Picture the family reunion: the cousins are playing cornhole, the older folks are actually comfortable in a shaded lounge set, and nobody is crammed onto folding chairs. Getting that scene right takes planning, and the real lever here is timing. Graduation season eats up inventory fast in the spring, so you want your rentals locked in early before options dry up.
We can spread out the about $800 cost of the rental using the Citi Simplicity® Credit Card, which gives us 0% for 18 months on purchases and balance transfers from date of account opening to handle the bill without getting crushed all at once. Let's map out how to book this cleanly so the only surprise at the reunion is how well it all goes.
That 0% window is a deadline, not free money, so make sure the balance is gone before time runs out. If you still owe anything when the 18 months end, regular interest kicks in on the whole original amount.