Throw a NYE party on a budget with these simple steps:

Celebrating NYE is probably the most awaited celebration after Christmas, of course, and it would be a pity not to do anything because of this awful inflation, right? After all, life goes on, and we still have to enjoy the little things as much as we can.

We all want to spend the first few days of the year with the people who mean the most to us. But organizing a party for this significant event requires a lot of work and, for many, a lot of financial resources. It may surprise you to learn that there are ways to keep your NYE party within your budget and have fun at the same time. Let’s get the party started!

Limit the guest list to a friendly few

Having a party on New Year’s Eve with all of your friends, their friends, and their friends’ friends is fun, but it costs a lot of money because, after all, there are a lot of mouths to feed. Every name on your guest list is a dollar sign, so the more conservative you are, the less you will have to spend.

Therefore, invite only a few friends you enjoy spending time with to your party, rather than inviting the entire neighborhood and beyond. You’re not a teenager anymore and you don’t need to impress others with your NYE party!

Don’t rush to buy champagne first

A lot of people think that there is no NYE party without champagne. Brainy Savings begs to differ and has a frugal solution for the “issue.” With this inflation, the cost of the beverage is pretty high and it can quickly ruin your budget if you don’t have enough to buy for every guest.

Offer substitutes early in the evening and pull out the bottles for the New Year’s toast to keep expenses down. Asking your guests to bring their own champagne bottle so they can enjoy it at their own pace rather than at your expense will help you cut costs even further.

If you’d like to keep things simple and your guest list is small, why not figure out how many bottles you’ll need to make sure everyone can enjoy a glass of champagne per night? It may seem cheap, but these days, it’s all about making the most of what we have! Plus, you can also have other beverages too. Beer, wine, or other alcoholic beverages are among the favorites too for the NYE party.

Hunt for holiday food sales

It sounds like a cliché, but it’s not. And if you’re a frugal person, you understand how important it is to buy things when they’re on sale. This is the recipe for success when it comes to a great NYE party on a budget.

After any major holiday, stores typically clear out seasonal merchandise. That’s why, soon after the Christmas holiday is over, go check your favorite grocery store and watch out for the discounts. Maybe it’s some red wine or some cured meat for a charcuterie board; it’s still awesome when you find them at a good price. Just be careful and watch the expiration date before adding them to your cart!

Potluck dinner

Is the food still expensive, and do you think you can handle being a good guest for more than 5 people? If your guests are only close friends or relatives, try and suggest the potluck dinner idea to them. It’s a great custom, plus it’s going to save you a lot of money!

To avoid having to pay for all the food, each friend will contribute their favorite dish. You can also split the cost of the alcohol by adding alcoholic beverages. Trust me, people will be happy to bring a bit of what they like!

…Or try fondue

Another way to keep your NYE party on a budget is trying fondue. Gets lots of crackers, or bread depending on your preferences, veggies, and choose a cheese fondue if you like savory food. You can make a very easy chocolate fondue with marshmallows, fruits, and other delicious sweets if you and your guests have a sweet tooth.

Repurpose and DIY your decorations

You may be tempted to want to decorate your house for the NYE party with a lot of cute stuff, but every tiny decoration adds up to the final cost. And none of them are actually cheap! So, what do you do?

Rather than going through Target’s decoration section and clearing the shelves of everything you want, consider looking at some of the simple, inexpensive DIY projects. When it comes to party décor, you might be shocked at how much gold glitter and balloons can accomplish. If you’re not very handy with DIY projects, you can also go check the Dollar Tree Stores and see what they have.

Start the party later in the evening

Again, this might sound like you are a cheap host, but we’re living in hard times, so it is what it is. Instead of thinking of a huge dinner prep and spending a ton on all sorts of stuff, why don’t you talk to your guests and propose they come to the party later on after 9 p.m.?

Since you will only be serving yourself a full-course meal, and everyone will have eaten something before leaving home, it will significantly reduce the party budget. Instead, provide snacks for your NYE party, such as appetizers and desserts. Or, even better, as I previously mentioned, encourage your guests to bring treats to share by holding a potluck. This will satisfy everyone’s cravings without breaking the bank.

Ask everyone to dress casual and comfortable

Planning a fancy outfit for the NYE party might be a bit overwhelming, especially if you have to buy some stuff. So instead of doing that, save the money for something else and ask all your guests to dress casually. Just make sure you wear something red; it’s for good luck in the year that comes! Even though it might not be as photogenic, having fun is more about who you are than what you’re wearing.

Turn off the lights…

Hosting an NYE party in your house will also put a strain on your budget when it comes to the electric bill in January. So why not make something cute that can also save you some bucks as well?

Dim the lights and place candles throughout your party area. Make sure to have plenty of candles, as they enhance everyone’s appearance. Use flameless LED votives just to be safe, especially if you’ll be hosting children or pets.

How will you celebrate New Year’s Eve? Tell me in the comments.

Repurposing decorations is a great way to save money for your NYE party, but when you find this set of 24 party blowers at $9, you might be tempted to order it. It’s pretty affordable, and it can last for two years in a row if you have a party with very few guests. 

Looking for a place to do the shopping for your NYE party? As an avid shopper at Lidl, I recommend it. Looking for a Reason to Shop at Lidl? These 11 Items are Top Notch.