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Mum charges fee to attend her kids' birthday party

A mum has kicked-off a parenting debate about whether it is right to charge children to attend a birthday party.

Rumi Ali, 29, a single mother of twin boys, invited 60 of their friends to a party to celebrate their fifth birthday and asked parents to contribute $10 towards the cost.

But one parent, whose child was invited to the party, posted anonymously in a Facebook group saying she had never come across this before and asked if charging was the ‘done’ thing nowadays.

Source: Giphy
Source: Giphy

Rumi, who is in her second year at De Montford University studying for a degree, has said that despite her number being on the invite, the parent had not contacted her directly.

The mum has defended her decision to ask parents to pay, explaining that as the boys are in two different classes they have a lot of friends to invite.

“I didn’t want anybody to get left out,” she told the Leicester Mercury.

“I thought I don’t want to pick and choose which friends can come.

“I thought, invite the whole class and then nobody’s upset. I thought they [the parents] would understand [the charge].”

Mum Rumi has asked parents to contribute to her children's birthday party. Photo: Getty
Mum Rumi has asked parents to contribute to her children's birthday party. Photo: Getty

The mum went on to point out that no other parents have questioned the cost and added that if any parent had struggled to pay she would have still wanted their child to attend.

“Everyone is entitled to their own opinion,” the mum continued.

“But this was the best way for me.”

Even with the parents subsidising the cost she expects the bill to be over $800, and many parents have defended the mum’s decision.

“Not all parents can afford to pay for parties but also they want to make their child happy by having a party for them,” one poster commented.

The average cost of a child's birthday is $550. Photo: Getty
The average cost of a child's birthday is $550. Photo: Getty

“Instead of buying a gift you could pay the $10 and buy a birthday card.”

As any parent will appreciate birthday parties can be a costly business.

According to recent research from UK discount brand, Vouchercloud, the average parent of a primary school-aged child spends $550 on a party – with a further $300, on average, then forked out on birthday presents.

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