The holidays are quickly coming to an end, and the one thing we have left to celebrate is the New Year. It's a time to celebrate the success and forget the problems of the year before and look optimistically towards the future. And there's no better way to ring in the New Year than with an all out bash! But who has $60 to hand out for cover, a wilting buffet, and a few lousy bar drinks? Maybe you should host your own party, rather than hand out half your paycheck for some fuzzy memories.

When deciding to host your own New Year's Eve party, make sure to create a guest list, including room for each guest to bring a date or friend. Based on how many people will be attending, and what your budget is, choose a location. Maybe you have enough space in your home or apartment. If not, try pricing hotels, restaurants, and even community centers.

Once you have a guest list and location determined, you should decide if you want a theme. Themed parties can be a great way to get guests to loosen up and have a good time. Masquerade, costume, 80's, and murder mystery parties are usually a great hit. If you don't want a specific theme, try decorating and sending out invitations with classic New Years colors (black, white, gold, silver, deep purples and deep blues). You will also want to decide if you want to pay for the entire event yourself, make it a potluck and BYOB, or ask for $5 donations upon attendance.

With your choices selected, make sure to create an aesthetically pleasing and informative inviation. Include the date, time (it should probably start between 9:30 and 10:30pm because most guests won't arrive until between 10 and 11pm), location, and important information (potluck, theme, or donations). Include a contact number and address so that guest can find the location.

When it comes to food at your New Years Eve party, simple finger foods are best. Mini pizzas, chips & dips, veggie trays, mini quiches, cut sandwiches, meatballs, mini cheesecakes, cookies, and cupcakes are all great ideas. Make a run to your local Costco, Sam's Club, or Walmart to buy finger foods in bulk. Make sure to have a few drink selections, alcoholic and non-alcoholic. Have some bottled water, regular and diet sodas, and have a sparkling cidar or juice available for the designated drivers to toast with at midnight. Make your own punch with vodka or rum, Sprite, and a fruity sherbert. If you are supplying the alcohol, make sure all your drinking guests are of legal age and that you have enough wine, beer (a keg is the cheapest supply for larger events), liquor and mixers, and plenty of champagne at midnight. If you want to add a personal touch, try writing out fortunes on strips of paper and hardening them into homemade jello shots, or a dessert.

If you don't know how to serve all of your food and drinks, ask to borrow trays, punch bowls, punch or chocolate fountains, plates, cups, and champagne flutes from your friends. If you have to, purchase the decorative and sturdy disposable plates, cups, and champagne cups. Make sure you also have napkins, forks, knives, and spoons available. Have coolers or ice buckets available for easy access to ice for guests drinks. And think about space and movement when setting up your bar and food tables. You want guest to move around these areas easily, while still leaving plenty of seating and dancing space.

Make sure to decorate your space. No party is ever memorable without great decorations and entertainment. Go to Walmart, Kmart, the Dollar Store, or your local crafts store to purchase discount streamers, balloons, hats, and noisemakers. Make your own confetti out of construction and decorative papers, then put a little bit in small bags for your guests. If you don't want to use confetti, try glitter or party favor bubble bottles. And keep in mind whatever you're using as entertainment when deciding how you decorate.

You should have music of some kind (I highly suggest using your computer rather than paying for a DJ or live performer) and a television screen with one of the many televised countdowns. If you really want your party to be different, have a belly dancer or salsa dancer perform and maybe teach a short lesson, or have a fortune teller come to tell fortunes for the New Year. Other games can also make a simple party memory: have tables and cards available, set up a station for beer pong, or flip cup. No one ever forgets how fun those college drinking games were! You should also have something set up for midnight. Try cutting a garbage bag length wise and draping it on your ceiling. Place a generous amount of filled balloons on the bag and tie a string in the center so you can pull the string and release the ballons at midnight. You could also have your own ball drop by pushing a string through a plastic ball and tying it to a high point in your home or outside (make sure to use extreme caution when hanging this in high places). You can then pulley the ball down the string for your own 30 second countdown. Make sure to try your midnight effect before the party actually begins to make sure it works properly.

Before your party starts, you should also inform your neighbors of the party. Let them know you are having a party and you will try to keep the noise at a minimum. Extend an invitation to them, even if you think they wouldn't come. They might be a little less upset about excess noise if they know they are welcome. You should also make a strong effort to protect your home. Lock up valuables and prescription medications, and lock any rooms you don't want guests wandering into. People will be a little nosey, so if you don't want someone to find whatever you're hiding in your medicine cabinet, you should probably put it away.

Now you have all the tools for a successful party. Your guests have their invitations, the neighbors know what's going on, and you've decorated and set up the food and beverages. There's one last thing you need to check off the list: no one drinks and drives. Have a large bowl or bag for guests car keys if they will be drinking. They can have them in the morning when they are able to drive their vehicles. Ask for volunteer Designated Drivers, have the AAA number for the free tow they offer during the holidays, and have a list of local cab companies and their numbers. The best thing you can do is allow your guests to sleep at your place until they are sober. Give them sheets and pillows, and bottled water for their hangover. It's better to have a large sleepover than to have the unthinkable happen to (or be caused by) one of your intoxicated guests.