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.
Related Article:
Abby Deliz - Abby Deliz pursued writing extensively through high school and college, and she was published several times. Most notably, she published ...
