Budget Friendly Holiday Traditions

[pigletto]

I'm looking to make this years Christmas Holidays packed with things to do for little cost.
The kids will be off for two weeks and the past few years we have spent the majority of the holiday on vacation with my extended family. We aren't going away this year so I am looking for ways to make our time special without spending tons of money.
Some of the ideas I am tossing around are volunteering, a cookie baking day, Christmas themed movies a few evenings, driving around to look at lights e.t.c.

We will be with family visiting on the 24th, 25th, and 26th ..otherwise it is up to us to make our holidays fun and special.
So I am turning to my DIS friends to hear all of your traditions and things you love to do over the holidays that don't break the bank. Please share

 

[funkychunkymonkey]

ART!!! micheals sells 3 packs of 5 by7 canvases for 2.99 a pack. I got 5 packs for just under $20 and plan to make it into a grand art peice. Each person is going to paint one and then there going over my tv. You could also take old sheets and make a tent. If you sew a pillowcase on the sheets edge you can make them stay on without books (and the danger of falling)

 

[NHdisneylover]

We always do a couple of baking type days. Early in the season I bake pieces for gingerbread houses or the family fun gingerbread train (bake early so the harden up to decorate). The kids assemble it and decorate it and use it for a centerpiece on the coffee table (the train acts as a cany dish also--directions are on the Family Fun website). We also spend Christmas Eve baking batches of cookies and then have cookies for breakfast on Christmas morning.

We always try to go ice skating at least once during the holidays.

The kids make a New Year's Page for their photo albums every year. I include a recent photo and have them sign their names, list curretn favourites (colors, movies, toys, muscic, etc.) and they draw a picture. It is fun to see how that changed over time.

We generally spend a day crafting homemade Christmas ornaments. We keep a pair (one from each kid) for our own tree and include one with each cookie plate we hand out over the season.

The kids turn every sales add that comes in into paper snowflakes or paper stars and hang them all over the house

We go out caroling or to an indoor carol sing along as well as caroling for local nursing homes with a group.

I fill a multi compartment tupperware container with various cocoa toppings (mini marshmellows, crushed candy canes, jimmies, sprinkles, butterscotch chips, carmel bits, etc.). I pull out this "topping bar" (plus whipped cream) and make we make fancy cocoa to sip during holiday movie nights.

We make new years party hats and noise makers and spend time creating the perefct "NYE dance party CD"

We hook the computer up to the TV and create a slide show of some of the year's photos to music (working all together) and send it out to realtives when we are through.

 

[smacky1]

We like to do a night with a holiday movie and some hot cocoa while we make a popcorn/cranberry garland that we hang on the trees outside for the birds to eat. So fun, very cheap, and the kids like to watch the birds, squirrels and chipmunks stock up for winter. Just be sure to make lots of popcorn because most of it will get eaten by the kids!

 

[semo233]

Last year there was a thread with a similar theme. I copied and pasted some of the ideas to a word document. Here's what I have:

the Giving Tree
addressing and sending out Christmas cards
Christmas Smore's Party
Christmas Movie Night
Milk Shake night
Sleep under the Christmas tree
Candlelight Dinner
Reading Bible story leading up to birth of Christ
Game night
Photo album night
jigsaw puzzle


appetizer night-Instead of a regular old food-pyramid dinner, we create a table of yummy appetizers and munch all night long! It's fun, tasty, and a great way to get kids to eat new and/or healthy foods.

the longest night of the year--the winter solstice (December 22). To make one luminaria, decorate a brown paper lunch bag by tracing a simple pattern in pencil on one side, then punching out your design with a hole punch. Fill each luminaria with about 2 inches of sand and sink a votive candle or tea light in the center. Place the luminarias along a walk, patio or deck, light them (a grown-up's job) and bask in the glow.

give back something to all these good-hearted folks, so for the past several years they've gathered holiday cookies and other treats to bring to the local fire station on Christmas Eve.

To make your own global wish list, ask each family member to contribute at least one idea that would make the world a better place. (Don't worry if the ideas seem overly optimistic--that's the point.) After you've made your list, choose one (or more) that you can actually help to implement

Every year, usually on January 6 (the Feast of the Epiphany and the end of the traditional 12 days of Christmas), family has a quiet supper before taking down the tree. Beside each plate is a small package holding a single button, which has been chosen for its significance to the recipient: a flower button for a gardener, an anchor for a sailing fan and so on. Each person sews the new button on his or her stocking before packing it away until next year. My friend marvels that her kids are as excited to unwrap their buttons as they are to tear through the packages on Christmas.

