• Family traditions don’t have to be expensive to be fun and memorable. 
• Setting up traditions with your friends rather than exchanging gifts saves you money while giving you time to reconnect amidst the hustle and bustle of daily life. 
• The holiday season is also an excellent time for service projects, and participating doesn’t have to cost you a cent. 

December can be a beautiful time of the year. Traditions connect us to fond memories of yesteryear, and we often catch up with friends and family. However, we also tend to spend a lot of money on material goods. 

It doesn’t have to be this way. When you pare down the physical gifts and focus on experiences instead, you create ways to save money. Plus, research shows that experiences bring us more joy than anything you could wrap in a box. 

Here are three areas where you can get in on the holiday cheer without breaking the bank. 

Establish Low-Cost Family Traditions

Traditions don’t have to be expensive. Whether you’re establishing new traditions with your children or want to shorten the receipt on yearly meetups with your family, there are numerous ways to enjoy the holiday season without spending much money. 

For example, take an annual drive through your city instead of visiting a giant holiday light show that charges you $40 per car to enter. You’d be surprised by how elaborate some of your neighbors’ displays can get, and no ticket fees are involved. 

Other family traditions include: 

• Baking your family’s favorite holiday foods
• Hosting a holiday pajama party or ugly sweater party
• Watching a classic holiday movie together
• Collaborating on a family DIY ornament or decoration every year

Extend Experiential Traditions to Your Friend Group

Sharing experiences with your friends is more meaningful than exchanging material gifts. It’s usually cheaper, too. 

A holiday friend-group dinner allows you to only pay for your meal rather than individual gifts for everyone at the party. Better yet, it gives you all an excuse to slow down and truly connect at least once a year, ensuring those friendships don’t fade away. 

You could also do an annual white elephant gift exchange so everyone only has to buy one gift. Make sure to set a spending cap to keep everyone on budget.

Other ideas include heading to the movie theater together during the final months of the year, setting up a holiday sock exchange, or hosting a holiday game night. 

Get Into the Spirit of the Season with Service

It’s great to spread cheer year-round. Doing so during the holidays is kind and can also be free. 

Here are some ways you can spread smiles to your loved ones and community this year: 

• Go caroling in your neighborhood
• Spend time visiting with seniors at your local nursing home
• Take advantage of free turkey promotions at your local grocery store and donate it to a food bank or family in need
• Offer free babysitting services to give parents a break during the joyful chaos of the holiday season
• Help a loved one set up their decorations or wrap their holiday gifts
• Visit your local animal shelter to play with their adoptable dogs and cats
• Volunteer at a soup kitchen

Payactiv Helps You Save on Your Holiday Traditions

There’s no reason to drain your bank account this holiday season. Experiences are a meaningful and cost-effective way to celebrate the holidays with those you love.

Payactiv can help you save even more. Download¹ the free Payactiv app to access exclusive discounts, whether it’s gas to drive around and see the neighborhood lights or tickets to catch that annual flick with your friends at the theater.

¹Standard rates  for data and messaging may apply from your wireless service provider.

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