
Bearing in mind plans had to change and accommodate COVID, I think you did amazingly well to come in on this budget. I’m glad both kids enjoyed their birthdays – I wouldn’t be upset with either of those cakes either to be fair! Lisa
Thank you Lisa!
Wow! 2 kids in a month. December is our hell month. In our immediate family, we have my sister, my youngest (so, a party too), my dad, my husband, one of my nephews, and Christmas. LOL. Crazy how there’s always that one month for every family.
That’s a lot going on in December!
What a challenge to have to rework not one but two birthday parties during a pandemic! It sounds like you did a fantastic job with the planning and the budgeting. Those cakes are both awesome! 🙂
Thank you! We did our best.
I love the Ana cake (even though it was supposed to be Elsa!) I think you did a great job, all things considered! Loved reading this!
Much love always,
GABBY | http://www.gabbyabigaill.com
Thank you Gabby!
The cakes look amazing!! Such an interesting post. Thank you for sharing!
Amber – https://theunpredictedpage.com
Thank you! The second one was! Everything from that bakery is amazing! The first one was from a grocery store and just so-so.
The cakes look delicious, and I love the earrings!
Great post! 🙂 These cakes look so delicious.
I’m sorry the birthday plans were altered but it sounds like both kids had a lovely time and it’s great that you stuck to your budget!
Thank you Lauren!
This has been the worst for littles with birthdays! Sounds like you made the most of it, but you’re right. The savings hardly feel worth it. Way to go budgeting and planning for two kids birthdays in one month! We’ve got two adult birthdays in May, but it’s not quite as expensive to plan for.
Even though Covid messed up your plans, you provided a memorable birthday for each kid and stayed pretty close to your budget. Great job! The cakes look great too.
Thank you! We sure tried! Luckily we were able to have a few family members over before the end of the month so the kids were showered with birthday love by them too.