As colder weather starts to move in most of us start thinking about holiday celebrations and all the fun involved. Whether your focus is on the people, the food, or the holiday decorations or other activities, there’s no denying that this is an exciting time of year.
In many situations the holiday season is the only time of year that extended family members spend time together. Fortunately, there are lots of ways to cut the costs associated with holiday fun.
Keep Things Simple
One of the most important things to remember is that the holiday season is more about the people you love and care about than anything else. That means that in many cases, simple is better. The focus should be on how you can make the people involved feel comfortable and at ease, and let them know how special they are to you.
Decorations
Decorating your home can add a special sense of holiday warmth. It tends to make guests feel the holiday spirit is alive and well in your home. But the reality is, whether your home is truly decked out or you have a light touch of holiday decor gently scattered throughout your home, or your only holiday decoration is a wreath on the door, it is not the decorations that will make your friends and family members feel comfortable and welcome; it is how they are treated and the overall experience they have while visiting.
That being said, decorations are fun and they do add certain vibrancy to the atmosphere. However, there is no need to spend more than you can afford on decorations. In fact, you may want to consider making some of your own holiday décor. This is a great way to spend time with family members – kids love it.
Food
When inviting guests over for a gathering you get to decide about the food that will be served. Although every gathering should include food, a full-course meal is not necessary. You have lots of options – many of which are very inexpensive to pull together. For example, why not have pastries and coffee, or have appetizers and drinks?
Another option is to supply the main course and ask guests to bring a dish. This is a fun way to get to sample a variety of foods. Plus, everyone gets to contribute, which makes them feel good, and it saves you money and work.
Activities
At most holiday gatherings the adults tend to take care of their fun and activities without any difficulty. They like to talk and laugh about old times, some will move off to quieter locations to watch a little TV or take a walk, and others may prefer to sing holiday songs.
It is often the smaller kids that are left wondering what they can do – how they can fill their time. An easy fix is to have a well-stocked craft box on hand. Most kids like to create things and during the holiday season if you can supply the goods kids can be very creative.
Many will make notes about the things they want for Christmas, others will create holiday decorations, and some will write fake letters from Santa to give to others at the gathering. This will of course, start questions about Santa – where he lives and when will the real letter from Santa come? So you have to be ready for those things to come up. But the trade-off is worthwhile!
The point is, hosting a holiday event doesn’t have to cost you a lot of money. It really shouldn’t be about money at all – it should be about having a good time with special people. Just make your home a welcoming place to be. That’s really all you need to do!
Image courtesy of debspoons at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
