Celebrating Christmas on a budget is possible. Often families overspend on Christmas gifts. Others use credit cards and continue to pay for them throughout the year. It can be a brutal financial cycle. This year decide to do better and stay above the fray. You can do it!
Celebrating Christmas on a budget is a savvy stewardship move. Overspending for Christmas gifts is often a sign that you don’t truly know a person. Gifts purchased out of obligation are often impersonal and expensive. Christmas is not a gift-giving arms race. It’s a time to celebrate the birth of our Savior with friends and family.
Here are twelve jolly ideas for celebrating Christmas on a budget.
“A budget is telling your money where to go instead of asking where it went” — John C. Maxwell
#1 Establish A Christmas Savings Account
A Christmas fund is one of the first savings accounts that I recommend. As soon as the shopping is done for one year the budget is set for the next year.
What can you honestly afford? Are you sending a message of savvy stewardship or chaotic consumerism?
Set up a separate savings account that’s used only for Christmas shopping. Have the money automatically deposited on payday or from your checking account.
Don’t touch it until about the middle of November.
You’re welcome.
#2 Buy At Thrift Shops Throughout the Year
Thrift shops are a great place to buy meaningful Christmas gifts — for the right people.
One person’s junk is another’s treasure. Personally, I can spend hours at thrift stores and garage sales looking through albums (LPs) and books.
It’s possible to strike gold in some of the places as well.
#3 Draw Names
I have nearly two dozen cousins on my mom’s side of the family. We celebrated Christmas Eve as one, big, happy family for many years.
We drew cousin names on Thanksgiving. Presents were bought between Turkey Day and Christmas Eve. We all met at our grandparent’s house on Christmas Eve.
The adults drank coffee and ate cookies and the kids went outside to play football in the snow.
Eventually, we were called in for a large family prayer gathering. After prayer, it was gift time!
Definitely put a price limit on the gifts.
Places like Five Below have decent gifts.
#4 Make Baked Goods
My mother-in-law provide baked goods tins as gifts for as long as I can remember. Her specialties were no-bake cookies, pineapple cookies, chocolate chip cookies, and buckeyes.
She can no longer do all of the required work to bake hundreds of cookies. The first time she “bailed” on baked goods, she attempted to give money instead. There was a massive grandchild protest!
Don’t underestimate the value of something as simple as baked goods.
#5 Host People For Dinner
People often are super busy during the holidays. Often they have neither the time nor the energy to cook for their family. A well-timed family-style meal can do wonders for a frantic family. It can also be a tremendous blessing to a single person or someone who is new to your area.
Make something simple like lasagna and salad or a casserole. Food is important but camaraderie and fellowship are much more important.
Christmas can be a lonely time for many individuals and families.
Perhaps you can close that loneliness gap this season.
#6 Cocoa and Carols
Do you have a favorite cocoa recipe? Can you open a simple Swiss Miss package? If so, you’re in business.
Print off some of your favorite carol lyrics. If you’re musically inclined, great. Spotify and other music services work fine as well.
Invite some people over for cocoa and carols.
#7 Set Proper Expectations Early In The Game
Parents often attempt to give their children everything that they did not get, materially. Unfortunately, we often spend money on them but then cheat them with time.
If your children are young set the proper Christmas spending expectations early. Perhaps your family is financially frivolous. If so, knock yourself out. Kids don’t need the latest and greatest everything or every shiny new toy that hits a shelf at an Amazon warehouse.
Stand your ground. Think more about Jesus, Mary, and Joseph and less about padding the wallets of Wall Street.
#8 Establish A Maximum Budget
The envelope system popularized by Dave Ramsey is perfect for this situation. Don’t be ashamed of your budget. Refuse to overspend in an effort to impress in-laws or to make your kids feel more loved.
Our nature is typically insatiable. If you spent a kajillion dollars it would not be enough.
Set the budget. Put the money in an envelope. When it’s gone — it’s gone. It doesn’t get replenished and plastic is on ice.
#9 Say No To Commercialization
Ironically, the Creator of everything was born in a barn. We’ve taken this holiday and turned it into an $843 million dollar business in the United States.
Resist the urge to cheapen one of the greatest events in the history of mankind.
Crank up The Transiberian Orchestra and ignore the noise around you.
#10 Enjoy A Classic Christmas Movie
There are so many classic Christmas movies available. Our favorite is the original Christmas In Connecticut. A Christmas Story, Elf, and Home Alone are great options as well.
A family movie night is cozy and quaint.
#11 Serve As A Family
There are many ways to serve during the Christmas season. Often, charities have an abundance of help during this time of the year but not always.
Check with your local soup kitchen or a similar agency. What are their greatest needs? Can you meet one of those needs as a family?
#12 Be Honest
No one is exempt from financial hardship. If you’re going through it be honest with your family. Don’t allow them to spend your money or set your budget.
Perhaps you’ve decided to turn up the heat on debt and have decided to sit out this year (link to 7 steps to get out of debt). Tell those closest to you. Don’t be surprised if someone confesses that they wish they had the courage to do the same.
Celebrating Christmas on a budget is life-giving. Enjoy Christmas this year with zero regrets and then continue to do it every year.
Jesus really is the Reason for the season.