I'm a stay at home mom of four kids.
We live in southern California.
We've been debt free for about 9 years.
My daughter turned ten this past week, and to kick off her birthday celebrations, we had a couple dozen friends sing happy birthday to her at the park and enjoy piles of donuts (purchased on clearance).
Saved money, but her face says it all....she was one happy girl!
It was a good reminder to me not to feel pressure to spend amounts of money I don't care to spend in order to have a birthday "like everybody else" when this was a great start to her celebrations and for much less than a more traditional treat/decorations/venue would have cost.
(I also took her for a free virtual reality exhibit, got her ears pierced at Walmart - at a fraction of the cost of other ear piercing places- , gave her brand new yarn rolls that I purchased at a thrift store, etc.)
What gifts have you given or parties have you thrown that didn't break your budget goals?
