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I’ve always wanted to see the ball drop on New Year’s Eve in Times Square. But my tiny budget won’t allow me to do it! So I always settle for hosting a New Year’s Eve party with family and friends at my place. But even that can get a little pricey. How do the rest of us spend our New Year’s Eve? And for how much?
Staying home on New Year’s Eve
A surprising amount of Americans stay put on New Year’s — 3 out of 4 to be exact. Only 5 percent of us go out to a large organized event, such as a club party or a concert.
Spending on a budget
83 percent of Americans will spend less than $200 dollars on December 31. Just 4 percent of us will spend more than $500. Sounds like no fancy bottles for most of us?
Pretty penny for an exclusive ticket
For those of us that are going out, the average price for a NYE event ticket is $75.
Check out Groupon for great ticket deals!
Rideshare nightmare
Plan to either drive (in bad traffic), carpool, take a cab, or stay home on the 31st. Historically, Uber charges more than double its regular fare for New Year’s Eve.
Are those numbers making your head spin? Here are a few tips I figured out to throw an NYE party on the cheap.
Start a little later
Since everyone will be counting down till midnight, your friends don’t need to come for 7 pm dinner. Start your party at 9 pm (or later) and have all your guests eat at home. That way, all you have to provide is snacks.
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Make it a potluck
Every party needs food, but cooking for 30 people can be exhausting, and catering can be a nightmare. Have everyone bring their favorite light dish to cut down on costs.
If everyone is okay grocery shopping together, the best way is to buy in bulk at Sam’s Club. Gather a grocery list that everyone agrees on and order it online! You’ll get a great value for the price and everyone can just split the bill later!
BYOB
Speaking of a potluck, make everyone bring a bottle too. Drinks are ridiculously expensive. Have guests bring their favorite bottle (or mixer) to have a variety of drinks at no cost to you! Take it one step further and have each guest bring a different bottle for some drink diversity. And don’t get too fancy, either. Sure, champagne is the signature drink to celebrate the new year. But prosecco is a similar and cheaper (and if you can’t stomach too much alcohol, sweeter) alternative to the expensive bubbly. A good bottle of prosecco can cost anywhere from two to five times less than a similarly-sized bottle of champagne.
Drizly has a few awesome selections for BYOB!
Reuse holiday decorations
My clear-colored holiday lights stay up through the new year. It’s a great way to make my house festive with the decorations I already have. Ditto for disposable plates and utensils. Consider purchasing holiday-neutral place settings for Christmas so you have some left over for New Year’s Eve.
Throw together something nice for your guests with some party favors from Kate Aspen. Kate Aspen has a variety of affordable, customizable gifts to ring in the new year! Make it a year you’ll never forget and get a keepsake as a reminder.
I love celebrating the new year, but sometimes a lot us can go overboard. But even if I’m not in New York, a fun New Year’s Eve party is still doable — without freezing in the middle of Times Square!
How do you celebrate New Year’s Eve? Leave a comment below!
