No doubt the holiday season is wonderful but it will also pinch your wallet more than a crab at the beach. Between the many parties, gifts, and decorations, enjoying the season without emptying your bank account can feel like cracking a safe. But here’s the good news: It doesn’t have to cost you a fortune to create special memories. If you get a little creative and sprinkle in some planning, your days can be filled with heart warming activities that don’t drain your wallet.
From keeping the kids entertained, spending special time with friends, to getting in the festive feeling, so many budget-friendly options abound. Not only will these activities save you money, they will also remind you that the best things in life: laughter, connection, and the smell of freshly baked cookies, are free (or nearly free).
Host a Holiday Movie Marathon
Grab some popcorn and your favorite blankets, and hit play on your all time favorite holiday flicks. Whether you’re team Home Alone or team Elf, there’s nothing more festive than an evening of cinematic cheer which costs next to nothing if you use the streaming platforms you have. Want to make it more fun? Do a bingo game with tropes such as ‘snowy kiss’ or ‘over the top decorations.’
Craft a DIY Ornament Day
Get crafty and make your own ornaments. This adds a personal touch to your tree and makes for keepsakes you’ll want to hold onto forever. Save your money and buy cheap supplies in the dollar store or repurpose available things in your home. Wondering if you’re alone in the holiday crafting madness? Nope, you’re not! Many people craft during the holidays.
Bake Cookies and Share
You can turn your kitchen into a bakery for creative cookie making madness. Invite friends and neighbors over and swap cookies at the end of the day. With frosting, sprinkles or candy canes, you can whip up a simple sugar cookie recipe. 73 percent of Americans would prefer receiving food gifts during the holidays, so you can show goodwill without going broke.
Go Caroling
Bringing joy to your neighbors doesn’t require you to be Beyoncé. Gather a group together and sing your favorite classic holiday tunes around your community. If you’re shy, stay with a smaller audience, perhaps family or friends. Bonus: singing is scientifically proven to calm you down and brighten your day, so you’re spreading cheer while lifting your spirits.
Take a Holiday Lights Walk
Take a walk around your neighbourhood to look at festive decorations. You don’t have to pay for admission to experience a light show because many communities have neighborhoods that go all-out for the holidays. They have contests too, and this just makes the displays even brighter.
Create a Holiday Photo Booth
Create your photo booth at home with some props such Santa hats, reindeer antlers, and garlands. Capture memories with your smartphone and free editing apps. What’s family gatherings and parties without a good photoshoot? This will give you something fun to look back at.
Volunteer as a Group
There is no better holiday activity than giving back. Get your family or friends and make a visit to the neighboring food bank, shelter for animals, or community center. The past decade has seen happy volunteers increase over the holidays. Thus, it’s delighting to see people showing kindness.
Plan a Potluck Dinner
You don’t have to foot the bill to host potluck. Spread the cost and workload across people. You can assign dishes to your guests or keep them thematic by making it all finger foods or desserts. It will feel like a feast and everyone will spend just a fraction.
Organize a Gift Swap
Rather than the usual gift giving, do a Secret Santa or White Elephant exchange. They both restrict spending and let you exchange presents. You can even make it more fun by having a $5 limit or having all gifts handmade.
Write Holiday Cards
In the era of texts and emails, nothing brings a smile to someone’s face than a handwritten holiday card. Invite the family for an afternoon of crafting sweet messages for the loved ones. The Greeting Card Association estimates that nearly 1.6 billion holiday cards are sent in the U.S. each year — so this is not out of date.
DIY Spa Night
Make your own home spa experience with face masks, warm towels and relaxing music. You can find DIY recipes for scrubs and masks online using things found inside the kitchen, such as honey, oatmeal, or coconut oil. It’s an inexpensive way to chill out and reset during the holiday hustle.
Attend Free Community Events
Check your local community calendar for free holiday events such as parades, tree lighting ceremonies, and outdoor markets. In addition, festive gatherings in many cities often provide some entertainment, crafts and free hot cocoa.
Decorate Gingerbread Houses
If you’re feeling up to it, you can bake gingerbread or buy a budget friendly kit. Get your friends or family together and build and decorate your mini winter wonderlands. This easy, super fun activity allows for lots of creativity and candy munching.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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