No one wants to leave empty-handed! Make your New Year's Eve celebration more memorable than ever when you treat your guests to their very own swag bag! Visit Party City, Michael’s, or Hobby Lobby for bags that match your party theme. Swag means free stuff, so depending on the amount of guests you'll be treating, consider buying items in bulk to save on cost. Shop stores like Sam’s or Costco for discounts on goodies, or stack up on after-Christmas specials at your favorite retailer (Amazon affiliate links included).
It's okay if your budget doesn't accommodate red-carpet swag like spa passes, designer jeans, or the keys to a Ferrari. Just by including an assortment of small but thoughtful items, you're sure to hit on something that brings a grin to each guest's face.
Inexpensive examples of quality swag are candles, small bottles of lotion and perfume, mini bottles of alcohol, decorative cookies, gourmet candies, bath/spa items like sea salts, small make-up kits, and t-shirts with the party's theme on it. Here's what we're putting in our bags this year: (We're inviting families, and bags are one per family)
- Chocolate of the World Chocolate Bar - Technically, any large bar of chocolate will do, but I like to include a gourmet chocolate bar that's not easy to find in regular stores. World Market sells this brand for about $3 per bar with many interesting flavors from which to choose.
- JPSOR Pocket Notebooks - These cute, inspirational lined notebooks are an instant crowd=pleasure. Put one or a few in each swag bag. 20 notebooks for $14.99 on Amazon.
- Christian Stickers - Many people commit to reading their Bibles more in the New Year. These stickers can be placed in journals, notebooks, letters, or anywhere else an extra dose of motivation is needed. 48 sheets for $13.99 on Amazon.
- Pkg of Camellia Brand dried blackeye peas (said to bring luck in the New Year) - These cost about $2.35 per bag at H-E-B, so if your budget is slim, choose a different brand. I like the pretty bag with the flower that these come in, but you can get a large bag of no-name-brand peas and divvy them up in small proportions to put in your bags.
- Dots Homestyle Pretzels, 2.5 oz. bags - These deliciously seasoned pretzels are scrumptious! They're pricey to purchase online, so I get mine from Kroger.
- Tic Tac Breath Mints - Everyone needs to go into the new year with fresh breath!
- Canvas Makeup Bags - These toiletry pouches are great for carrying everyday essentials! 16 bags for $21.99 on Amazon
As you can see, these aren't typical gift items, because really, you're not trying to do Christmas over again. Choose something fun and/or funny, but definitely meaningful or useful to close out another year. Once you've gathered all of your swag, put the items in the gift bags and place them on a table for guests to take when they leave. For an added crowd-pleaser, design note tags to attach to each bag.
FINAL NOTE: You don't have to be throwing a New Year's Eve party to hand these out. If you have special friends who didn't make it to your Christmas list, fill your swag bags and drop them off to homes early on New Year's Eve or New Year's Day for a thoughtful surprise.
