The kindergarten graduation is the first event where a parent committee handles a genuinely large sum — several times bigger than the usual group fund. It is also the event people argue about most, almost always for the same reason: the budget was never written down before the money was requested.
Sample budget for a group of 20
| Item | Typical share of the budget | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Photographer and photo books | 25–30% | The single largest line in most budgets |
| Gifts for the children | 20–25% | Graduate folders, books, medals |
| Host or entertainer | 15–20% | Optional — the ceremony itself is run by staff |
| Hall decoration | 10–15% | Balloons, photo zone, backdrop |
| Refreshments | 10% | Check what the kindergarten permits |
| Gifts for group staff | 10% | Teachers, assistant, music teacher, nurse |
Where families actually save
- Skip the video, keep the photographer. Parents rewatch photos; the video is usually watched once.
- Decorate yourselves. A balloon arch bought as a kit and assembled by two parents costs a fraction of the ordered version.
- Book early. The same photographer in October and in April is not the same price.
- Agree the staff gifts as a group. Separate individual presents multiply the total without adding warmth.
Keep it separate from the group fund
The most common bookkeeping mistake is running the graduation collection through the same pot as the everyday group fund. The sums are different, the timeline is different, and by May nobody can tell which money paid for what.
A separate shared group solves it cleanly. In ДелиБабки you create a group by link with no registration, log each contribution under the pot category, attach a receipt photo to every purchase, and watch the totals on the Analytics tab. When the celebration is over, the Excel export produces the closing report — expenses on one sheet, balances and recommended transfers on the other — which is exactly what parents ask for afterwards.
Frequently asked questions
When should you start collecting?
September or October of the final year, in monthly instalments.
What goes into the budget?
Photographer, gifts for the children, decoration, refreshments and staff gifts as the core; host and video as optional extras.
What should be done with leftover money?
Return it proportionally or spend it by common decision — always with a public report.
Keep the graduation money in its own place
A separate group by link, receipts attached to every purchase, and a finished Excel report when it is over.
Create a group