In the days following Christmas, fears of empty wallets will inevitably replace the sugar plum fairies dancing in our heads.

After the gift buying, cookie decorating and dish bringing that happens during the most wonderful time of the year, thoughts of spending seem to fade away with the holiday cheer. But a big night – maybe the biggest night of the year – is right around the corner. Tickets to local New Year’s events can reach upwards of $100, and food and drink prices at most venues double.

Carol Chivington and Selena Vazquez of Made From Scratch Fine Catering & Event Design have been helping Columbusites plan all types of parties for years, and they say that ringing in 2012 with a bash of your own is not only a great way to save some cash, but could easily result in one of the best New Year’s Eves you’ve ever had.

For the last 20 years, Chivington has been working with people of all ages and styles and overcoming all sorts of obstacles to put together memorable parties. Whether you’re working on a tight budget, you don’t think you have enough space for a party, or you’ve never hosted anything in your life, she and Vazquez have plenty of advice about throwing a New Year’s party that people will be talking about for years to come.

By paying special attention to drink and hors d’oeuvres menus, timing and organization, you can pull off an unforgettable get together without breaking the bank.

“New Year’s is all about the glitz and the glamour,” said Chivington, who has planned parties for clients, friends, family and even herself. It’s time to gather with friends, don some fancy digs and let go – and there’s no better place to be than at home on NYE.

“It’s so much cheaper than going out, and no one has to worry about driving, you can just crash,” Vazquez said. “It’s also an easy night to entertain.” She suggests inviting friends to come over around 9 p.m. “Anything earlier and your guests will be dragging to get to midnight,” Vazquez said. Starting a little later in the evening also alleviates the problem of drinking too much too early.

The post-dinner timing also makes it acceptable to limit the party menu to a few hors d’oeuvres; Chivington suggests three hot and two cold. “Pick your favorites, or better yet, tell your guests to bring theirs,” she said. Though the surprise of a potluck can be intriguing, Vazquez said it’s important to make sure your guests know what they should bring. “You don’t want to end up with 42 bags of chips.” Even an alcohol free-for-all can spice things up.

“If everyone brings a six-pack of their favorite craft beer or a bottle of whatever, everyone gets a chance to try new things,” she said. Encouraging guests to bring something along will ensure reasonable spending, and everyone enjoys feeling like they have a part in the event.

Allotting ample time to investigate pricing, plan a menu, organize your space and put together a guest list full of high-energy friends will not only make for an amazing party, but also allow any host to create a surefire game plan. Give your friends a heads up about two weeks before Christmas, and send out Facebook messages a few days before the big night so no one makes the mistake of missing out. New Year’s Eve is about one thing: getting together with the ones you want to ring in 2012 with. And there’s no room for stressing over the cash, well, until it’s time to stick to those resolutions.

The experts at Made From Scratch want everyone to know how easy and satisfying throwing your own bash can be, even if you think it can’t be done. Breaking it down by whatever you think is standing in your way, these party pioneers want you to go for it.

Watching The Wallet

If limited spending is your number one priority, fear not – there are tons of tricks for making cheap equal classy. For starters, make a killer playlist. Music will elevate the energy of any party. Also, New Year’s may be the easiest holiday of all to decorate for – Christmas trees are still 100-percent acceptable, and you don’t need anything extra other than a package of paper hats and whistles. “Put them on your table at the beginning of the night, and people will be bound to put them on before the clock strikes 12,” Chivington said. Renting flatware and flutes is another great way to glitz up your get together. At a price of $1.20 a head from most local rental companies, it can’t get any easier. The best place to skimp? Go Prosecco over Champagne; the Italian bubbly is becoming hugely popular, and for a fraction of the price, you can’t go wrong.

Tight Squeeze

Worried about a lack of space? Find out if your apartment building has an event space available, which usually comes equipped with a kitchen. If that’s not an option, make the most of your own space. Start by moving out furniture, and call a rental company or caterer to rent a few highboy cabaret tables, which run about $8 a piece. Offering standing room only will expand your floor space, and also keep people from perching in one spot all night. Increase tabletop space by thinking vertically. Long, round trays are space-wasters; stackable pastry trays and tall vases will maximize space and provide a trendy vibe. Clear out bookshelves to stage bubbly-filled flutes, as well as finger foods or even a full bar. Get creative and don’t feel limited by anything – if you clean up enough, you can even host out of every room in your place (Chivington thanks the hostess-extraordinaire, Ms. Stewart, for that one).

First-Timer

If you’ve never hosted anything before in your life, New Year’s is the perfect time to start. Everyone is ready to rage, and party preparations can be minimal. Timing is everything; make your plans well enough in advance that you’re not scrambling to bring it all together. Guests don’t need to arrive before 9 p.m., giving you the whole day to set up and pick up food, drinks and anything else you might conjure up. One thing that will also make a huge difference, both Chivington and Vazquez agreed, is a bartender. Catering companies can set you up with a barkeep for hire, and the pricing ranges from surprisingly cheap to not too bad. Not only does having a professional on-hand make things easier for you as a host, but the bartender can be the one to cut your over-indulging friends off if need be, making sure you’re not the bad guy. The main thing to keep in mind is to not stress; hosting a party should be just as enjoyable as attending one, and just imagine how good you’ll feel when people are talking about this night for years to come.

Check out www.made-from-scratch.com for more inspiration and to get in touch with these local catering mavens.