Saving money on New Year’s Eve can be quite significant, especially when you consider it is one of the most universally celebrated holidays in the world. No matter where you live, New Year’s celebrations are abound in large cities and small towns alike. Saving money while still celebrating requires a little bit of creativity and imagination. Nevertheless, it can be done.
Before getting to the actual money saving ideas, it’s important for you to decide what your annual holiday budget will be. One of the most common ways people find themselves in financial trouble is failing to come up with a reasonable budget. Without a budget, it’s easy to get caught up in the emotion of the celebration and spend money you don’t have. By creating a budget, you are telling yourself up front what your financial limits are, thus reducing the chances you’ll spend too much.
Is free always good?
To start your money saving adventure you might begin looking around for events that are free. Most major cities offer a plethora of such events throughout the course of the day consisting of kids’ activities, concerts, ice skating, sporting events, etc. These free events are designed to increase community involvement and bring people together downtown. If you have the stamina, you could probably find enough activity to keep you busy from mid-morning through the midnight hour.
Free events for New Year’s Eve are usually listed in your local newspaper as well as on the Internet. However, don’t wait until the last minute to start searching for ideas. If any of them have limited space and require reservations, waiting until the 29th of December could mean you don’t get into some of them. Typically, you’ll want to start searching in late autumn – and keep checking listings regularly for new events added during the months of November and December.
In addition to local governments, museums and other nonprofits sometimes provide free events of their own. These events are somewhat scaled back, due to size and other limitations, but many times organizations offering these events will provide several opportunities during the last week of December. This certainly doesn’t help you on New Year’s Eve per se, but these are still enjoyable events you can participate in during the week between Christmas and New Year’s.
Should I purchase an online group coupon?
One of the latest crazes in Internet marketing is the group coupon concept. Originally established by a company known as Groupon, these programs offer members the ability to take advantage of significant coupon savings on individual products, services, and events. It is quite possible members could get a great deal on a New Year’s Eve party at a local hotel before the party is even made available to the general public.
Group coupons can also be used for restaurants, bowling alleys, bars and pubs, and just about any other place of business in your local area. You’re only limited by the various businesses that elect to participate. In smaller cities, the group coupon may not offer much advantage; in larger cities, a group coupon membership could prove to be invaluable on New Year’s Eve.
Should I have a family gathering?
One of the best ways to save money on New Year’s Eve is to simply not go out. Inviting family and friends to your house for an intimate gathering not only provides quality time spent with others, but also shared financial responsibility. If all of your guests bring something small to contribute, you end up getting more than you need without it costing any one individual an arm and a leg. Have one couple bring the drinks, another chips and dip, and another some other types of snacks or desserts.
If you would prefer to spend a New Year’s Eve with just your own children, it is a great night to do things like play games, watch a movie together, or even go into the kitchen and make homemade pizza or holiday cookies. These types of things can be done very inexpensively while also building family relationships at the same time. By the way, the memories created by having these sorts of family celebrations are the things your children will remember when they are adults.
Should I limit alcohol consumption?
One of the biggest days of the year for alcohol consumption is New Year’s Eve. Therefore, just like the price of gas tends to go up just before the Memorial Day weekend, the price of alcohol rises in anticipation of the Christmas and New Year’s holidays. If you want to save money on New Year’s Eve, why not forget the alcohol and instead service soft drinks, fruit juices, and coffee or tea? Not only will you save some money, you might also save yourself from an unwanted hangover the following morning.
If forgoing alcohol is not what you prefer, then simply plan and purchase your spirits in August or September. Don’t worry, they’ll keep. Late summer is always a good time to buy alcohol from a price standpoint because demand at that time is lower than usual. While you’re at the liquor store, ask the salesperson the best way to store your alcohol products until New Year’s Eve. That will ensure they are still at their best for your celebration.
There are plenty of ways to save on New Year’s Eve if you’re willing to be creative and try new things. A little a manager nation and preparation time is all you need. You just may find that in your efforts to save money you create the most memorable New Year’s Eve celebration ever.
My friends and I have a rotating new year’s party plan. Each year we switch off hosting the shindig. This helps reduce expenses because everyone brings a dish and drink to share.