Celebrate Christmas on a budget by planning ahead and dividing the aspects into decorations, gifts, food, and events. Consider low-cost or free activities like holiday light shows and snowball fights. Make homemade gifts and decorations, and keep decorations simple with a few ornaments or a centerpiece of fresh apples and pine cones.
While celebrating Christmas can be very expensive, you can also celebrate Christmas on a budget and still have an enjoyable holiday. Planning ahead really is key, but even if you need to create a big Christmas fast, it can be done with some thinking time and a list. For easy organization, you can divide the celebratory aspects of Christmas into four main groups: decorations, gifts, food, and events.
Events would include low-cost or free seasonal activities to help celebrate Christmas on a budget, such as taking a tour of the holiday light shows in the neighborhood or going to a free Christmas concert. For snowy climates, building two backyard snow walls as opposing forts and dividing family and friends into two teams to throw snowballs the other side can make for an afternoon of free fun for everyone. You can serve hot chocolate and Christmas cookies later when everyone is indoors warming up.
Purchase as many types of cocoa or cocoa blend and Christmas cookies as you can afford. Consider your options and choose the best ones. Rather than buying a packet or two of hot cocoa mix and a packet or two of store-bought cookies, that same money could be better spent on a can of real cocoa powder and some ingredients for baking your own Christmas cookies. Browse some cookie recipes online or in cookbooks to find delicious ones with simple, inexpensive ingredients.
If you’re short on time, you can make refrigerator cookie rolls when you have some time and then cut them into slices and bake them when you need them. As a bonus, your kitchen will smell wonderful and welcoming every time you bake a batch, and it’s an easy way to celebrate Christmas on a budget. Plus, simple homemade cookies placed in an inexpensive Christmas tin or mason jar make great inexpensive Christmas gifts that sweet tooths are sure to appreciate.
Other inexpensive homemade gifts include simple knit scarves and one-of-a-kind, handmade Christmas ornaments. If you sew or are a crafter, look through scrap fabrics and leftover beads and trim and use your imagination to create special Christmas gift ornaments. If you need to shop for gifts, a great way is to start early in the year and buy small sale items that you can put together in different combinations in baskets or bags and give as gifts.
Decorations can be expensive, so it’s a good idea to keep things simple. Think about places in your home that could best showcase some Christmas decorations. A few Christmas ornaments hanging from a ribbon at different heights can also look beautiful in front of the kitchen window and this is a great way to celebrate Christmas on a budget. Something as simple as fresh apples mixed with pine cones in a wooden salad bowl can make for an inexpensive centerpiece for the Christmas dinner table when it’s flanked by a candlestick on each side. Don’t be afraid to use your imagination and have fun when you celebrate Christmas on a budget!
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