Going to celebrate New Year's Eve? Three ways to save and still have fun

The new year will be here before we know it, which means a night full of fun and festivities! Fireworks, food and spending time with family and friends are all typical activities as Australians ring in the new year.

New Year’s Eve is also a popular time for couples new and old to go out on dates, and even though ringing in the new year is fun, it can also be expensive. People often travel, have parties or get dressed up to go out for a night on the town.

If you're going out to celebrate New Year's Eve, here are 3 ways to save and still have fun!

1. Don’t spend money on new outfits. New Year's Eve only happens once a year, but a lot of people will go out and buy new dresses or outfits to wear. More than likely you already have outfits in your closet that you’ve worn during past new year festivities, or you may even have outfits that you’ve worn to other special occasions. Before you go out and spend money on new attire, open your closet first and make use of clothing you already have. You can always change it up a little by wearing different shoes or jewellery.

2. If you’re going out on a date for the new year, skip the fancy restaurants and nightlife and opt for a night in or for a picnic. This doesn’t mean you can’t go out at all, but by cooking a meal at home to share, you’re saving on the markup of food served in restaurants and the cost of beverages. Or, you can pack your own food and find the perfect spot to watch the fireworks. Cheese, meat, crackers and a bottle of champagne on a blanket while watching the fireworks is cost effective and romantic!

3. Rather than travelling to see friends or family for the new year, be the host this time around. While you'll still have costs associated with feeding and entertaining your guests, it's still going to save you more money than buying plane tickets or travelling a long distance by car. In the coming years, you and your family could rotate who travels and who hosts to make sure the costs are evenly distributed and shared.

Celebrating the new year doesn’t have to be expensive if you plan accordingly. Do you want to travel for Christmas or the new year? We make it easy for you - just check out a mini-loan to see if you can get some extra funds to help you reach your destination. Once a loan is approved, we can usually get a payment into your bank account within 24 hours - so you can start making your travel plans now!