Partytime can rack up pennies

4:03pm Thursday 3rd April 2008

LAST weekend was a real eye-opener for me as my five-year-old daughter attended two parties on the same day - and it suddenly dawned on me that she has a more active social life than I have.

No sooner had we returned from a week in the Alps skiing with friends, than I found myself ferrying her and some of her mates from one party venue to the next.

Maybe I'm a glutton for punishment.

With two suitcases full of dirty washing to do, along with the usual domestic chores a week away tends to bring, I'd have had an excuse to say no. As if the holiday wasn't enough!

But no, of course I was happy for her to go.

The thought of declining the many party invitations my daughter receives, where she gets to spend a whole hour running around like a headless chicken on child-friendly assault courses, is just too difficult.

It's a real pleasure to see the delight on her face when she knows she's not going to miss out on all the fun and won't feel left out in the playground when all the other children reminisce about the parties.

But saying "yes" to every party invitation she receives comes with a cost.

One, I'm going to feel like a taxi service; two, I'll be out of pocket and three, I'll be too skint to be able to go out myself.

There are 30 children in Erykah's class so, say she gets invited to at least half of those parties and - spend a maximum of £5 a present, plus a birthday card for £1.99 (that's cheap! ), you're looking at a price tag of more than £100.

I never thought I'd hear myself saying this, but in my day birthdays didn't cost the earth.

You'd definitely have a party - but a small one.

It would be with family and a couple of friends, if you were lucky, a birthday cake made by gran, jelly and ice cream for pudding, and games would be played.

Nowadays a birthday seems to be a reason to splash out on doing something bigger and better than the next person.

So I have decided to reduce the cost and stress of organising Erykah's next birthday party and keep it small at home, just like the good old days.

Thus sparing me a few pennies for myself to go out and let my hair down for a change.

The last time I went out was before Christmas - roll on the next party for grown-ups!

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