Here’s how to ring in the new year if you’re not trying to spend all your coins

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The thought of extravagant New Year’s Eve plans might make you feel overwhelmed.

Maybe you’re sick of spending money or just want to do something different to ring in the new year.

And you can – and you should. There are alternatives available to traditional New Year’s Eve partying.

Here are a few low-key, affordable options to bring in the new year:

Vision Board Session

What better way to start the new year than while in the midst of a creative and self-caring act? Another added benefit is that the supplies for creating a vision board cost significantly less than whatever might have been spent on overpriced club cocktails and an Uber during surge pricing. The purpose of a vision board is to set your intentions for the upcoming year using visual symbols and then place that vision board somewhere you can see it on a regular basis.

It is essentially a daily reminder of how you want your life to be, feel, look. All you need are scissors, a stack of magazines, glue, and a poster board or cork board. Check out Pinterest for examples and tips. There’s no wrong way to make a vision board. There’s also no reason to be completely sober. Grab a bottle of champagne and toast to your vision for your life at the strike of midnight.

For added fun, grab a few friends and make it an NYE vision board get-together.

Meditation

Sometimes, you just need to slow down. Heading into 2018 with calmness and clarity is an appealing option. There are many ways to meditate and for a newbie, it might seem confusing.

Head to a site like Black Girl in Om for a little guidance. Think about the possibility of confidently striding into the new year with an open and clear mind that is waiting for the prosperity of 2018. Meditating into the new year could be a entire night alone, a brief moment before or after meeting with friends or if you live in a big city, many meditation centers have New Year’s Eve events that offer guided meditation experiences in groups.

Grown-Up Sleep Over

Let’s face it, one of the worst parts about New Year’s Eve partying is getting home.

Whether it’s a car service that is charging five times as much for the night, crowding into a train filled with drunk people, or spending your first hours of the new year listening to your sober designated driver friend complain, leaving the party is the hardest part. Hosting an all out party is a hassle and the holy grail that is a house party in walking distance isn’t always an option. How about a mini-sleepover?

Invite two or three of your closest friends, make the start-time post-dinner (saves time and money), and spend a few hours drinking, nibbling on snacks, talking, playing games, etc until midnight hits and you have a big cheers to friendship in the new year. Make sure to have champagne and orange juice in the fridge for mimosas the next morning.

Go out for a New Year’s Day brunch together or part ways and start 2018 with laughter and good memories from the night before.

Follow Demetria Irwin on Twitter @Love_Is_Dope and connect with her on Facebook.