5 Christmas Traditions to Begin: Christmas on a Budget
Christmas is a stressful time for many, even in the most normal of circumstances; but this year especially! Santa is on Zoom, shopping sprees will be limited, Christmas markets cancelled, and personal interaction restricted, and money tight. Whether you have young children, or just want to keep the magic of Christmas alive, we have five Christmas traditions you can begin, all on a budget.
Making Your Own Christmas Cake
Christmas cake is a staple Christmas item, but can be pricy in shops. So why not make your own? These can be made weeks before, so plenty of time to plan, and with plenty of recipes available online, you can find your perfect cake. If you want to get fancy, grab yourself a star shaped mould, and some small Christmassy figurines to pop on top once finished to create your perfect winter scene, and have fun getting imaginative!
Christmas Light Hunting
This is something we have done for several years; all it costs is fuel, and the price of a hot chocolate to take with you! Choose whether to stay local or make an evening of it, simply driving round finding the best decorated houses! A great way to make memories, stay warm, save money, and spend quality time with loved ones!
Throwing Your Own Christmas Parties
This one may be a tad tricky this year, although if we are still living to the ‘rule of 6’, you may get away with it. Whether it’s Christmas Eve parties, Boxing Day bashes or New Years Eve celebrations – a night out costs mega bucks! The meals, the bar, the taxi home, you can easily spend hundreds on a single night; which can amount to a lot over the entire Crimbo period!
Throwing your own party – you can save money on the food, the drink, and possibly even the taxi! If you have a group of you, you can take turns in throwing the party, or all chip in, and have a BYOB rule, to keep costs low. If you have the space for people to stay, then no taxis required, but if not make sure you have a pre-agreed designated driver – remember, it is NEVER OK to drink and drive, and it is certainly not cool to spend the festive period in hospital/ jail!
Buying Presents Early/ Late to Catch the Sales
A slightly unorthodox approach, but we all know that shops drop their prices for Boxing day/ January sales. If there is a specific something you are after and you’ve already missed the Black Friday sales, then why not risk it for a biscuit and wait for the after Xmas sales? You can make your money stretch further, and if you have patient recipients, or aren’t planning on seeing them until after the main event, why not try your luck and waiting to grab a bargain?
Making Presents
Why not keep costs low, and get up close and personal with your loved ones, by making their presents? You can keep a control on your budget, and give them a present that money can’t buy! Check out our ideas on 5 DIY Christmas Gifts if you’re stuck for ideas.
