The holidays are a busy time for most of us.
There are presents to buy and wrap, cookies to bake and the tree to trim.
Sure, it is a joyful season, but it is also a fast-paced time filled with lots of stress.
One of the most stressful things about the holidays is that many of us have to worry if we will be able to afford all the things we want to do as a family and all the gifts we hope to give.
No, Christmas isn’t all about the presents. But gift-giving is an integral part of the season.
So for those of us who are trying to stick to a holiday budget, we here at the St. Louis Area Foodbank have come up with a few wallet-friendly ideas.
With the help of our Pinterest page, we have come up with this list. Please feel free to comment below and offer your own suggestions!
Things to Do with the Family during the Holidays
• Load the family into the car and take a drive through your community to look at Christmas lights. Print out an I Spy list for the kids, giving them special things to look for during the drive. Here’s a great one.
• Let the kids make ornaments with items from around the house like popsicle stick! Check out these cute sleds! Or, make the cute ornaments above using cookie cutters andhomemade salt dough!
• Write letters and make cards for soldiers who can’t be with their families during the holidays. Here’s where to send them.
• Gather the neighbors together and pick a night to go caroling around the neighborhood.
• Bake cookies together as a family. No need to be fancy, buy affordable cookie mixes or ingredients at the local dollar store.
• Take the whole family to the FREE light display at Our Lady of the Snows National Shrine. The Way of Lights is magical! Plus, you can visit the Christmas Tree Room, wreath and Lego displays and experience the fun in the Children’s Village and puppet show!
• Volunteer together as a family. St. Louis has many, many charities who may need your help during the holiday season! Here’s a great list of places from the United Way of Greater St. Louis.
• Sit together and read holiday stories. Here’s a list of holiday books for kids.
• Have a holiday movie night with your favorite shows. Make a big pot of hot chocolate to sip during the movie! Here’s a site where you can watch 101 holiday movies online!
• Make DIY gifts for the entire family. These can be as simple or as complicated as you wish. You can make almost anything from items around the house. Just a few ideas: a candle luminary out of an old tin can; handmade wreaths; bird seed ornaments; and Christmas décor from old wine bottles. Get more ideas on our Pinterest page.
Bethany Prange is the communications coordinator at the St. Louis Area Foodbank
