Having Holiday Fun on a Budget
Designed by Ava Kaloz '25 via Canva
With Black Friday and Cyber Monday out of the way and the month of December looming at large, you might be wondering how you will have fun this winter now that your wallet is full of — well, nothing.
Everyone knows that each time the holiday season comes around, it is easy to splurge on buying your loved ones (and yourself) lots of little — or big — presents. But with all of the spending that is so characteristic of this time of year comes an even bigger bill.
With little to no left to budget for this special time of year, it might be hard to think of ways to have fun and spread holiday cheer as we start off December, especially when most winter activities cost lots of money.
And so, why spend money when you don’t have to? From arts and crafts to outdoor fun, holiday fun is just around the corner. Compiled here is a list of super fun, low-budget activities that you can do alone or with your loved ones this holiday season.
Have a Snow (or Sand) Day
All this activity takes is some friends, some snow and a little bit of imagination. Once it starts to flurry, try catching snowflakes on your tongue and nose, or if it’s snowing heavily, grab a sled or container lid and use it to glide down hills with a buddy. Maybe even try a hand at making a snowman! And for those living in a warmer climate, try to create snowmen in the sand or even create sand angels!
Movie Night
Depending on what you already have at home, this activity can cost anywhere from about $5-10. This is a simple idea that involves getting candy, making popcorn and building a fort out of sheets and blankets you already own. Position your fort so that it is in front of a TV, or use your phone or laptop to cast a movie.
When you're ready, snuggle down with some additional blankets, pillows — and even stuffed animals for those long-time squishmallow lovers (you know who you are) — and get ready for a warm night in!
Baking Afternoon
Gather your friends and head to the local grocery store to buy cookie dough mixes. Once you're back home, play some festive music on your phone and get to baking! In just a few hours, you'll have dozens of cookies ready that are drool-worthy.
Christmas Light-Searching
Get your friends and family ready for a fun night of driving around town looking for decor. Have each person make a warm drink — whether that's tea, hot cocoa or coffee — and some snacks, and put on your best pajamas. Now hop in your car and ride around listening to holiday tunes as you all try to spot the best light displays.
Photoshoot Hike
Calling all Instagrammers! Create the perfect winter photos as you and your friends bundle up in adorable attire (try to get matching hats for a cuter look) and go to a local trail.
As you hike along the way, you will be able to take beautiful pictures of yourself and your loved ones, all while getting to enjoy the winter weather. This same idea can be recreated in the warmer southern states by taking photos on the beach and wearing matching Santa hats or other festive accessories.
Craft Fairs, Holiday Fairs and Everything in Between
No matter where you live, towns everywhere have holiday craft fairs each year, usually with free entry — unless, of course, you spot something cute, in which case, this might not end up being a “free” outing after all.
Money aside, however, these fairs are not only fun to go to, but oftentimes, they help to get even the grumpiest of “Grinches” to love Christmas with their peppy music and bright spirits.
DIY Decor
If you love decorating for the holidays, then this is the activity for you. Depending on what craft supplies you have at home, these crafts can cost anywhere from nothing at all to $15. Head to your local craft store and grab twine, styrofoam cylinders, glitter, Elmer's glue and felt — try to pick your favorite colors with a few sheets. With these materials, you will be able to create cone trees and a festive garland.
No matter what holiday you celebrate, these two DIYs can be made holiday-specific or can stand to represent the winter season. To make your cone trees, dip a long piece of twine (about three feet) into Elmer’s glue. Once the piece has fully soaked, take the piece and wrap it around the styrofoam cylinder, overlapping the string so that you have a “full” shape.
After the rope has been applied to the cylinder, you can sprinkle glitter along the tree. From there, wait a full 24 hours for the glue to dry before removing it from the styrofoam. Now, you have a tree!
Feel free to repeat this process to make more tree decor. For the garland, cut out snowflakes with your felt, cutting the felt as you would make a typical snowflake. When you have about eight snowflakes cut, attach them to a strand of twine that is about five feet long with Elmer’s glue. Let this sit for a full day. You now have a new, personalized garland to add to your collection of holiday decor.
Snow Hut Making
For this snowy activity, you will need to buy metal disposable trays from your local grocery store for about $5, or you can use baking pans you already have. Once you are ready, gather your friends to help you assemble a snow fort, using the baking pans to pack snow into them and create “snow bricks” to build upon.
Layer by layer, work to build up your fort until it is to your liking. When it’s done, use your fort to have a good ol’ snowball fight like when you were kids. Game on!
Monogram Sweaters
Calling all Harry Potter Fans! If you all recall, Ron and Harry were gifted these atrociously iconic wool sweaters from Mrs. Weasley, which had their first initial listed on it. To mimic this same style, you will only need to spend about $15 to get the supplies you need. First, go to a local thrift store and buy a plain sweater with any color of your choosing and then purchase yarn and a wide-loop needle from your local craft store.
When you have acquired the necessary materials, simply create a pattern of your first initial on a piece of paper, and cut out the letter. Pin the letter you cut out to the center of the sweater and sew along the edge of the paper letter to create an outline for your letter.
Once the letter is fully outlined, remove the paper and continue to stitch the yarn into the sweater to create a filled-in initial. When you are done, you can wear your sweater in style as you binge-watch all of the films again.Because what symbolizes the holiday season more than Ron’s disappointed face as he wears yet another itchy sweater?
Holiday Dance Party
Invite your friends and family over and set the scene for the ultimate no-entry fee dance party. Have everyone come in their ugliest holiday attire, and blast music listening to your favorite holiday hits. For even more fun, ask everyone to bring over a special drink or cookies to make this event worth remembering.
No matter what activities you choose to do — or not do — this year, may your holidays be merry and bright, and please make sure that injuring a family member isn’t on this year’s to-do list.