NYE - What do you do on a budget?

[EllenFrasier]

Dh and I have always celebrated NYE by watching movies and eating snacks. We usually have Chinese food too. I think the tradition started because when we were first married we lived with my Mom and didn't want to leave her alone on NYE, so we stayed home with her. Then we started having children and didn't want to be out on NYE because of possible drunk drivers.

My sister and her husband rented a suite at a hotel one year, it included dinner, champagne in the room, etc. and it was at a casino. They had a good time, but that's out of our budget.

What do some of you do, as a couple or as a family, to celebrate NYE? Watching movies and eating snacks is getting kind of lame after all these years.

 

[QVCshopper]

It's hard with kids. Some places around here to "countdowns to noon." We may try a new one this year. We once went to Longwood Gardens b/c they have fireworks, but it was the most crowded I had ever seen. And once we went to the movies (that was before kids) and came out in the new year.

Last year, we took the kids to Chuck E Cheese, which they loved and it wasn't too crowded. And this year, I saw a local restaurant was doing a countdown for kids around 7, so maybe we'll try that. And then DH and I will end up on the couch watching a movie and the countdown.

 

[dyna]

DH an I have never spent anymore on NYE than any other night of the year. We do sometimes go out when our kids was younger sometimes without them sometimes with them.We have attended quite a few NYE parties over the years even then at most it costs us 10.00 a couple at the door usually free food drinks we paid for an never than 2.00 per drink can really make a difference if you belong to a private club. We have spent the night at the clubhouse when drinking.

This year we just moved into a retirement community we going to ring in the new year with our new neighbors. We will take our choice of drink an everyone supposed to take some finger food.

 

[powellrj]

We love to check into a hotel with a pool and spend the night there with the kids. My DD asked me the other day if we are doing it again this year because thats her favorite way to spend NYE. I will usually just Hotwire the room so I know it has a pool to keep it budget and take our own snacks.

 

[DeniseinNS]

In the last few years we've started having a neighbourhood New Years party. It's a potluck and BYOB and always lots of fun because all the kids are there so noone needs a babysitter and you can have a few drinks and walk home at the end of the night.

 

[stsomewhere]

In the last few years we've started having a neighbourhood New Years party. It's a potluck and BYOB and always lots of fun because all the kids are there so noone needs a babysitter and you can have a few drinks and walk home at the end of the night.

We do this too.

 

[lovesmurfs]

I get a bunch of appetizer type foods that I never buy during the year (pizza rolls, Friday's things, etc.) and we have that for a late dinner. Sometimes our adult Sunday school class has a party, but generally we're homebodies on NYE.

 

[bdcp]

While our kids were growing up we mostly had another couple over or went to their houses so the kids had others to play with while the adults played games. We probably went to 3-4 parties during the times our boys were growing up. Now, our boys have been on their own for a few years, we go to parties every 3-4 years (depends on if someone is having one) or we just stay home and hang out together. After almost 30 years married (and 32 years together) we still enjoy being with each other. We'll watch a movie, the NYE shows and toast with champagne and midnight and fall into bed at 12:05. And we used to be able to stay up all night.

We could easily afford to go to a hotel or something, but why? To either party with complete strangers or hang out in a small room all night? No thanks.

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

I guess we are boring at home people, but we love it. We play board games and watch movies. FOr dinner we always have fondue and later for dessert we have chocolate fondue. It isn't always budget friendly cause all the fruit is pricey, but we love it and even when invited other places, we prefer to be at home with our familoy and just having fun. We are boring I know, but happy.

 

[charming23]

I always spend NYE at home. When I was younger it was always just my mom, dad, and I watching movies and playing games. Now we do an appetizer party with friends/family. it is open house and people can come whenever. We usually get a few games going, especially the different varities of Scene-it since they have party modes.

 

[jkcyoung]

We live in Ocean City, NJ and our town has "First Night". It is $14 per person. They have some of the boardwalk rides open, mini golf, shows(bands, magic, reptiles,etc...), inflatables, and fireworks at midnight(we have never made it that late...our kids are little). Such a fun night, we look forward to it every year.

 

[krcit]

We spend NYE with our good friends. We've done it for the past 10 years. We used to switch houses every year but now they have a beautiful ski house so we go there for a few days

 

[MSSANDRA]

Most of the time we do NYE with our best friends including all the kids.
We do something like a taco bar and nibble all evening. Last year they were gone and DH and I had a wonderful NYE. DS went to a party and DGS spent the night at my MIL. We got Chinese take out, a really good cheese cake, put on our PJ's and got in bed and ate and watched tv! DS woke us up when he got home shortly after midnight. Yep, we slept though it!!

 

[Disneywedding2010]

We invite friends over and watch movies, eat appetizers, play pool, and just veg out. I do not go anywhere that night due to drunk drivers. I've already lost 2 family members due to drunks. I'm not going to risk my life all for a stupid celebration.

 

[neatokimmo]

Watching movies and eating snacks is getting kind of lame after all these years.

<sigh> Watching movies and eating snacks is all I can hope for. Its really just another day. I really love the casino/hotel/pool ideas those sound like a lot of fun.

 

[Suz D]

We're non-drinkers for religious reasons. One NYE early in our marriage we went to the home of some friends who belong to our church. We had a "night at the bars".

Baked Potato Bar
Salad Bar
Sundae Bar

There were so many people there and each family brought at least one topping for each bar. The hostess provided the baked potatoes, salad greens, and ice cream. We ate and played board games. SO much fun!

 

[ugadog99]

We do an appetizer evening, sparkling juice for the girls, and Rosa Regale for me. My older DD and I watch football then we all watch the countdown. I know, we lead such an exciting life!

 

[3boymthr]

We used to go out and have dinner and drinks at a friends house up until oldest DS was a couple of years old. We'd put him in their bedroom with a movie and his blankie where he'd fall asleep and haul him home after the ball dropped.

The last decade or so DH has worked - he's in HVAC and would much rather take on-call on NYE than Christmas Eve - since his on-call schedule runs from 8AM to 8AM . So, for the time being at least, we always end up the night waiting on the ball drop at home instead of going out (well, okay, not the couch ).

Oldest DS has been begging to go to Firstnight for a few years now and now that his brothers are old enough to stay up all night maybe if the weather isn't abysmal next year I might take them.

 

[maslex]

We usually either head over to our neighbor's house or to my SIL's house. For the past 4-5 years it's been at my SIL's. We bring our boys and they will play with their cousin or friends (depending on whose house it is, lol)

As for the adults, everyone will bring a couple appetizer type dishes and desserts. Then it's a free for all, snacking event all night long. I think SIL made a big ole sandwich station last year along with everything else we had. Was really yummy!!!

After everyone has a full belly, we will play a few board games or maybe the Wii. Last year was funny though.....my SIL's hubby and their two friends (a couple who was invited to the party) all work at the local casino and they all had to work that night. They didn't get out until 8 and was home by around 9. When they came through the door, they couldn't help but laugh when they saw me & my hubby on the couch and my SIL on her chair, all sleeping!!! LOL
Apparently it was too much of an exciting evening. LOL But once, we woke up from their laughter, we had a great evening. Guess we all needed that extra little nap to boost us through the new year.

 

[annsteere]

Our circle of friends choose a country. Then, we each make an ethnic dish to share. It is fun trying out new foods.

We live in Chicagoland and we watch the ball drop in New York. That's the last 10 minutes of the party. Driving home at 11 we avoid the dangerous drivers. Midnight in New York is good enough for us