Beautiful Christmas on a Budget

Most of us dream of a delightful Christmas—whether it’s for ourselves, our partner, or our children. Christmas is truly a magical time, filled with love and family. Unfortunately, it can also be extremely expensive. But it doesn’t have to break the bank! You can absolutely create a magical Christmas, even on a tight budget.

$5 Christmas Tree and Wreath? YES, PLEASE!

Something that I just figured out this year (which I am loving) is that you can get trimmings from Christmas trees at your local nursery. I went to get a small Christmas tree for our tiny house, and let’s just say I’m always surprised by the insane prices for cut and potted trees. Even the wreaths seemed expensive! I walked around for a while, trying to justify the expense (or just be okay with nothing), when I found bundles of tree trimmings for $5. It was perfect! There was enough to make a wreath and put the rest in a big vase for a makeshift tree that I decorated.

Now for the presents!

This year, money has been tight, so we’ve set a budget of $25-$50, and it should to be handmade. This is a great way to stay on budget and really show your loved ones how much you care. I think a homemade gift is so much better than a store-bought one. For my daughter, I ended up making a quilt. I had enough scraps and a leftover blanket from another craft, so all I had to buy was the batting, which was about $8. I then bought a few cheap toys I thought she might like. All in all, I spent about $28, and she will have a gift from me that she can cherish forever.

-Another great gift idea (especially for kids) is to get on Facebook Marketplace or go to thrift stores. You can find some great deals at thrift stores and even free things on Facebook Marketplace. It’s really the thought that counts. You might want to start looking early so you can find the best deals and not feel rushed, which would make you want to spend more money.

Dinner time!

Who says you have to have some crazy, fancy meal for Christmas? If it’s just you and your immediate family, go ahead and just pick a delicious meal like chicken alfredo, nachos, or hamburgers. Only pick 1 or 2 sides so you don’t have so much to get. If you are hosting lots of people, have a potluck, so everyone just has to make one thing. Make sure you organize it so all the food categories are covered. It’s really not about the food but the people you spend it with.

Start traditions!

Traditions are a huge thing that make Christmas memorable and fun. There are lots of free things to do.

–You can volunteer, if you and your family all agree to volunteer its a great way to get out of the house and give back.

–You can play games. This is a personal favorite. There are lots of free games you can play, whether it’s a drinking game, a board game, or an active game you see on all those ticktocks. Obviously, if it’s a drinking game, you will need to buy alcohol unless you just have a stockpile in your house from other parties.

–You can have a movie day. Whatever you choose, make it fun with your own little twist.

To decorate or not to decorate, is that even a question?

This is one I have definitely gotten away from. With kids and family and just life, I really don’t want to spend all that time, energy, and money on Christmas decorations. I like to have a wreath and a small tree, but other than that, with such a small house, I just feel like it’s clutter. However! I know there are lots of people out there who live for Christmas decorations. This is where thrift stores, garage sales, and Facebook come to the rescue. Especially after Christmas is when things are the cheapest. Look throughout the year for cheap or even free decorations. There is really no need to pay for Christmas decorations, or at least not full price.

Skip giving gifts to neighbors or friends.

I have a rule with my best friend that we don’t give Christmas gifts to each other. It’s just not necessary, and we both understand we have better things to spend our money on. If you really want to let someone know you are thinking of them, give them a card. Even giving people small gifts or cookies, think about how much of that stuff goes in the trash.

Conclusion: I hope some of these things help you through the Christmas season. I know winter can be a rough time with the big SAD. You don’t need the added stress of all these expectations. Remember, your Christmas doesn’t have to look perfect from the outside. Just do what makes you happy.