Inspired by Eve Bunting's book Night Tree, the Watermans get together each year with friends and family and trek into the woods to decorate a tree for the animals. The evening begins at home, with the preparation of appropriate goodies: pinecones rolled in peanut butter and birdseed, popcorn and cranberry garlands, orange and apple slices suspended from pipe cleaners. Once the feast is complete, the assembled throng bundles up and heads out into the night. Tree-decking is followed by sharing hot chocolate, holiday cookies and Christmas carols.

Each child gets to choose a photo of himself or herself to incorporate into an ornament, which can be as simple as a Popsicle-stick frame or as sophisticated as a decoupaged Styrofoam ball.

 

[5 Disney Fans]

We pick on night close to Christmas (not Christmas Eve!) and camp out in the living room. The kids love looking at the Chrismas tree and listenting to Christmas music while they drift off to sleep. You can add in traditional "camping" activities like hot dogs for dinner, smores for dessert and make a craft ornament to hang on the tree.

One thing we are doing for sure this year is getting a few boxes of Christmas cards at the dollar store and filling them out to send to the troops. There is an address on the Red Cross website you can send them to before December 9th (I think) in order to get them overseas in time. It will cost us maybe $5 with postage and some time but it could make someone's day!

 

[NHdisneylover]

We like to do a night with a holiday movie and some hot cocoa while we make a popcorn/cranberry garland that we hang on the trees outside for the birds to eat. So fun, very cheap, and the kids like to watch the birds, squirrels and chipmunks stock up for winter. Just be sure to make lots of popcorn because most of it will get eaten by the kids!

I saw the idea to make a garland earlier this year and love it. I did not think to hang it outside for the animals Thanks for posting that.

 

[NVDisMom]

So much of this is dependant upon how old your children are and where you live. I try to mix it up with things at home and things out and about so that we don't feel cooped up.

Home-
If we have snow we will have a snoman making contest with prizes awarded and hot chocolate afterward. I like the bar idea!
Before the holidays we will spend a few days cooking and crafting. Cookies, candies, homemade liquors, etc.
After the holidays we have cooking lessons. Soup, casserole, lasagne, etc. And freeze for future meals.
Scavenger hunt for natural items to fill the empty places the holiday decorations did fill.
Themed movie days. Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, Star Wars, etc. We'll make food that matches our theme and maybe even dress up!
Karaoke is a big hit here.
So are board games. We do tournaments for bragging rights and chores.
We spend one day cleaning house top to bottom after we take down the tree. Great way to start off the new year. Then order pizza and make ice cream sandwiches.

Out and About-
We have season ski passes, so we spend quite a bit of time on the mountain. Skiing, sledding, ice skating. All fun. Some cheaper than others. We always pack a picnic lunch with thermoses of hot drinks. Sometimes we even BBQ, tailgating style!
Checkout local museums and performances. There is almost always something going on. Usually for cheap or free. Our local unversity and community college offers mini classes for kids, as does our homeowners association. Our state museums all offer free days during break.
Spend an afternoon at the library. My girls love it! Even when there is nothing going on.
A matinee at your local theater isn't too bad, but we have what I call the cheapo theater here. $3 all seats. The movies aren't first release, but they aren't out on dvd yet either.
We try to get out to the park one day if the weather cooperates. Play some soccer or touch football with friends and bbq.

 

[carj]

We love to go look at this one house that is a couple of miles away. They have their lights set in time to a radio station that is broadcast near their house. You drive up and tune your radio to the station and watch for a while. The dad and son often come out and hand out candy canes. It is awesome and one of our favorite things to do during the Christmas season.

Another one that we love to do is to visit the Gaylord Texan, Ice exhibit. It is definitely not cheap but since we are in Texas, being in that really cold atmosphere gets you in the holiday mood!

Last year, I started doing the Elf thing where you have the elf do all sorts of silly things. That was a lot of fun.

 

[funkychunkymonkey]

another tradition in our house is learing about another culturs holiday traditions. We read a story about there culture, make a ordment in there style, try a game (if possible) and bake a holiday treat. Last year we studied Croatia. Its a good way to learn about other places in a fun manor. Some years we also do religions.

