Top 10 Money Saving Tips for Christmas - #7 Entertainment & Activities

snowball fight

Not only can keeping the kids entertained over the holidays can be an expensive proposition, many of us also have to worry about keeping the rest of the extended family entertained as well. Something, which can quickly turn into an expensive proposition. I have come up with my top tips for having a fun, frugal Christmas.

The Free

• Make a snowman - This a little reliant on where you live but if you are lucky enough to have snow making a snowman, playing in the snow or having a snowball fight can be great fun however old you are. It’s also a great way to burn off some of those extra Christmas calories.

• Go carolling - This is guaranteed to put you in the Christmas mood. Even if you don’t attend church regularly, get in touch with your nearest church any they are likely to be having a carol service. Even if they aren’t they will be able to point you in the right direction.

• Light the fire, toast some marshmallows, drink some cocoa & make some Christmas memories - cheap, cheerful and guaranteed to warm you up on a cold winters eve. This can be a great time to reminisce about Christmas past & tell old family stories.

• Play board games or play cards - If everyone can resist the temptation to cheat at Monopoly and not take the game of poker to seriously, then playing board games or cards can be a fun, frugal way to pass the evening. You can always try to plan ahead as well and get friends and family to bring new games with them when they come to visit.

The Nearly Free

• Drive or walk around your town or a town nearby to see all of the Christmas lights - this can vary so much from town to town, but if you town or one close to you has spectacular lights, then this can be a great way to spend an evening. If you decide to walk around town, then you can always stop for a hot chocolate on the way to really top your evening off.

• Visit Santa - This is possibly one of the best ways to keep children entertained at Christmas. The most frugal way to do it is to check your local paper for fetes or Christmas markets. Santa is always out in force at these events, and anything that help you avoid the mall is going to be good for your wallet.

• Go to the theatre - There are loads of options at this time of year, there are some wonderful plays, but the ballet or the panto can also be a great choice. It always pays to look out for special deals before you buy theatre tickets, otherwise it can become expensive. It is also worth looking at matinee performances as these are generally cheaper, and can be more fun for children.

• Go to a professional concert - This can be a great option, especially if carol singing isn’t for you but you still want to enjoy the Christmas music. It is always worth looking in the local papers, are there are often some great concerts on at local churches or universities.

• Rent some movies and have a family night in - Rather than braving the cold to go the cinema, you can always stay at home with a movie. To save even more money, you can always sign up for a free trial of a movie rental service. These always offer at least one months free rental, sometimes up to three if you are really lucky or manage to nab a special offer. 

And the Downright Productive - Get Christmas done while you’re having fun.

• One option is to get together with some friends or family and have a party whilst still getting ready for Christmas. You can use the opportunity to make homemade decorations, presents or cards, or you could even get all your Christmas wrapping done. It’s so much easier when you have another paid or hands. Just make sure that you don’t wrap someones present in front of them … it kind of ruins the surprise. All you need to do is provide some drinks and nibbles. Another great option is to have a party to decorate the house - get friends or family round, provide some nibbles and mulled wine, and get everyone to pitch in with the decorations.

I hope you’ve enjoyed these tips … please let me know if you have any top tips that I’ve missed.

Best of the Rest;

One thing I am particularly keen on is highlighting posts from other bloggers that relate to my posts and that I believe are worthwhile additional reading. I plan on including these ‘Best of the Rest’ links is as many of my posts as a I can.

• This Wasn’t In The Plan - You Can’t Buy Christmas

• The Simple Dollar - Kids, Christmas & Frugality; 8 Simple Tips