Holiday Decorations and Celebrations in an Interfaith Apartment

November 22, 2013 | By Melissa AuthorMy First Apartment

When you live with people outside of your family, it’s highly likely that they’re going to have different traditions. Even if you’re the same religion, you’re bound to have some differences about decorations and celebrations. For example, my cousins and I, who are all of the same faith, have drastically different ways of acknowledging holidays!…

Happy Holidays!

December 22, 2012 | By MFA Editors AuthorMy First Apartment

Thanks for making 2012 another record year for My First Apartment. We had over half a million visitors to the site and over 1.5 million pageviews. During the year we added close to 100 new posts on finding and furnishing your first apartment, living with roommates, managing apartment expenses, and throwing parties on budget. We…

Roommate Gift-Giving: A Complete Guide

December 8, 2012 | By Alex AuthorMy First Apartment

Here at My First Apartment we love the holiday season – it’s a time to get together with old friends, it’s a time to reflect upon the year gone by, and it’s also a time to exchange presents. For the first apartment dwellers among us, that can mean a good ol’ fashioned roommate gift swap.…

A Male’s Perspective: Should You Give Holiday Presents to Your Roommate(s)?

December 18, 2011 | By Alex AuthorMy First Apartment

It’s an important question. You live with these people, you see them all the time. But do you need to give them presents? It depends … Last year we considered how to do a Roommate Gift Exchange, but this year a consideration of whether to do it is covered in depth – both in the…

3 Decisions on Gifting Between Roommates

December 16, 2011 | By MFA Editors AuthorMy First Apartment

Our guest blogger Katie shares her roommate gifting experiences. ROOMMATES AND HOLIDAYS by Katie There’s always stress around the holiday season when it comes to getting the perfect gift for someone, and gifting between roommates could be an awkward experience if you don’t talk to your roommate first! You don’t necessarily have to exchange gifts…

Holiday Tipping 2011: Infographic Style

December 13, 2011 | By Alissa AuthorMy First Apartment

In years’ past, we’ve covered the mysterious, occasionally awkward subject of holiday tipping – how much and to whom. In fact, we have an entire section within our blog about the holidays and how to make it through them happy and unscathed:) Last year, I tipped my coffee cart guy (I don’t have a super etc)…

Apartment Safety Tips: Holiday Travel Edition

November 14, 2011 | By Alissa AuthorMy First Apartment

With the holidays just around the corner, it’s no surprise that many folks will be travelling – especially those living away from home for the first time. I still remember the relief that first year going home for Thanksgiving – and the equal relief upon opening the door to my apartment afterwards. I also remember…

How to Throw a Last Minute New Year’s Eve Party

December 30, 2010 | By Alissa AuthorMy First Apartment

If you’ve recently moved into a new place, there’s no better way to make a place feel lived in than by having a gather/party/what have you. Sure, it means wet entryways (at least if you live in the Northeast!) but it also means adding warmth and friends to what may feel like an unfamiliar abode.…

Elyse on Roommate Gifting

December 24, 2010 | By MFA Editors AuthorMy First Apartment

When you share a home with people, it can often feel like a surrogate family. I’ve had Sunday dinners and Thursday movie nights with roomies, but I’ve loved the Christmases I’ve shared with roommates more than anything. Last year, we all had a real Christmas morning together (albeit, the week before Christmas day) where we…

Should You Exchange Holiday Gifts With Your Roommate(s)?

December 20, 2010 | By Alissa AuthorMy First Apartment

If you’re friends with your roommates – then this question is easier. You can casually chat about it. Yes. No. Whatevs. In the situation above, likely your natural first instinct is to ask what the expectation is – and that’s not wrong no matter who your roommates are. I think what makes everyone nervous about…