My Frugal Adventures

Simple recipes, DIY and inspiration to make everyday a little more fun

{CLOSED} Giveaway: Old Friends, New Spaces $100 Gift Card

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I think most people are already familiar with Apartment Guide as a resource for finding apartment rentals across the United States.  Many of the properties they feature also have floor plans, comprehensive photographs and other information to help you find the perfect rental space.  In addition, Apartment Guide also has tips for entertaining and decorating.

And I was recently challenged by Apartment Guide to come up with fun, budget-friendly, entertaining ideas in smaller spaces.

I am actually planning a birthday party for my nephew so I decided to take on this challenge and see what I can come up with!  We initially planned a backyard BBQ but the weather has changed those plans.  Not to worry, we decided to just continue the celebration indoors!  This is my nephew’s 21st birthday so we are having a Mexican Fiesta (his favorite food) and I am hoping to pull together a fun, vibrant party to celebrate.

To make this challenge more exciting, Apartment Guide is offering a $100 gift card giveaway to one My Frugal Adventures reader!

You will get a $100 American Express gift card that can be used anywhere you like.  This giveaway will run through Wednesday at 4pm PST.

To enter is simple:

Please leave a separate comment for each entry!

REQUIRED:  Do you have any tips for hosting budget friendly parties?  If not, just let us know what type of party you’d like to have using this gift card.

BONUS ENTRY: You can either like Apartment Guide on Facebook or Follow them on Twitter (or do both if you like!)

BONUS ENTRY #2: And finally an extra bonus entry if you subscribe to MFA via email, follow on Twitter or like me on Facebook .  Be sure to leave a comment letting me know!

*Please be sure to actually leave a comment below.  Any emails, Facebook messages or tweets will not be counted.  If you are viewing this in a reader just click through to the blog to leave your comment.

Good luck!!!

Comments

  1. LIz says

    We used address labels with a printed with a small picture of the birthday girl/boy and wrapped them around hershey’s miniture candy bars (the gold chunkier ones work well) for a personalized treat at the party.

  2. Ashley says

    Welove hsting parties and celebrations and have learned over the yrs to keep expenses to a minimum. Usually we’ll provide the cake/dessert and ask the guests to BYOS (bring your own snack) That way it’s npt expensive for any family; we all share the cost. Then for entertainment we always play a big group game, which doesn’t cost anyone anything or require much room but is loads of fun!

  3. Nicole V. says

    For a budget saving party I usually make all my decorations, cake, and food. I will also reuse some decorations from year to year if they have held up in storage!

  5. Kristi G. says

    When I have parties for a larger number of people, I like to have “build a sub” for the meal. If I watch for coupons and sales ahead of time, it generally isn’t too expensive.

  8. Janet Grace says

    Would love to have an indoor party toasting marshmallows in the fireplace, making s’mores and wathcing a pay per view classis move! That’s frugal!

  9. Krista says

    To help pull together a “cheap” party I shop our home! Are flowers in bloom? Grab some and put into vases for your table and around your home (don’t forget the bathroom!), create a menu around maybe a taco bar and each guest can bring a topping. When everyone shows up, you’ve got a nice selection….use colorful sheets as a layered tablecloth, go to the dollar store for your balloons. I usually blow up about ten or so & hang them from different heights of our chandelier and then blow up another 10 or so and just let them “float” around the house…I’ve caught adults kicking them and kids love them! We have four children & I have had many successful parties for less than $50.00. I would use the gift certificate that you are offering for my parents 50th anniversary in June 🙂

    Thank you!
    Krista

  12. heather says

    Id say just to shop around, check out prices online and in store etc. Dont jump on the first price you find.

  15. Peggy says

    I planned a graduation party for my son. Over 100 people attended. We rented a reasonably priced shelter (cost about $40.00). I found some clearanced material in his school colors to make the table cloths (cost about $10.00). We took his prom pictures and made ten 5 x 7 copies. Picture frames were found at the dollar store (cost about $10.00). The pictures were placed on the table and given to close family members at the end of the party. We bbq’d the food to cut expenses (cost about $50.00). I made a slide show of my son from birth through high school and placed it on the table (cost was free). The only place we splurged was in renting a cotton candy machine (cost about $50.00). The kids loved this. The party cost about $160.00 but looked like it cost much more.

  18. Melissa says

    If I were hosting a party, I’d make sure to shop my Publix bogo’s for some treats to entertain my guests

  19. Lindsay says

    My tip is probably a no brainer for anyone who coupons, but I always stock up on party snacks when the price is right. I always have a few varieties of chips, dips, crackers, and cheese on hand. In fact, I just got a few containers of french onion dip for free after coupons.

  23. Lindsay says

    And I follow you on Facebook and get the MFA email. Thanks for all your hard work!

  30. Brooke says

    It is always fun to throw a ‘pitch-in’ party asking people to bring a fun side dish. You get a lot of variety and it cuts down your planning and cleanup!

  34. Suzy says

    My advice for a budget freindy party is to research ideas online first a couple months in advance to be able to plan to make most your decorations. If you wait to long like me then you end up buying everything at the last minute!

    I just had a Toy Story birthday party for my daughter. Next if I won I could use it more a Easter party for my kids and playgroup 🙂

  37. sheryl p says

    Hi! I find a good money saver for b-day parties is to make my own cake rather than buy one from a bakery. It is alot cheaper and usually tastes better too!

  39. Kristal says

    My tip for budget friendly parities is, have people bring stuff. No one ever minds bringing stuff. We never require them to either. Just ask. We usually just have people bring either drinks or a dessert. We also splurge and buy the better hefty type cups and plates and silverware so we can wash and reuse.

  44. Jennifer Donahue says

    My husband’s birthday is in April and I would love to have an 80s themed party for him! lol

  46. Kristina H says

    I always go to the dollar store to get my table covers. My local stores charge 1.50 so when I can save 5 bucks just on those for 10 tables its a good day.

  47. Deborah says

    To save money on food I shop my pantry first and try to make food out of what we already have which I buy mostly on sale instead of creating a special menu that needs all new full-priced ingredients.

    My daughter is turning two in a month, time to create a dinner menu!

  49. Jenn says

    Well, since I’m due in less than a month, I guess we’d host a baby-welcoming party!