How-to: Celebrate New Year’s Eve In The Klang Valley With Just RM100

It is coming to the end of the year and we are all looking forward to New Year’s Eve (NYE) to close the year with a bang. It has somewhat become an integral part of our culture and businesses are well aware of that.

Prices of a three-course meal in a decent restaurant balloon to double its usual price, and NYE-themed merchandise have started sprouting everywhere to tempt the party goers into parting with more of their money. It’s the perfect once-a-year opportunity for businesses to overcharge us, and if we are not careful, we may just usher in the New Year penniless.

The idea is to have fun celebrating NYE without costing a bomb, and here are a few ways you can do that with just RM100, or less:

1. Having a nice and budget-friendly dinner

What better way to celebrate NYE by filling your stomach with delicious food! To have a good time without going broke, look out for NYE promotions and compare which offers a better value for money.

One such place is La Bodega Tapas Bar & Restaurant in Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur. For the special occasion, they are offering a Christmas and NYE package that only costs RM65++ per person. The set includes a three-course meal (appetizer, main and dessert), and coffee or tea.

Compared to The Social, Bangsar, for RM80 nett per person, you will only get a soup of the day and a main. However, you have the option to change the soup to a glass of wine.

2. Drinking with friends

The time you start your celebration can makes a whole lot of difference, especially if you planning to get hammered before the clock strikes 12.

A celebration is not complete until champagne is popped. However, bubbly doesn’t come for cheap. If you have four friends or more celebrating this NYE, it’s worth your money to go to the nearest Movida outlets to enjoy their Moet & Chandon promotion — where you buy the first bottle at RM400++ and get the second bottle for only RM1 nett!

3. Overnight trip out of the city

For some of us, getting away from the crowd and quietly celebrating NYE with a few special friends sounds like a better idea. Heading out of KL city to places like Putrajaya, Klang or Kuala Kubu Bahru for a staycation can sometimes be a lot cheaper than a night out in KL.

For example, a night for two at the Palm Garden Hotel in Putrajaya only costs you RM245 (price checked at December 22, 2014). If you’re planning to do so, the best is to get a room booked soon as possible before all the rooms are taken.

4. Celebrating with your parents

It always good to take this opportunity to spend time with your family. By celebrating with your parents, you can hopefully put tab on your parents. Bring them out to a nice dinner, they will just be happy that you are driving them out somewhere nice!

Another way of not spending much but still have a blast is to organise a pot luck dinner at your parents’ house. Your parents will provide most of the food and drinks, and you may just need to “take care” of the guest list and RSVP!

Celebrating something as commercially-driven as NYE without planning can be a disaster — for your wallet. Decide early what you want to do, and do your homework by comparing a few places.

Other ways you can cut down on the cost is to take advantage of online coupon sites like Groupon or LivingSocial. You just might get yourself a good deal for a fantastic celebration.

If you are not that into counting down, opting to celebrate your NYE in the afternoon can really save you some bucks! Avoid going to overhyped talk-of-the-town restaurants on NYE, chances are you will be paying more just to be seen.

With proper budgeting, the New Year may just bring you the prosperity you’ve been hoping for. Happy New Year!