Cheap New Year's Eve party ideas 2017: Drinks, decorations and more for a small budget
It's the very last day of the year and your budget is shot. But that doesn't mean you can't host an incredible New Year's Eve party on the cheap. Drinks, decorations, entertainment and more don't have to cost a fortune — you can get your save on for the coming year. Or at least feel good about having a splurge-free New Year's. From budget-friendly punches to homemade wall hangings, here's what to do.
Drinks
You'll definitely want a punch bowl to kick off the party, but supplement with these festive drinks to keep the party going long past midnight.
Raspberry cream mimosa
Cover up the taste of the cheap bottle of bubbly, but keep the best part (the bubbles!) with this easy-to-make raspberry cocktail. Get the recipe here.
Gin, elderflower and prosecco cocktail
This three-ingredient cocktail is cheaper than making a complicated, grocery-heavy recipe and all the ingredients can be stretched for several rounds. Get the recipe here.
Pitcher-style margaritas for a crowd
Batch cocktails are always the way to go for a crowd, especially on a budget. Serve into recycled jars for a shabby-chic look that costs zero dollars. Get the recipe here.
Sorbet floats
All you need is a pint of sorbet and some cheap bubbly to make these sugary floats. Get the recipe here.
Champagne Jell-O shots
Champagne gets cheaper when you split it up by shots — and they're so fancy your guests will be more impressed than if you just popped a bottle. Get the recipe here.
Cheap bubbly with designer flare
Rebecca Minkoff has teamed up with Chandon to design a limited edition bottle worthy of strutting down a catwalk. And the California-made bubbly is only $24! Guests will think you splurged on the special bottle. Buy it at Chandon.com.
Food
Cook up a slew of festive appetizers or turn this New Year's party into a potluck, but absolutely prepare a special New Year's treat or two to impress (and feed!) your guests.
One-pan baked Champagne cream sauce fettuccine with truffle oil
Bottle of André? Cheap. Box of pasta? Cheap. Truffle oil? Cheap-ish. This luxe pasta dish can be whipped up in less than 30 minutes and easily serve a crowd. Get the recipe here.
Champagne and scampi risotto
Cook up a big pot of risotto for an Italian New Year's tradition that makes the most of your bottle of bubbly. Get the recipe here.
Galaxy doughnuts
The galaxy trend may be on the way out for 2017, but celebrate the multicolored food phenomenon one last time with these sweet New Year's treats. Get the recipe here.
One-bowl vegan funfetti cupcakes
These one-bowl cupcakes are a cinch to stir up and look festive AF with the rainbow sprinkles on top. Add some edible glitter if you're up for it! Get the recipe here.
Decorations
A package of confetti and balloons funneled with glitter only go so far. Spruce up your New Year's celebration with a few extra DIY decorations.
DIY drink tags
Keep your cup budget low and your dishwasher more spacious with these cute printable drink tags that add some fancy flair to every flute. Get the instructions here.
DIY glitter-dipped mason jars
Skip the fancy glassware and make your recycled jars look festive by dipping them in glitter! You can also use them as vases or votive candle holders for pretty decor. Get the instructions here.
DIY photo booth
All you need is a wall, some props and some DIY signs to create your own professional-looking photo booth. Get the instructions here.
"Best Year Yet" banner
Spending $12 on a banner doesn't seem unreasonable when you realize you can reuse this Best Year Yet slogan for decades of birthdays, anniversaries and New Year's celebrations to come. Buy it on Etsy.com.
Instagram wall
Print out your favorite memories from 2016 from yours and your friends' Instagram feeds to display, and relive some of the good moments from the past year. Put the pics in inexpensive frames for guests to take home as favors. Get the instructions here.
Knit Champagne bottle
Supplement the real bottles of bubbly with hand-knit Champagne bottles. Enlist a few experienced knitters to help out. Get the instructions here.
