18 Budget-Friendly Holiday Traditions
By Sarah Lyons
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Tis the season for shopping for presents , cooking fancy meals , decorating our homes for the holidays and celebrating with friends and family . The holidays are a fun and exciting time but all of that fun can start to stretch the pocketbook . No matter your budget , families can still enjoy meaningful holiday traditions .
1 . Make cookies for Santa ( and for others ) - Bake some special cookies for Santa but set aside a few dozen for local firefighters or police officers and deliver them with your kids .
2 . Have a Christmas movie marathon - Watch your favorite Christmas movies as a family while enjoying some popcorn , hot cocoa and candy canes . 3 . Make an ornament - Make a new ornament , as a family , each year . When the kids move out they will have a box full of decorations for their own tree . Easy ideas could be salt dough ornaments or filling a plastic ball with photos , ticket stubs or glitter and adding the date .
4 . Christmas countdown - Create a homemade advent countdown with construction or scrapbook paper . 5 . Holiday tunes - Play Christmas music each morning as you are getting ready for your day .
6 . Lights tour - Load up the family car and go on a tour of Christmas light displays in the area .
7 . Provide a meal - Check the needs of a local food pantry and help them stock up on items that can be used for holiday dinners .
8 . Family pajamas - Pick out matching pajamas for the whole family to wear on Christmas morning . For a low-cost option , use plain colored t-shirts and basic flannel pants .
9 . Bless others - Have the kids pick out a new toy to donate to a local charity that provides gifts to children in need . Also consider sorting through old toys and clothing to donate to charity before any new gifts arrive .
10 . Visit Santa - Take the kids to visit Santa , or write him a letter and mail it .
11 . Coat drive - Start a coat drive by going through your coat closet and donating items no longer needed to those less fortunate . Collect new socks , hats and gloves in your community to donate as well .
12 . Go on a sleigh ride - A sleigh ride is a great way to get in the holiday cheer . Don ’ t forget the hot cocoa .
13 . Caroling - Gather friends and family together and go caroling in your neighborhood or at a local nursing home .
14 . Holiday hunt - Fill Easter eggs with Christmas candy or hide candy canes around the house and let the children find them .
15 . Make reindeer food - Mix rolled oats with red and green sugar sprinkles . Have the kids sprinkle it on the lawn before bed for the reindeer to snack on while Santa is visiting your home .
16 . Christmas reads - Collect Christmas books , wrap them in festive paper and have the kids open and read one each day leading up until Christmas . Consider adding one new book each year .
17 . Campout - After trimming the tree , get out the sleeping bags and “ campout ” under it for the night .
18 . Christmas breakfast - Make a big breakfast Christmas morning . Make a breakfast casserole that can be prepared the night before lets you enjoy the morning with your family .
Holiday Movies for the Family
Polar Express It ’ s a Wonderful Life The Santa Clause MIracle on 34th Street The Christmas Story Elf How the Grinch Stole Christmas A Charlie Brown Christmas Mickey ’ s Christmas Carol Home Alone & Home Alone 2 A Christmas Carol Prancer The Nightmare Before Christmas Frosty the Snowman Babes in Toyland Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer The Muppet Christmas Carol
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