Budget Friendly Christmas Activities

We’ve been enjoying simple, budget friendly Christmas activities this year. I’m sharing a few of our favorite ideas here. If you are looking for free or super inexpensive budget friendly ideas, then this list is for you! You really can have special times and build great memories without breaking the bank…or sometimes without spending anything!

Here are our top ideas for budget friendly activities you can do as a family.

DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links…meaning, if you click on them, I may receive a commission if you make a purchase through my links. If you’d like more info about our policies and disclosure please click here. Thank you for supporting this community and blog!

Christmas Lights Night –

Make up travel mugs of hot cocoa or tea for everyone, load up in the car, put Christmas music on, and drive around town looking at all the pretty Christmas lights.

Christmas Movie Night –

Make a huge bowl of popcorn, put on the Christmas tree lights, and watch your favorite Christmas movie. Don’t have any? Pick up a classic at your local library. Our all time favorites are the old good ones like White Christmas, Christmas in Connecticut, and Holiday Inn.

Make Christmas Tree Ornaments –

Clear off the kitchen table and pull out all the crafting supplies you have. Let the kids get creative and make masterpieces!

Go to a Christmas Concert –

Check your local paper or do an internet search and find any Christmas concerts that are free. Then take the family! Wear nice clothes and make it a special evening out. We went to two free concerts yesterday! Yes, paid events can be amazing, but free can be good too! Even when you are on a budget, you and the family can still enjoy an evening out.

Go Sledding –

Load up the sleds and the kids and head to the hill! Sorry to all you southerners :). Be sure to bring the hot cocoa!

Do Some Christmas Baking –

Round up the supplies to make cookies or your favorite family recipe – from scratch – with the family! No short-cuts, get the full experience and enjoy the process as a family.

Cut your own tree –

Where we live, we can get a tag and cut our own Christmas tree for $5. Check what options are available in your area. We haven’t always had this option though, but you still don’t have to spend a ton on a live tree. I once knew someone who cut a large branch from an evergreen tree, stuck it in a stand, and ta-da! A DIY tree! 🙂

Make your own wreath –

Take leftovers from a live tree and a little wire and make them into a simple wreath. Or check out this DIY wreath idea using toilet paper tube (yes, you read that right!).

DIY Christmas Wrapping Paper and Bows –

Instead of buying fancy Christmas paper, it can be a lot more fun to use plain, basic brown paper and let the kids decorate it! We have a huge roll of it and have been using it for years. We can use it for any season actually. For Christmas, you can use pretty red and white string and the gifts look super classic and simple. Another option is to let the kids color and draw on the paper to personalize it – so sweet!

I hope this list inspires you to do some fun, budget friendly activities together and create some great Christmas season memories!