7 tips on how to celebrate the New Year without extra costs

The approach of the holidays brings not only inspiration and joy. Have you already figured out what expenses lie ahead? If you are not ready to spend too much, or want to learn how to resist the pre-New Year madness with a bunch of extra purchases, then take note of our tips!

Planning

Take the time to plan ahead for your holiday weekend. If you stay at home, write down the menu and the products needed for it. Analyze your existing decor if you’re decorating your home and consider what’s missing. Plan several shopping trips to purchase everything you need.

Budget

An important component of proper planning is setting a budget. Start by determining the amount you are willing to spend. Then divide it into categories – gifts, home decorations, holiday table, etc. And most importantly, do not go beyond the established budget.

Moderation

When planning your menu, try to calculate the realistic amount of food that your guests can eat. This will help not only save on purchases, but also avoid a situation where unclaimed food is simply thrown into the trash.

Use what you already have

To avoid spending too much, plan your menu and decor based on what you already have. Before you go shopping, take a look through your jewelry boxes, kitchen cabinets, and freezer. There’s sure to be something there that you can use.

Keep the list nearby

When going to the store, look at the list of necessary New Year’s purchases. You may be able to buy something that can be stored for a long time at an attractive price in advance.

Explore stocks

Take some time to study promotional offers from your favorite stores or stores closest to your home. However, before you go shopping, make sure that the price is really attractive (compare with other stores or the price before the promotion). Also, use rewards cards where possible.

Play Secret Santa

If you have to spend most of your budget on gifts for people in the same group (colleagues or fitness acquaintances, for example), offer them a Secret Santa – a gift exchange in which you only have to buy one, but no one is left behind. Plus, it’s really fun.

And if you’re looking for some inexpensive holiday meal ideas, then take a look at our selection.

Stuffed eggs

A minimum of ingredients and a little imagination can turn into an amazing themed appetizer that will attract the attention of all home and guests.

Ingredients:

• Egg – 4 pcs.;
• Carrots – 80 grams;
• Liver pate – 50 grams;
• Processed cheese – 80 grams;
• Salt, pepper, mayonnaise – to taste;
• Greenery – for decoration.

Boil the carrots in advance until soft and cool. Hard-boil the eggs, cool and peel. Carefully cut in half and remove the yolks.

Combine the yolks with the pate, add grated processed cheese, salt, pepper and a little mayonnaise. Mix thoroughly until smooth. Place in a pastry bag and pipe into the egg white halves (or just spoon out the filling).

Peel the carrots, cut into thin slices and cut out small rectangles shaped like carrots. Place on eggs. Using mayonnaise, draw the shelves and decorate with herbs.

Potato roll with chicken

This dish is quite simple, but incredibly tasty and great both warm and cold.

Ingredients:

• Potatoes – 3 pcs.;
• Egg – 2 pcs.;
• Flour – 3 tbsp. l.;
• Chicken fillet – 200 grams;
• Sour cream – 2-3 tbsp. l.;
• Cheese – 50 grams;
• Vegetable oil – 1 tbsp. l.;
• Salt, pepper, garlic and herbs – to taste.

Boil the potatoes until tender, cool in cold water and peel. Boil chicken fillet in salted water until soft. Grate the potatoes on a coarse grater, beat in the eggs and add flour. Season with salt, pepper and mix thoroughly. Line a baking sheet with parchment and grease with oil. Lay out the potato mixture, smooth it out and place it in an oven preheated to 180 degrees for 15 minutes.

To prepare the filling, chop the chicken fillet, garlic and herbs. Add grated cheese and sour cream, salt, garlic and pepper. Mix everything until smooth.

Remove potatoes from oven. Spread the filling in an even layer and carefully roll it up. Place back in the oven for another 15 minutes. Before serving, cool slightly and cut into portions.

Chicken jellied meat

If you can’t imagine your New Year’s table without jellied meat, it’s quite possible to prepare an inexpensive but very tasty version.

Ingredients:

• Chicken drumsticks – 500 grams;
• Onion – 1 pc.;
• Carrots – 1 pc.;
• Salt and spices – to taste.

Wash the chicken drumsticks and place them in a saucepan. Fill with water and put on fire. After boiling, put on the lowest heat and leave to simmer for 40 minutes.

Wash the onion and carrots and add to the pan. Salt and add spices to taste. Cook the meat for about another half hour.

Remove the drumsticks, cool slightly and disassemble the meat. Place the meat on the bottom of a serving plate. Cut the carrots into small pieces and place on top. Strain the broth and pour into a plate. Cool a little, then put it in the refrigerator until completely frozen.

Salad “Tenderness”

This salad with crab sticks looks great on the holiday table, and besides, it literally melts in your mouth.