 

[luckey-lasvegas]

We like to have a potluck lunch with friends usually the weekend before Christmas. We also usually do a cookie exchange with a few families. This year I am planning on having a Soups on open house where I will have several soups ready in crock pots and some easy salads, so folks can stop by and have a bite and say hello.

I like to try and find out when the local philharmonic and city choirs hold their Christmas concerts. We have also gone to the local Ballet Company's production of the Nutcracker.

We also like to craft ornaments for the tree. One very easy one I remember doing when I was a kid is to take 2" squares of Christmas fabric and push the edges of the square into a styrofoam ball. It end up looking like a patch work quilted ball.

 

[RSADP]

We love to go look at this one house that is a couple of miles away. They have their lights set in time to a radio station that is broadcast near their house. You drive up and tune your radio to the station and watch for a while. The dad and son often come out and hand out candy canes. It is awesome and one of our favorite things to do during the Christmas season.

Another one that we love to do is to visit the Gaylord Texan, Ice exhibit. It is definitely not cheap but since we are in Texas, being in that really cold atmosphere gets you in the holiday mood!

Last year, I started doing the Elf thing where you have the elf do all sorts of silly things. That was a lot of fun.

We're probably neighbors. There is a house that does that here in Benbrook, TX.

 

[englishteacha]

We're the Christmas house in our...well, state, actually! This is our first year with the full set up with the radio station, "dancing" lights, etc.

A family tradition I cherish is having banana splits on Christmas Eve after church. Before I was born my mom's aunt would send money to my parents for Christmas for a special treat, so Mom bought all the fixin's for banana splits. We have a big family so treats like that didn't happen often. This will be the 46th year of the tradition!

 

[pigletto]

I am loving these ideas!!! See.. fun doesn't have to cost a dime
I will be using many of these suggestions.. thank you!

 

[indimom]

We don't have as many, and some are repeats, but here goes...
1. Cookie Baking
2. Build a Gingerbread House (we use the store bought kit).
3. Caroling at the homes of older neighbors or the nursing home.
4. The Cincinnati Zoo does Christmas lights and ice skating, with cookies and hot chocolate. Pretty inexpensive.
5. Driving around to see all the lights.
6. Visit the "Live Nativity" at a local church (Real animals to pet, real people filling the spots of Mary, Joseph, etc. Local choirs, bands and church groups perform Christmas songs, etc.)
7. Christmas Eve church service.

 

[Local_Girl]

We do an advent calendar every year with little activities or thoughts for each day, plus a treat for each of my 2 kids. Sometimes the activities are as simple as "wish someone a Merry Christmas" or "sing your favorite carol"; sometimes a bit more involved like "make treats with Mom". All are either free or very inexpensive. The kids (now teens) still enjoy seeing what the calendar says for each day!

 

[jacobsmom]

I took a mini muffin tin and turned it into an advent calendar! Each day is a different thing to do.
Examples:
Christmas specials on that night
christmas concert
sledding
look at christmas lights
Bake cookies
Make Christmas candy
Create a mini picture book/gift for grandpa
Craft day
decorate the windows for Christmas
Go to the Christmas Parade downtown and have hot chocolate

We LOVE visiting friends to see their Christmas tree. This year I'm taking the highschool youth group to go round robin and see tree's and decorations!

 

[PHXscuba]

I always have plenty for my kids and I to do in the week between when school lets out and Christmas Day. Then they have new gizmos to amuse them for a bit, but ... what about that week between then and when they go back to school? My kids aren't going back until Jan 6th this year!!

Any after-Christmas suggestions? We live in AZ so we can do some outdoor things, but a lot of places are mobbed with desperate parents like me!

PHXscuba

 

[mcco5543]

I'm all for finding places to volunteer or doing things that benefit others. Christmas is about giving after all. Write to the troops, have kids draw them pictures saying thank you!

collect old towels for a pet shelter.


have friends over around the holidays for cookies and hot cocoa and movies. Celebrate "family" even if it's "family by choice".

 

[Sagginit]

we still make a big fuss out of decorating the xmas tree in my house as a child it was always my favorite, we collect ornaments from places and people and its nice to go thru the boxes and talk about the memories.

i love to drive around and look at lights, we still call them "ights" since my brother had a speach problem as a child and they were that for the first few years of his life.

baking cookies was another thing i loved doing as a child and still do.

im in the nyc area so for me its not xmas without a trip in to see the tree and windows, the train costs money but looking at the stuff is free.