10 Budget Friendly Christmas Traditions

 

Last night I had the privilege of speaking to a group of young moms in a Teen MOPS group. Yes, these moms were teenagers. I am so thankful they have chosen to become involved with the Teen MOPS (Mothers of Pre-Schoolers) group. They are getting the knowledge and skills they need to become better moms as well as learning about God’s love for them.

When I was asked to speak, I was reminded that these moms were on a tight budget. If I were to offer tips of any kind they certainly had to be budget friendly. So I thought it would be fun to share some ideas of Christmas traditions they could start with their kids. My hope is that they will begin to build a healthy family unit and hopefully provide a more stable upbringing than many of them had.

So, would you like me to share the Christmas traditions ideas with you? Yes? I thought so! 🙂

Here they are in no particular order:

1. Pick out a Christmas book to read. You could buy a book or even borrow one from the library. If you want to read the same story year after year, then it will be best to buy it in case it is unavailable to check out in your library one year.

2. Choose a favorite Christmas movie to watch. This could be one you find on TV, through a purchase, or again even from the library.

3. Look at lights around your neighborhood or town. Take a walk through your neighborhood or town to see how others decorate for the season. Check to see if your town has a light display. Kids love looking at lights!

4. Make or purchase an ornament. Having an ornament that represents your child’s year is a great way to commemorate him/her in the years to come. For a simple idea, trace your child’s hand on a piece of construction paper. Cut it out, punch a hole in the top, and string ribbon or yarn through it to hang on the tree. You could also put the date, some fun facts about your child’s year, and even a picture of him/her.

5. Make a Christmas countdown calendar. Draw a simple calendar grid on a sheet of paper and fill in the dates 1-25 for December. Purchase some inexpensive Christmas stickers and let your child put one on each day as they count down to Christmas.

6. Bake Christmas cookies or other special treat together. It’s always fun to have certain treats that you only eat during the Christmas season. Let your child decide what to make. Then set aside an afternoon for fun quality time where you are teaching your children something about baking or cooking.

7. Plan a special Christmas breakfast. Just as with the special treats mentioned above, you could plan a breakfast that is special just to Christmas morning. By planning ahead you can purchase the ingredients when they are on sale and then have them on hand for Christmas morning.

8. Read about the birth of Jesus in the Bible. Luke 2 is a familiar passage for many people. Reading the story on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day helps put the season into perspective. You could even break up the story and read parts of it throughout the month of December.

9. Bake a “Happy Birthday Jesus” cake. Celebrating Jesus’ birth with a party is another fun way to bring the true meaning of Christmas back into focus.

10.Attend a Christmas Eve service. Many churches offer Christmas Eve services that help focus our attention on the birth of Christ. This is a great way to pause and reflect in the midst of a chaotic season.

What are your favorite Christmas traditions?