Looking for a way to celebrate the holidays without breaking the bank? Here are 7 easy and inexpensive ideas!
With the holiday season costing so much to buy gifts for everyone on your list, it can be hard to have any budget left over to have a celebration. Spending time with friends and family does not have to break the bank! Here are some easy and inexpensive ways to spend time together, and spread some holiday cheer.
1. Go for a drive
Load up in the car, put holiday music in the cd player, and drive around neighborhoods to look at the decorated houses. If you want, make it a competition and have several cars go out in search of certain things, like a house in all white lights, an inflatable snowman, a nativity scene, and other common decorations. We drove around so often when our son was little he learned his right and left from us saying, “Lights on the right”, and “Lights on the left!”.
2. Movie debate
Have everyone bring their favorite holiday movies. Watch the movies, and rate them on a scale. Determine whose movie is superior to all other movies.
3. Volunteer
Sometimes, the best way to come together as a family is to do service together. There is always a lot of need around the holidays. Check local food banks, shelters, or churches to get recommendations of what local places could use some extra help this time of the year.
4. Hot Cocoa Bar
Set up a hot cocoa bar, and come together to mingle over warm drinks and cookies. Offer several types of cocoa, including milk chocolate, dark chocolate, and white chocolate. Have mix-ins such as hazelnut flavoring and peppermint sticks. Add ciders, teas, cinnamon sticks, and other festive drinks to have something that will satisfy everyone’s appetites.
5. Cookie bake-off
Have different contestants enter their top holiday cookie recipe. Invite all of your family to be the taste testers to determine who in fact has the best holiday cookie recipe. Here are some of my favorites:
- Sugar-Free Chocolate-Dipped Shortbread Cookies
- Mexican Mocha Crinkles
- Peanut Butter Sourdough Cookies
- No-Bake Coconut Snowball Cookies
6. Make your own ornaments
This is a great celebration idea, especially if you have young children/ Buy undecorated ornament balls and glitter glue, stickers, and other craft pieces. Help your child create their own one of a kind ornament, and allow the creativity to flow! We made these fabric-wrapped candy canes last year. They were easy, fun, and inexpensive. They made great package tie-ons.
7. Go caroling
Nursing homes and hospitals especially appreciate carolers on Christmas Eve to boost spirits. Consider buying an inexpensive bouquet at the grocery store, and hand out a flower to everyone you sing carols too. It’s an easy way to spread holiday cheer.
The most important part of the holidays is remembering to spend time together. Don’t like money and stresses get in the way of sharing in this beautiful time and soaking up every minute together.
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