Rent the tent or buy one?

Winchester

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I've been working on some things for DH's birthday party and I need a tent. We have changed the date to the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend. Dear DH knows about it because on Friday night, when I was printing out instructions for constructing a tiki bar, he came back to the computer room and got nosy. When he saw what I was up to, he started smiling. Snot that he is. And then on Saturday morning, I was sitting at the kitchen table drinking coffee; DH came out to the kitchen, said that he had looked at the plans I printed out and he thinks it's doable and wants to make it. (Have I mentioned that I love that man?
) So now that he knows about the party, we spent the weekend figuring out what to do and how to do it.

Anyway, I called the rental place; they want $110 for a 20 x 20-foot tarp. I can rent sides for the tarp; each side? $25, so we're talking $75 for that. Delivery and set-up is $30 and I can't just pick it up myself, although I do have to take it back on Monday morning. So we're up to $215. Now....I can just flat-out buy a 10 x 20-foot blue and white striped "party" tent with windows on two sides. Cost: $100, including shipping. Or the 10 x 30-foot tent for $140, including shipping.

What do you think? Rent it for $215? Or buy one for $100/$140? I was talking to my sister and she thinks there's a need for a tent, that if I bought one, it would get used enough to make it worth the money. She is planning on a few family get-togethers down by the creek on their property this summer and I'm always looking for an excuse to have people over for dinner, whether it's a holiday, a Saturday night, or a "Hey, let's get together" kind of thing. She said she'd help me pay for it and then she could use it, too.,,,we used to do that all the time. Go in together for something and then we'd both use it. It was never a problem.

A 10 x 20 would work out better for us for our family get-togethers. The 10 x 30 would work out for larger parties. We don't do larger parties that often though.

Rent or buy?
 

farleyv

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O golly, I would buy. You will have it for years and like you said, family will be able to use it too.

Does it come with sides?

As long as it is cheaper, I'd go with buying it.

Now, I have a little get together planned for July 4th..........
 
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Winchester

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Thanks for answering! Yes it comes with four sides and the front side rolls up and ties.

As for your get together on the 4th, c'mon down and pick it up!
 

adymarie

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I think that if you can use it again AND you have a place to store it, then you should get it.
 

blueyedgirl5946

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If it is less to buy, I would do that, unless you know you would never use it again.
 

mystik spiral

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Originally Posted by adymarie

I think that if you can use it again AND you have a place to store it, then you should get it.
If it was a one-time use thing, I would rent - costs more, but less waste. But if you have future uses for it and somewhere to keep it, it's worth the money to buy.

I would make sure of the quality of tent you are buying, though... the price seems really low for that big of a tent.
 

natalie_ca

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At those prices, even if you only use the tent once, it's cheaper to buy it. Go with the money saving way....buy. You can always sell it for 1/2 the cost and recoup some of your money later on.
 

MoochNNoodles

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I would buy! Especially since your sister is willing to go in on it. My Mom and I have done that with some bigger kitchen gadgets. I rented a camping tent once and it was dirty when we set it up. Like someone took the beach home with them instead of cleaning it out. Made me not want to rent again!

DH and I got this: http://www.walmart.com/ip/First-Up-1...Gazebo/8571900 last summer for Tressa's Dedication party. We plan to put it up this summer for her to play under when it's really hot.
 

kimkats000

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BUY it. There is nothing worse than a smelly tent and most rentals are musty smelling=NASTY!

When you get yours make sure it is ALL the way dry before you put it up. It will make it last longer and you will be glad in the long run.

Have FUN!

Kim
 

ldg

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Originally Posted by Natalie_ca

At those prices, even if you only use the tent once, it's cheaper to buy it. Go with the money saving way....buy. You can always sell it for 1/2 the cost and recoup some of your money later on.
Though I get the feeling your family will be able to get a lot of use out of it!

Bummer DH spoiled the surprise... but it does make it easier.
 

nanner

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I would definitely buy, at those prices, instead of rent. And it sounds like you and your sister would get lots of use out of it.
 
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Winchester

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Thanks, guys! I bought it and it should be delivered sometime next week. I just got the smaller one (10 x 20) because most of the time it will be just the family. And it will fit in the back yard perfectly between the back of the house and the flowerbed.

We can store it in our basement, so that's not a problem.

I never thought about selling it later on, but you're right. We always try to take care of our things, so if we decide we don't want to keep it, we may go that route. Unless our son decides he wants it. That usually happens.

My SIL has already requested it for something she's planning in August.
 
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