6 Ways to Celebrate Christmas on a Nothing Budget

4. Have An “Eat Everything” Week

Odds are if you have a pantry there’s quite a bit of stuff in there you probably could use to feed your family with. But, because you go shopping every week, that stuff gets pushed further and further to the back of the cupboard, never to see the light of dinner. Well, in the time leading up to Christmas challenge you and your family to have an “eat everything” week where you only eat what’s on hand in your pantry. Your freezer is another great place to go looking for ingredients, and no doubt there’s a few bags of frozen veg in there that could be used. Using this method you can feed your family as normal (with perhaps a little extra creativity) and take the money you would have spent on groceries with you into the Christmas season!

5. Be patient and smart with deals

Around Christmas time, there are often deals to be had. But it can be hard amidst the buying to ascertain what is really a sale, and what’s just a ploy by the shops to get you so spend more than you should. Go into any buying environment around Christmas time with your head screwed on straight to avoid impulse buying and spending money unnecessarily.

Another way to save money around Christmas, especially on actually buying presents, is to be very patient before you buy. Often, and especially around Christmas, things are discounted right before people stop using them. This isn’t always true, and indeed some stores will raise prices for the desperate hours of shopping leading up to Christmas. But for things like ornaments and decorations, the last few days before Christmas might be the cheapest place to get them. That’s all money saved!

6. Enjoy a simple Christmas experience

You might have dreams of showering your children with gifts, but when you’re on a really tight budget you’ll need to realise that probably isn’t going to happen. So, why not change your way of thinking?

Instead of making all about what you get, make this Christmas about the experience.

Go out with your children to look at the trees and the lights, see decorations, and participate in the free events that many city councils hold around the Christmas period.

The key thing to take away from a Christmas on a budget is to keep it simple. You can’t look at a budget Christmas as one where you miss out. Instead look at is as the one you spend with your family, traditionally as it should be.

So, did you think Christmas can’t be fun with a zero budget?

If you have family, food and laughter then you’re good!