You’re hosting a New Year’s Eve party. You may not have been completely drunk when you volunteered for the job, but there may have been alcohol involved. Regardless, now you’ve got all these people showing up to a party…but it’s been a tough year and you don’t have a lot of excess cash laying around! What to do??
Relax, premier party host, we’ve got you covered!
Here are Five Fast Ideas on how to host NYE on a budget:
- 🎄 Set A Limit - As with any big project, you should start with a specific budget. Set what you can afford, and don’t overspend. It’s not worth going into debt for a party most people will forget before they give up on their new year’s diet! And keep your Christmas decorations up a few days longer so your place still looks festive without spending ANY more!
- 🏃 Group Project - One of the best ways to keep costs low is to involve your guests. It’s no big deal for everyone to bring one item, but with a big group that ends up being a LOT of great stuff that everyone can enjoy! A gift exchange (like a wine bottle swap) can also help spice things up, and it still doesn’t come out of your own pocket. Heck, you could even make that part of the fun - everyone brings whatever random leftover napkins you have from the previous year!
- 🍲 There’s An App For That - The food doesn’t have to be full plate dinners. Appetizers, finger foods, and lots of variety is actually great because people can try lots of things and graze all night without getting bored. Make yourself a challenge to see what you can put together with Christmas leftovers! For drinks, go with large batch items to keep alcohol costs down, like with wassail or a punch bowl of cider, or set up a make-your-own drink station with a few basic staples. Lower proof alcohol not only increases the chances of everyone making it to midnight, but it’s also cheaper!
- 😂 Make It An Event - It’s actually a long time between dinner and midnight, so think of some fun events you can do to pass the time. A polar plunge (with the necessary safety precautions, of course!), a late night run, a scavenger hunt around town, or board games can be a lot of fun in big groups. There are a lot of fireworks or light shows that can be found on the internet or TV, too, if you’re looking for a little less physical involvement on your part. 😉
- 🌎 Go International - Try some non-American traditions, just for fun! In the Philippines they often serve a dozen spherical fruits to represent the months of the year. In Spain people eat 12 grapes before midnight to bring luck in the new year. Most countries have traditions like this, so do a bit of research and find some fun stuff to try that won’t break the bank.
🔥Bottom line: There are as many ways to celebrate as there are people to celebrate with! The best part of gatherings like this are the people who are there, so don’t sweat the small stuff like matching napkins. Just use a bit of creativity and go for it! You might just end up with the best NYE party ever!
What’s your best NYE party memory?
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