Ingredients:

• Crab sticks – 150 grams;
• Egg – 3 pcs.;
• Carrots – 1 pc.;
• Cheese – 70 grams;
• Salt and mayonnaise – to taste;
• Fresh cucumber for garnish (optional).

Boil hard-boiled eggs in advance, cool, peel and separate the whites into yolks. Boil the carrots in salted water until soft, peel and grate on a medium grater. Cut the crab sticks into small cubes and grate the cheese on a medium grater. Assemble the salad in layers – crab sticks, cheese, carrots, egg whites and yolks on top. Grease each layer with mayonnaise and add salt if desired. Before serving, the salad can be supplemented with slices of fresh cucumber and herbs.

Herring under a fur coat in Art Nouveau style

A budget-friendly and favorite salad for the holiday table can be served in a completely stunning, updated form.

Ingredients:

• Lightly salted herring fillet – 150 grams;
• Carrots – 1 pc.;
• Beets – 1 pc.;
• Red onion – 1 pc.;
• Cream cheese – 100 grams;
• Bread – for serving;
• Salt – to taste.

Wash the carrots and beets and boil in salted water until soft. Cool under cold water and peel. Cut the vegetables into medium pieces and place in a blender bowl. Add salt to taste and cream cheese, beat everything until smooth.

Peel the onion and cut into half rings. Cut the herring fillet into portions. Slice baguette or cut rounds from other bread. Place onion and herring on each slice of bread. Place the vegetable mousse in a pastry bag and pipe on top. Garnish with herbs and serve.

Mushroom salad “Favorite”

Awesome marinated mushroom salad. It is best to use several types of mushrooms and smoked meat.

Ingredients:

• Assorted pickled mushrooms – 120 grams;
• Cheese – 70 grams;
• Egg – 2 pcs.;
• Smoked ham – 150 grams;
• Walnuts – 80 grams;
• Salt, mayonnaise and herbs – to taste.

Boil hard-boiled eggs in advance, cool and peel. Cut the ham, cheese, eggs into small cubes, chop the herbs and, if necessary, mushrooms. Combine everything in a deep bowl. Add salt and mayonnaise, mix gently. Place salad on a serving plate. Garnish with nuts and serve.

Carp with lemon and mustard

Whole baked fish is a good option for a holiday table. And you don’t have to use expensive red fish to get an amazing dish.

Ingredients:

• Carp – 1 piece;
• Lemon – 1 pc.;
• Mustard – 2 tbsp. l.;
• Vegetable oil – 2 tbsp. l.;
• Salt and spices – to taste.

Wash the fish and clean it if necessary. Rub salt and spices on all sides. Grease with vegetable oil and sprinkle with the juice of half a lemon. Leave to marinate for about 1 hour.

Place the fish on a baking sheet lined with parchment or foil. Grease with mustard on all sides and place in an oven preheated to 180 degrees. Bake for about 1 hour until cooked through and crispy. Serve the second half of the lemon with the already prepared fish.

Pork in glaze

If you prefer meat for your main course, then bake a juicy piece of pork in a glaze of honey, lemon juice and ketchup.

Ingredients:

• Pork (pulp) – 600 grams;
• Honey – 2 tbsp. l.;
• Ketchup (tomato sauce) – 2 tbsp. l.;
• Lemon juice – 2 tbsp. l.;
• Salt and pepper – to taste.

Wash and dry the pork. Make cuts on the surface to make squares with a side of about 1 cm, but not all the way through. Rub the meat on all sides with salt and pepper.

To prepare the glaze, combine ketchup, honey and lemon juice and stir. Brush the pork generously with the glaze, reserving about 1/3 of it. Wrap the meat in foil and place in an oven preheated to 190 degrees. Bake for about 40 minutes.

Then carefully unfold the foil, brush the pork with the remaining glaze and brown until a delicious crust forms and is completely cooked.

Fruit salad

If you are looking for a simple, light and delicious dessert, then this salad is perfect. You can use absolutely any fruit that you have on hand.

Ingredients:

• Tangerines – 2 pcs.;
• Grapes – 15 pcs.;
• Dried cherries – 30 grams;
• Banana – 1 pc.;
• Apple or pear – 1 pc.;
• Almond flakes (or any nuts) – to taste;
• Chocolate – 30 grams;
• Cream – 100 grams.

Peel the fruits and cut into small pieces. Melt the chocolate in the cream and stir. Place the fruit salad in a serving container, pour over the sauce and sprinkle with nuts.

You can prepare many delicious New Year’s dishes from available ingredients. With reasonable planning, you can easily manage without unnecessary expenses.

Happy and cozy holidays!