Hi Reader!

The holidays are a wonderful time of year—but they can also be financially challenging.

There’s often pressure to find the perfect gift and spend more than you planned. So how do you create that holiday magic while staying on budget?

I’d like to share a family tradition of mine that I love. As our extended family grew, we decided to stop giving Christmas presents and start giving “Christmas Adventures.” Each family unit—my parents, siblings, and now their families—plans an outing as their gift. It can be anything, at any price point (including free!). The true gift is in the planning. (And with a family like ours, logistics and scheduling are no small feat, so it feels extra special when we all get together.)

Here’s why it works:

• Adventures can happen any time of year. That means a summer picnic or fall apple picking still counts as Christmas. We always cheer “Merry Christmas!” every time—even if we get confused looks from strangers. It takes the pressure off the busy holiday season and spreads the magic throughout the year.
• There’s still something to unwrap. On Christmas, we give clues to reveal the adventure—sometimes a silly riddle or printed out invitations, sometimes a small prop or little gift. I’ve given candy for a movie outing and Dino Nuggets for a trip to Dinosaur Park.
• It sparks creativity and connection. We’ve discovered so many fun things to do locally—hikes, picnics, museum days, festivals, dance classes, wine tastings, day trips, photo shoots, escape rooms, baseball games, and scavenger hunts, just to name a few. Sometimes we find unique events, and sometimes we just create our own adventure.

Maybe this could work for you, too:

Is your family so busy you hardly see each other?

Do you have a group of friends looking for a new tradition?

Do you want fewer material things and more shared memories?

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Whether you try “Christmas Adventures” or put your own spin on it, I hope this idea inspires you to create joy without overspending.

However you celebrate, I wish you and yours a wonderful holiday season.

​
Laura

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