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The holiday season can be very chaotic if you’re not careful, and this can mean there isn’t space to create some happy family memories. I like to try to balance fun activities and events with being together and doing something a little more chill. Another thing to consider during this time of year is how easy it is to just keep spending money. But if your focus is on connection with the people in your life and home, you don’t have to spend a lot. Here are 10 frugal Christmas traditions to consider starting this year and continuing in the years to come.
10 Frugal Christmas Traditions
Load up the car and go look at Christmas lights
Ask around for the best neighborhoods with the best Christmas decorations. After dinner, have everyone put pajamas on and go for a long ride in the car. You could end the night with treats you bring along or stop to get everyone a donut.
Make hot cocoa and watch a Christmas movie
Make hot cocoa, either a store mix or homemade, and pull up a Christmas movie on one of the streaming services you already subscribe to.
Make and decorate cards for elderly/home bound people who you know
If you’re part of a church or other social group, ask for a list of people who you could make cards for. You could also call a local nursing home and ask how many residents they have, and then deliver generic cards. Anything homemade will be appreciated!
Go caroling in your neighborhood
This may seem a little old school, but every time we’ve done it, the response has been great. You can join up with a few other families and do this together.
Make and decorate Christmas cookies
Use my favorite cookie recipe and my favorite icing recipe. You probably have the ingredients in your pantry already!
Do a white elephant gift exchange with friends
This can be fun with extended family, community groups, or just some neighbors. Do the traditional exchange, but let all the gifts be frugal options such as free items, regifted items, or handmade items.
Make salt dough ornaments
Making salt dough ornaments is a fun tradition and can also serve as gifts for grandparents.
Turn on Christmas music while you decorate your tree
This is one of our favorite things to do in the early weeks of December. You may have one tree that you like to be decorated a certain way, but consider getting a smaller tree the kids can decorate.
Invite a few friends over for a cookie swap
Choose a few friends and ask each person to make 3 dozen cookies. Then get together and swap out some of the cookies so you can each have their own platter of a variety of cookies.
Make a compilation video of the past year and watch it together
You can do this on the computer with free software or even on a phone with the right app. Then just cast the video to your TV. If you start doing this every year, then you can have a tradition of watching all of them each year.
