Is this normal in other parts of the US? (NTTGP-Vent)

ssmiles · September 2010

I got an invite today to an "Apartment Warming" party for a girl I know. Seems normal enough, right? Well, she is 26 yrs old, has a decent job, and this will be her first apartment away from home without her parents. This is where it gets strange: the party is not even being held at her new apartment-it is taking place at a friend's house about 40 mins from there (so all of the gifts can fit.) Also, she created a massive registry fit for a wedding, complete with a thirty dollar toilet brush and five hundred dollar vacuume. Then, to top it all off, there was a note included for people who were unable to attend the party to just drop her gifts off at work.

Is it just me, or is this a little strange? When I moved into my first apartment, I was thankful for the hand-me-down dishes and sofa from my parents and shopped clearance for whatever I could, then just did without the rest until I could afford it. Isn't that part of the fun? Wrestling with a smoking toaster but feeling good knowing it is yours and you worked hard for it? When did "housewarming" go from well wishes and a pretty plant or bottle of wine to a five hundred dollar vacuume from someone you hardly know that won't even show you their apartment you are warming? Do I sound like a jerk?

sbrowns08 · September 2010

I'm with you- when I first moved in to my own apartment it was mainly furnished with garage sale specials!

If she is a good friend, I would probably stick to my normal budget for housewarming/shower gifts that I have for all of my friends. With that said, if you are invited to another housewarming or shower down the road I would keep in mind that I already gave her a gift.

Actually I would most likely just show up with a bottle of wine. Haha.

ssmiles · September 2010

That's what I was thinking. I'm by no means a cheap-skate but I hardly know the girl and the cheapest thing on her list is that blasted toilet brush! Wine it is!

littlestjerry · September 2010

I kind of think the whole idea of an Apartment Warming is weird. It's one thing to have a few friends over to say, "Look, my first apartment." If a friend of mine did that, I'd certainly bring her a bottle of wine or something. But a party complete with a registry? I'm not a fan of that.

StephK · September 2010

No, I don't think registering for a housewarming party is normal in any part of the country? How bizarre and greedy. I've really never heard of such a thing. I've been to plenty of housewarming parties, but never ever a registry.

I think the advice above is great - show up and just bring a nice bottle of wine.

MuseumMaven · September 2010

I've never seen a registry at a house or apartment warming party. When I've had them people brought wine and houseplants! I can't imagine registering for one. And who needs a $30 toilet brush?

I ould definitely just bring some wine (or a houseplant!). Her requests are really out of line in my book.

catahoulatte · September 2010

LOL a housewarming party not at the actual apartment with a registry and a note to drop off gifts if you can't attend?? I would hate to see what this girl's wedding is going to be like. I would probably bring a card and a plant, max.

ssmiles · September 2010

Ok...I feel better now! Big Smile

ccam · September 2010

That is so strange! I've heard of registering for a housewarming party, but have never actually known anyone to do it. I would normally give a bottle of wine or something - and that's what I'd do for your friend, too, regardless of her registry!

MsCrispy · September 2010

That is totally wierd. I'm similar to you and would normally just bring a bottle of wine. I would be so turned off by this invite that I think I just wouldn't even go. And no, I would not drop of a gift at her work. The next time that you actually go to her house, then bring a bottle of wine.

lolliM · September 2010

And this is why she is 26 and just NOW moving out from her parents home. She probably has been given everything her whole life! No that's not normal---registries are for weddings and babies...nothing more! (do you guys do a housewarming registry???)

EMF9903 · September 2010

I hate to beat a dead horse but this was kinda too good to not even make a little comment on.

This person is crazy. I dont even know if the registering part is the craziest either.... Having a housewarming party not at your new place is amazingly out of control.... My husband (boyfriend then) and I joked about having an apartment warming party and registering when we moved to Seattle from NY so people could decorate our house but not come.... WE JOKED about this and how aweful it would be if anyone did this (we saw at Bed Bath and Beyond that they have a registry for housewarming).

Reminds me a bit of a friend (ex friend now) that threw a party for herself when she got a job and expected gifts. I wasnt aware that gifts were necessary at a yay I got a job like everyone else party so I went to show my support and brought a card. She called my friend the next day complaining that I didnt bring a gift and said I was rude.....

BarooGirl · September 2010

MsCrispy:
That is totally wierd. I'm similar to you and would normally just bring a bottle of wine. I would be so turned off by this invite that I think I just wouldn't even go. And no, I would not drop of a gift at her work. The next time that you actually go to her house, then bring a bottle of wine.

This.

I would take the $ I thought about spending and go get a pedi

She is not even having it at her new digs? Weird. I'd skip it.

alison2379 · September 2010

So tacky!!

Although I still feel a little guilty that I got all kinds of pretty new things just because I got married, and someone who is not married doesn't have the fancy household stuff that we got as gifts. Not that it at all makes her behavior right.

OtterPop1 · September 2010

Everyone has already said it all, but I just have to chime in. That is really tacky. Period.

My various apartments were decorated in the "Early American Garage Sale" style. When I bought a house, a few friends bought me some decor type things as housewarming gifts. I was really touched because I certainly didn't ask for anything. I have never heard of registering for a housewarming, much less an "apartment"warming.

I think registries have gotten out of control. What's next? Seven-year-olds registering for their birthday parties? :P

Firefly9 · September 2010

I have a friend who did that, registering and all (except it was held at her place). I personally think it's a little greedy, just for an apartment. I'm with you, in my apartment, I was happy with my free hand-me-down couches, Goodwill dishes, and cheap $10 toaster. Now that DH and I have a house, we are slowing trying to replace all of our mismatched wood tone cheap apartment furniture.

You definitely aren't a jerk. If you go, I'd just bring a bottle of wine and a card. I didn't go to my friend's apartment warming (plus, it was on the other side of the state).

jb2rn · September 2010

Totally inappropriate. You don't register for things like that.

I second the wine.

loveypants · September 2010

StephK:

No, I don't think registering for a housewarming party is normal in any part of the country? How bizarre and greedy. I've really never heard of such a thing. I've been to plenty of housewarming parties, but never ever a registry.

I think the advice above is great - show up and just bring a nice bottle of wine.

All of this.

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