10 Ways to Save Money on Holiday Entertainment
Most people love the holidays. Even if they stress you out, your grandkids’ squeals of joy as they open their presents are probably worth the seasonal headache! And speaking of presents, did you know that most people spent around $1,638 on gifts, travel, and entertainment last holiday season? It’s really no wonder. No matter where you go during the Christmas season, you’ll see something that tempts you to crack open your wallet. Fortunately, you can still enjoy the holidays and all they have to offer without draining your bank account dry! In fact, there are countless forms of FREE holiday entertainment. And while we don’t have time to list every single budget-friendly Christmas activity, here are 10 to get you started this holiday season!
1. Organize a neighborhood cookie swap.
We don’t know about you, but when we smell the aroma of freshly baked cookies, we know Christmas is near! That’s why a cookie swap is the perfect way to celebrate the holidays! While you will have to spend a little money on ingredients, you’ll get your investment back twofold. Maybe even a baker’s dozen-fold! All you need to do is call some of your friends and loved ones, pick a day, and bake some cookies to share. If you plan on hosting the cookie swap, be sure to put up some festive decorations! You can also serve your cookies on Christmas-themed paper plates, with matching napkins and cups. And don’t forget to throw on some Christmas music in the background!
2. Visit a Christmas tree farm.
A lot of people don’t like real trees and their tendency to scatter pine needles all over the carpets. Even if you’re firmly in the artificial-tree-only camp, you can still visit a Christmas tree farm! A lot of Christmas tree farms also offer hay rides, petting zoos, and even live music, all of which you can enjoy even if you don’t plan to bring home a real tree. The best part? Enjoying the view and making precious memories with your family won’t cost a dime!
3. Attend a church play or concert.
We don’t know about you, but in the area where we live, most churches go above and beyond during the Christmas season! Some, like the church down the street from us, host Christmas pageants that include everything from choirs to ballerinas. A church in the next town over is famous for its live nativity. Even smaller churches host Christmas skits and plays that are always open to the public! And while some churches might request a donation, most of their performances are free to enjoy! If you’re lucky, you might even get to enjoy a FREE holiday potluck afterward, too.
4. Have a holiday movie night.
Christmas has truly become a cinematic celebration, with an entire genre dedicated to the holiday! Whether you like the classics like White Christmas and It’s a Wonderful Life or enjoy all the holiday movies Hallmark makes every year, you can find a film to your liking on both cable and streaming! If you’re anything like us and don’t have the patience to sit down and watch a movie, you can also enjoy a holiday-themed episode from one of your favorite shows! We personally love “A Benihana Christmas” (The Office, Season 3: Episodes 10/11), “The Christmas Tree” (The Middle, Season 5: Episode 9), “Perspectives on Christmas” (Frasier, Season 5: Episode 9), and “Christmas Present” (Everybody Loves Raymond, Season 5: Episode 11).
5. Have a Christmas craft day with your grandkids (or any of your loved ones)!
Crafting isn’t just for kids! As long as you have a little creativity (and maybe a cotton ball or two), you, too, can enjoy a crafting project! However, this suggestion comes with a caveat: don’t go crazy buying supplies! As you can see from the video below, you can purchase cheap supplies at your local Dollar Store and make budget-friendly crafts! Our recommendation: check your cupboards and drawers to see if you have any craft supplies before you run out and buy new ones. If you invite a friend or loved one to craft with you, you can also pool your resources and save an extra dollar or two!
Check out this video to get started on your Christmas crafting!
6. Drive around and look at Christmas lights.
Living in a neighborhood during the Christmas season means only one thing: Christmas lights! Our neighbors tend to go all out, turning their homes into veritable winter wonderlands every year. Unless your neighbor’s name is Ebenezer Scrooge, they probably won’t run outside and demand an admission fee every time you walk past their house, so you can enjoy this activity for FREE! Of course, you can always pay your neighbors in compliments.
7. Decorate a gingerbread house.
Unless you plan on making the Biltmore of gingerbread houses, it won’t cost you an arm and a leg to buy a gingerbread house kit! If you have enough faith in your baking abilities, you can even make your own gingerbread house at home. Whatever the case, gingerbread houses are not only fun to decorate, but they’re also a delicious holiday snack! Of course, if you’re anything like us, you might deem your gingerbread house too pretty to eat and display it until you can’t justify keeping it anymore.
8. Go window shopping.
A lot of stores go all out on their holiday displays, so don’t let their hard work go unnoticed! Bundle up, fill a thermos with some homemade hot chocolate, and enjoy the festive views. If you live in a big city, you can spend hours window shopping. Even those of us who live in smaller towns can enjoy window shopping, as small businesses tend to go all out on their displays, too!
9. Make a popcorn garland!
Did you ever make popcorn garlands when you were a kid? Well, why not revive that tradition? A popcorn, needle, and thread (or fishing line) are all you need to make a fun, homemade decoration! If you don’t like the smell of real popcorn, you can also purchase fake popcorn, like this 60-piece set available on Amazon for just $17.99!
10. Do a few DIY gifts.
When it comes to gift-giving, it’s truly the thought that counts. Are you an expert seamstress? A wizard with a crochet needle? A skilled painter? An origami-folding genius? Then you should try your hand at making a few presents for your friends and loved ones! Chances are, they’ll appreciate your thought and effort so much that they’ll love your gift even more than its store-bought counterpart!
Looking for more?
For more help and tips, visit our senior housing directories!
Other thrifty resources:
Administration for Community Living
Bob Carlson’s Retirement Watch
US Department of Housing and Urban Development
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Originally published November 20, 2025
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