How to Have a Cheap, Fun New Year's Eve

Celebrate During A Recession and Make New Year’s Resolutions

Nov 10, 2008

Celebrating New Year's Eve does not have to be an expensive affair. You do not have to take a trip or spend a lot of money to have a memorable, exciting night.

Many families are suffering financially and may be approaching the holidays with some trepidation. However, there are cost-effective and fun ways to make New Year’s Eve a wonderful occasion.

Celebrating New Year’s Eve Cheaply

Here are some ideas to have fun on New Year’s without breaking the bank:

Make a time capsule and bury it in the backyard. Resolve to dig it up in five, ten, or twenty year’s time.
Bake goodies for friends and family.
Host a "dessert party," which does not bear the same expense as making an entire dinner.
Make hot chocolate or apple cider in either non-alcoholic or alcoholic versions.
Dress up a little more than usual, to garner a little more excitement.
Buy a bottle of almond champagne, usually only about $10 a bottle at local Rite-Aid or Vons stores.
Put streamers or sparkly ribbons on anything – tablecloths, old cardboard paper towel holders, chairs and other furniture.

Celebrating New Year’s Eve With Children

Have a Family Fun Night on New Year’s Eve – break out the board games, movies, sleeping bags, and popcorn until midnight.
Make party hats out of construction paper.
Paint kid’s faces with cheap costume makeup. Stars, fireworks, and flags are all great ideas.
Make noisemakers by placing uncooked rice, seeds or nuts in plastic bottles.
Give each child a small notebook to record feelings and experiences.
Have children cut out and decorate stars and flags to put in windows or around the house.
Give kids cheap puzzles or word games with New Year's Eve themes.

New Year’s Resolutions

Many people have fun on New Year’s Eve making new resolutions for the coming year. The key to keeping resolutions is to write them down, take them seriously, and take the steps to making them come true. For example, if you want to spend more time with family, notify your employer prior to the holidays that you will stop working so much overtime.

Here are some common New Year’s Resolutions:

Spend more time with family
Exercise regularly
Lose weight
Quit smoking
Quit drinking
Reduce debt
Volunteer and help others
Organize the home or office
Learn something new
Learn more about a hobby you already enjoy
Recycle and live "green"
Go back to school
Take a vacation
Read more often
Learn a new language
Remodel the home

Not only are there affordable ways to celebrate New Year’s, but these are often the moments when friends and family come together to make the most of a holiday, even when they don’t have the money to go "all out" on parties or vacations. The memories made creating holiday artwork or sipping hot cocoa with family last longer than any expensive event.

How to Buy Cheap, Meaningful Gifts for Holidays

The copyright of the article How to Have a Cheap, Fun New Year's Eve in Home Management is owned by Abby Deliz. Permission to republish How to Have a Cheap, Fun New Year's Eve in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.