Christmas isn’t about gifts, it’s about the time we spend with our loved ones. Decorating and traditions are what make everyone’s Christmas unique. Here are some low-cost ways to celebrate the holidays that even Scrooge will love.

Ways to Save on Holiday Traditions:

Do-It-Yourself Advent Calendar

Let’s face it: if we’re not celebrating the holidays, we’re counting down to them. Store-bought Calendars can cost a lot of money and it’s super easy to make your own. Make a personalized Advent Calendar with you, your friend’s or family’s favorite things. There are a lot of ways to go about making yours. It could be as simple as hanging up a string with 25 mini stockings from the discount store. Or, you can go all out, building a tree out of wooden sticks to hang your stockings from. Not only is it like a gift everyday, it also doubles as a decoration. Let the countdown begin!

O, Christmas Tree!

Real trees are high-maintenance and fake trees can cost an arm and a leg. If you’re tight on space or don’t have the extra cash to splurge on a spruce this year, we’ve got you covered. With string lights you already have ( or some new ones from the discount store) and some command hooks, you can hang them on your wall in the shape of a tree. It’s the perfect place for your presents, less maintenance than a regular tree and a fraction of the cost of a fake tree.

Wrap it Up

Don’t splurge on wrapping paper when you’re going to throw it out. Instead, use newspaper for a rustic look with ribbon. Also, make sure you save boxes that you get throughout the year from online orders, shoes, snacks and even canned drinks. If you have to buy something, try getting a bag you can reuse for next year.

Low-cost Things to do During the Holidays:

With the kids home for winter break, it can be hard to think of things to do. So, here are a few activities to get in the holiday spirit and keep the whole family entertained.

We Whisk You a Merry Christmas

Stay on the nice list this year by making Santa some delicious holiday cookies. You’ll love this simple sugar cookie recipe, the possibilities are endless. Divide your dough in half and use food coloring to make one-half pink and swirl them together. Or, use some cookie cutters and icing to make them extra holly and jolly!

Merry & Bright Lights

The twinkling lights and Christmas trees are a part of what makes the holidays so magical. You can drive around your own town, or check out neighboring areas at night. This isn’t limited to neighborhoods, most town centers are decked out for the holidays, too. If it feels like you’re in the North Pole, you’ve found the perfect place.

Holiday Movie Marathon

Even if Christmas was a year-long, there still wouldn’t be enough time to watch every holiday movie out there. You could watch a holiday movie every day leading up to Christmas or watch as many as possible in a day. With classics like Frosty the Snowman, Miracle on 34th Street and The Polar Express, it’s impossible to pick one.

Inexpensive Ways to Deck the Halls:

Make Yourself a Merry Little Ornament

Want a memory that will last for years to come? Making your own ornaments is the perfect way to do it. You can make them with photos of your friends and family, scrap pieces of wood and other recycled items around your house. Learn more about all the ways to make your own ornaments.

More than a Partridge in a Pear Tree

Now that you have your perfect DIY Ornament, you can make your own garland. Say goodbye to stale popcorn on a string and instead, try one of these garlands you can make at home. If you don’t have time to make all the decorations for your tree, a cheap alternative to garland is using 2-inch wide gift ribbon.

Elf-made Wreath

With a pack of bows and foam ring from the discount store you can make a beautiful wreath to hang on your door. All you have to do is hot glue the back of the bow to the foam ring, and the possibilities are endless. You can do this with ornaments, pieces of candy, small photos and so much more. For some more information, check out this list of unique, DIY wreaths.

Whether you’re having dinner with family, hosting the holiday party or want to decorate for the holidays, these ideas are sure to get you in a festive mood. And from our family to yours, Happy Holidays!