Posted 20 weeks ago (December 29, 2011 at 10:00 AM) in Dealing with Debt
Celebrating New Year’s Eve doesn’t have to be an expensive gala to be memorable, so why not invent your own New Year Traditions? We’ve got some ideas to help you and your friends and family celebrate the holiday without mourning the state of your finances!
A Twist on the Old Standby
Drinking and having a raucous party is the most popular New Year’s Eve tradition in the world but you don’t have to foot the bar bill to get your groove on!
Drinking out is expensive, so make an exciting playlist and invite everyone to bring their favorite wine, beer, or liquor to share at your residence. There will be plenty for everyone to have a great time and by splitting the cost and providing a venue, you can all have a great time for less money.
Change the Venue
Travelers know that the best way to ignite excitement without causing undue stress is to go see something new while making yourself comfortable through familiar activities.
This year, instead of hitting up your local bar, restaurant, or house party, get a group of friends to take a drive somewhere to celebrate. Maybe it’s an overnight camping trip, maybe it’s visiting a highly-rated restaurant in a city nearby you haven’t visited, but if you share the gas money you’ll celebrate together someplace new and exciting while saving money.
Keep it Natural
Our species is naturally drawn to the warmth and scent of a good fire, so get together and have a New Year’s Eve bonfire party!
The possibilities are endless with this one and all it takes is a safe fire pit, tinder, and firewood to get started. Ask one friend to bring s’mores, another to bring a bottle of liquor, others to bring a selection of mixers, and make a double batch of inexpensive chili for a hot party on a cold night with your closest friends and family.
Game Night
Game night isn’t just for the guys on Fridays! Family-friendly or spiced up with bizarre rules, celebrating the coming year by beginning it with play is a fine way to start!
Board games don’t cost an arm and a leg, but even if that’s beyond your budget this year, as long as you know the game you can improvise the elements. For example, all Pictionary needs is a surface to draw on, a bunch of words/topics for drawing, and you can use an egg timer instead of the hourglass to time your teams.
There are even plenty of fun games that require nothing, such as charades. Or, since most people have access to decks of cards, simply look up card game rules on the internet for multiple players!
Always remember: the best part of any celebration, no matter what you do, is the people you do it with. Surround yourself with your favorite folks on New Year’s Eve and you’re sure to have an evening to remember as you ring in 2012!
For more ideas on how to enjoy life better without emptying your wallet, check out more articles from SFC’s blog: Money Matters. If you have a specific celebration in mind but need a little help pulling it off, we offer affordable personal loans to extend your budget. Contact us today to speak with our lending officers to see how they can help, or if you’re ready to get started right away, you can apply for a loan online!