7 Inexpensive Ways To Celebrate Christmas
The excitement of Christmas can sometimes get clouded by the actual expense of it. The holiday season can get pretty pricey with the number of fun things you’ll be doing and of course buying Christmas gifts for family and friends. We want to do everything we want to without worrying about the cost of it, but let’s face it, that’s not a possible reality for all of us. Sticking to a budget during Christmas is possible, and you can still have the most fun celebrations. Don’t think you’ll be missing out on anything and get FOMO, because there are plenty of free and inexpensive ways to celebrate Christmas. Here are seven ideas for inexpensive ways to celebrate Christmas to the fullest!
1. Attend Neighborhood Christmas Parties
If you live in a neighborhood with an HOA, sometimes they will throw fun Christmas parties for you and family or friends to attend. This is a great way to get into the Christmas spirit and the best part is that it’s free! You’ll probably see signs when driving through your neighborhood about when it’s happening so be sure to save the date. They’ll often have a Christmas movie playing on a projector, so bring blankets and a lawn chair. They might also provide free snacks and drink. And maybe you can put tickets into a raffle to win a Christmas prize! You might even be able to snap a picture in a photobooth set-up. Although the party might be a little childish or meant for kids, it will still be a fun way for you to celebrate Christmas and not spend lots of money. Keep this in mind when December rolls around!
2. See A Christmas Movie In Theaters
Sure you can watch just about any Christmas movie in the comfort of your own home, or even your bed, but there’s something so magical about going to the theaters to see a movie. The big screen, a room full of people, the smell of popcorn filling the air, it’s truly a joyous feeling. You can check the Fandango app to find Christmas movies like Elf or Polar Express and what days they are playing in theaters local to you. Tickets are often cheaper so you can fill up on all of your favorite snacks! Bring a cozy blanket and soak up the Christmas spirit as you sit down in theaters to watch your favorite Christmas movie.
3. Host A White Elephant Party
Hosting a white elephant Christmas party is a such a fun way to gather all of your friends and spend time together during the holiday season. You’ll be sure to share laughs as the most wild and ridiculous presents are unwrapped while playing the game. Now you don’t have to throw a Christmas extravaganza, your Christmas decorations that are already up will set the vibe. And be sure to turn on your pretty Christmas lights. You can set a price limit on how much the white elephant gift can cost, fifteen dollars is a pretty good amount. Just prepare some snacks and get ready for your friends to arrive as you’re about to have a fun, and inexpensive, time celebrating Christmas.
If you’re having trouble finding white elephant gifts, check out the article “15 Of The Goofiest White Elephant Gifts” to find some good, and inexpensive, ones!
4. Drive Around And See Christmas Lights
One simple way to celebrate Christmas is to drive around and see Christmas lights. Wear your coziest Christmas pajamas, make some peppermint hot chocolate, and drive to the ritzy neighborhood that does the most in Christmas decorations. Turn the station to the Christmas tunes and sing along while looking at the beautiful lights.
5. Bake Christmas Cookies
Fill your tummies with delicious homemade Christmas cookies by celebrating Christmas time in your own kitchen! Don’t buy those cookies from the grocery store that probably don’t taste as good as they look, instead spend the time to make your own from scratch! You probably already have most of the ingredients already, so you won’t be spending much with this delicious way to treat yourself and celebrate Christmas. Bake with your friends, family, or S.O, and be sure to have an upbeat Christmas playlist on in the background. Santa might not be picky with his cookies, but you want them to taste good! Have fun and make the most yummy Christmas cookies that would be good enough for Santa’s elves in the North Pole.
6. Go Ice Skating
Ice skating is such a fun and inexpensive way to celebrate Christmas, even if you have to hold on to the wall the whole time. When watching Christmas movies it feels so wholesome to see families having a fun time ice skating together. Couples hold hands as one is usually good at balancing and the other is wobbling around just trying not to fall. Little kids push around a plastic animal to keep from falling over. And pros zoom by you with a smile on their face as they love that they can now ice skate again during the holidays. It’s typically not that costly, just go during a non-peak time to avoid those higher prices and all of the people. An empty rink is more as you get to keep to your own pace, and you don’t have to worry as much about people falling around you or you falling into someone else.
Ice skating is my favorite Christmas activity if you can’t tell. I can’t recommend it enough! If I’m not feeling the Christmas spirit, all it takes is one trip ice skating and I’m as excited for Christmas as a little kid.
7. Take A Drive To The Mountains To Play In Snow
If you live in an area that is close to the mountains where it snows in the colder months, take a drive up there one weekend and play in the snow. Bring your family or friends and have a blast by making snow angels or having a snowball fight. Layer up in your warmest gear and take pics in the pretty snowfall. Nothing is more festive than a white Christmas.
