All it takes to have a great New Year's Eve is close friends, the right attitude and of course, a place to party. So to avoid waiting in long line ups the Eve of the New Year, spending tons of money, and in order to make sure you're spending the night with your close friends rather than the coat check guy, take a look at these ways to throw a New Year's party at home. Considering New Year's is right around the corner, it's time to get the ball rolling in planning your house party.

tell your friends
The first step to any party is setting the date, but since the date of this one is pretty evident, make sure your friends are available for the big night. You don't want to have a whole night planned only to be spending it with Dick Clark, Buster(your dog) and 17 all-dressed pizzas. Just call those people that you truly want to spend the night with before making all the arrangements.

sending invitation
In order to spread the word, your best bet is to call people to tell them about the bash. Not only is this the least expensive way, but it's also the most reliable. If you prefer mailing invitations, send e-mail invitations -- do not rely on snail mail if you're mailing the invitations within 10 days of the party. You never know what can happen. Whether you use e-mail or the phone, make sure to tell your guests if it's a "the more the merrier" party or if it's exclusive to your close friends.

munchies
Light snacks, cocktails, or finger foods are the way to go on New Year's Eve, as opposed to a sit-down dinner. This will give people the opportunity to mingle with others, without restricting them to a designated seat at the dinner table. Here are some food items to have on hand: Nachos and salsa, Pretzels, chips, Nuts, Vegetable and dip, Chicken wings, Mini pizzas, Pigs in a blanket and An assortment of cheeses. You don't have to worry about cooking; most of these items can be store bought. To avoid worrying about food preparation, a great idea is to organize a potluck dinner, where each guest brings something. This is an excellent way to get every guest involved in the preparation of the party. So just indicate on the invitation that it's a potluck dinner, and try to have every person tell you beforehand what they plan on bringing to the party -- desserts and beer are great, but not when that's the only thing on the menu. Your best bet is to organize a buffet table, and arrange all the food, cutlery, plates, and cups on the table.
Tip: Use paper cups, plates, and plastic cutlery to avoid things from breaking and to avoid having to do the dishes the morning-after -- or the month-after that is...

all the alcohol you need
This is a very important point, especially for New Year's Eve. Make sure to check your bar or fridge to see what you need to buy. Don't be a big shot and assume that you have everything, or the last thing you'll be doing is shots. Try to do your alcohol shopping before December 31st, to avoid the mayhem in stores.

But get more than you need; the last thing you want is to deprive people of alcohol, or they may just end up taking the party elsewhere. If you end up with too much alcohol, it never hurts to keep your bar well-stocked for next time.

If there's ever a night for champagne, this is it. Make sure you have some bubbly to cork open when the clock strikes twelve.
Also, make sure to have champagne flutes, or at least wine glasses handy and thanks to modern convenience, those are made in plastic as well! If you want to get a bartender, you can get in touch with a college employment service; they may have student bartenders who are willing to work, and they are usually less expensive than professional services.
Most importantly; ensure that no one gets behind the wheel drunk.

decorations
The beautiful men and women in your place will not be the only décor at the party; you should adorn the room with balloons (extra points for New Year's balloons, in black, white and silver); streamers; and whatever else you can muster up to make the apartment look festive. Other party favors include: party hats, confetti, horns, noisemakers, and of course, tiaras. You might want to clean up before the party, so that your place is as presentable as possible. But don't worry; a full apartment cleanup is not necessary. The rooms you should worry about cleaning are the living room (or whatever room you are using for the party), and the bathroom. Close the doors of rooms that have no use for the party to hide whatever mess you have; no one should enter them.

music to my ears
Having a lot of music on hand is a necessity. Your play list should include dance, dance, and more dance, and some slow music for when things get mellow.

have a ball when it drops
The most important thing to remember when throwing a New Year's bash at your place is to have a good time, relax and realize that as long as you're spending the night with close friends, it'll be memorable. Don't worry too much about everyone else having fun. When then clock strikes twelve, the only thing you should worry about is which lucky boy or girl you're going to kiss.

clean-up
It goes with the territory of having a New Years Eve party at your home!