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With drunk drivers on the loose, and the crazies out and about, here are some ideas for a really fun New Years Eve at home. Try these out with the family, a few friends, or a big group.
FOOD
Pot luck is the way to go. If your guests bring some grub, they are automatically invested in the event! Set a theme for even more fun. Try hors’doerves, sandwiches, dips, international, or any theme you can come up with. Finger foods are recommended. Also, pot luck cuts down on costs!
New Years Eve Times Square NYC
DRINKS
Create some fun drinks; it’s New Years after all! You can make alcohol punch, Sangria, mixed drinks, beer, wine, or whatever combination you prefer. To keep the costs in check, keep it to a few choices! For those teetotalers, soda, mock-tails, or punch keep the fun rolling.
ACTIVITIES
The older El Carino and I get, the less we like (most) parties. Unfortunately, many of our contemporaries aren’t as much fun as when we were younger. When you come to our house, you are not going to be relegated to sitting around and talking – boring. We have had every type of ”activity” party. Get active, plan some events and invite the crowd. Pick and choose what seems fun for you.
- Charades
- Taboo
- Pictionary
- Balderdash
- Wii games- Tennis, bowling, and boxing tournaments
- Newlywed game with any sorts of couples (don’t have to be married or opposite gender!)
- Dance parties
- Improv games
- Trivial Pursuit
- Musical Chairs (too much fun with adults
) - Cookie decorating
MUSIC
The music sets the mood. Make it eclectic, lively and fun.
BARB RECOMMENDS
This ones for you bloggers out there. eMoneyMakingOnline published a superb explanation of Google’s latest update in Writing for web-What has changed with the Panda Update? I don’t usually worry too much about trying to write for anyone other than the personal finance readers, yet I know lots of my readers are also bloggers and this one will keep your site going in the right direction.
Blog Tyrant gives 13 excellent tasks For When You Can’t be Bothered Writing. Ever heard the term “epic article”. I’m not completely sure what qualifies, but the information covered in this post promises to move your blog on to bigger and better opportunities.
Budgets are Sexy reminds readers that It’s My Birthday and I Can Shop if I Want to! I sometimes imply that spending money is bad. J. Money reminded me that money is a tool, and not an end in and of itself. If you don’t enjoy the fruits of your efforts and over focus on the future, you are missing out.
Rich Beautiful and Single and I Wonder Why was a guilty pleasure read over at Financial Samuai. Sam shared an encounter with a beautiful (on the outside) woman; not so much on the inside. And she wondered why no suitors were beating her door down. I don’t get these type of women.
Ask Liz Weston responded to a reader who asked, Will Stocks Ever Return 8% Again? Although neither Liz Weston nor I are fortune tellers, and history does not predict the future, take a glance at a long term chart of the US stock market. The long term trend has been upward ever since the birth of the US stock exchange. If you think American companies and International Companies as well will continue to grow and prosper, then stock market returns will rise.
Miranda Marquit, writing for Bargaineering writes about an important investing activity, portfolio rebalancing, in End of Year; Time to Rethink Your Investment Strategy. She offers up some excellent questions to ponder while you prepare your investments for the coming year.
Mike piper at Oblivious Investor writes an article explaining muni bonds. If you’re in a high tax bracket, you do not want to miss this one.
Don’t be Perfect is awesome advice from Canadian Personal Finance. Although Alan was referring to investing, the applications are much broader. Perfectionism is a success killer. Focus on the important, don’t be afraid to make mistakes, take some calculated risks and success will follow.
Follow up from Bloggers Making $1000.00 per Month at Cash Flow Mantra will keep you motivated. My readers and myself are always interested in inspiring money making articles! I’m going to be watching closely as Cash Flow Mantra ramps up his money making plans!
Square Pennies offers up more tips for Entertaining for Less & Keeping the Fun.
BARB ACROSS THE BLOGOSPHERE
Please support these fine sites who published my work.
Charles Schwab Investment Research Tools at Findthebest.
What’s up with Europe? Should I Avoid Investing There? at Benzinga.com
Carnival of Personal Finance at Money Cactus
Carnival of Financial Camraderie at My University Money
What are your best New Years Eve ideas?
image credit LeSimonPix
Great idea about getting guests to be committed to the event. This post reminds me that I need to do some much needed shopping. Have a great New Years Day!
Roshawn @ Watson Inc recently posted..Home Mortgage Leverage SUCKS!
We still go to parties that we bring a dish or dessert. Thanksgiving was one of them. This year, we are joining friends to see a movie and an early meal.
krantcents recently posted..Friday Night Links: New Year’s Edition
Barb, you read my mind. You have described exactly what we are doing tomorrow. Our friends are coming over, we are having a pot luck, and plan on playing games and visiting. It is so much fun to just hang out and celebrate the year.
Miss T @ Prairie Eco-Thrifter recently posted..How to Entertain the Kids at Home on a Budget
@Roshawn, I need to go shopping too! Have a great New Years.
@Krantcents, Sounds like a delightful movie.
@Miss T-I love games, I could play all day!! Have a great time.
Anyone still play Twister?
Barb, I enjoyed your picks this week – thanks.
Marie at FamilyMoneyValues recently posted..High Beta Wealthy and the Forbes 400
Thanks Barb… I think my wife and I will try to sneak out after our 2 young ones fall asleep. Of course our baby monitor doesn’t reach farther than 300 feet so we will have my mother in law babysit. However, I should have used some of these ideas in years passed when I had to stay home because 1 and 2 were too young.
By the way who is El Carino? Hablas espanol?
Jai Catalano recently posted..My 10 Favorite Blog Posts Of 2011
@Marie- I love twister. The spinner on the game from my youth doesn’t turn too well anymore.
@Jai-ENjoy the little ones, the time zips by. And you and the wife can play some of the games yourselves!
Pot lucks are cheap and fun. Charades is a great old game. Best of all, it’s free to play!
David @ yesiamcheap recently posted..31st Day of Christmas Giveaways and Freebies
Hi David, Charades may be one of the most fun games ever!
Barbara Friedberg recently posted..CHEAP NEW YEARS EVE AT HOME IDEAS
Wow, I really love the new theme that you have here! It looks great!
These days I prefer mixed drinks, though younger New Years’ Eves were decidedly not so tame.
P.S. Happy New Year!
Financial God recently posted..Happy New Year!
Well, I had a low cost New Year’s Eve. That’s because I was home sick with the flu and went to sleep by 11:00. Most tame New Year’s for me in 2 decades. Got 10 hours sleep, recharged for 2012!
Squirrelers recently posted..Looking Forward to Your Financial Success in 2012
@Financial-Seems like things settle down a bit as we pack on the years.
@Squirrelers-Glad you’re back up and on your feet!!There’s always 2013-yikes!