Welcome to a new edition of Family Fridays. In this edition and many of the other upcoming editions, we’re going to be discussing the importance of reconnecting with your family. In the hustle and bustle of the digital age, finding a moment of peace and quiet is so hard to come by. It can be easy to simply hand our kids technology rather than engaging in real-world activities that challenge their minds and engage their spirits. Each month, we’re going to be discussing new and exciting activities that you can do with your family to re-engage and reconnect!

The holidays are frequently a time where family becomes an integral centerpiece in getting into the spirit of the season. Most holiday-themed celebrations involve some sort of group setting, from parties to events, and your family is usually the first to be around when these kinds of events are planned.

However, in all the hustle and bustle of the season, finances can tend to get a bit tricky as the money begins to get tight. Not all families are in the kind of financial situation to take lavish ski trips or buy a lot of gifts for everyone in the household. Often, this can lead to what would be the positive effect that the holidays could have on your family dynamic, such as bringing togetherness and keeping people close, to being inversely impacted and pushing the family apart. A lot of this has to do with the power of social media fueling jealousy and insecurity among parties as families try to compete with each other to see who can have the best holiday season, even though this inevitably ends with one party or another getting hurt in the process.

Perhaps more important than trying to outdo each other online is the alternative plan to help find activities that you can do as a family that cost little to no money. These kinds of activities help get everyone in the family together to do something without putting a strain on the family budget.

To start acting on a plan to have a festive but also cost-effective holiday season, we’ve gathered some of the best tips and activity ideas below:

• Set a formal budget and keep a running tab of expenses. The sooner you know what you can and cannot spend over the holidays, the more likely you are to avoid extra and unnecessary expenses that can sometimes slip in at the last minute. Having everything accounted for in advance will benefit everyone in the long run.
• Buy your gifts online or, better yet, make them yourself. By ordering online and using Google Chrome plugins like “honey,” you can save yourself money off of shipping or off of the product itself by getting valuable coupon codes. And, if you don’t want to buy anything, think about making gifts for each other! This could not only be a great time to get the family to stretch the boundaries of their creativity but also help encourage everyone to make thoughtful and meaningful gifts rather than just buying something cheap from the store.
• Start shopping early. The earlier in the season that you jump on your shopping list, the more likely you are to find better deals!
• Have a fun holiday photo shoot. Even if you don’t have a fancy DSLR, recent smartphone cameras still make for some awesome photos that the whole family can take part in. Find or make some inexpensive holiday props that can add character and extra detail to your photos. This will surely help them stand out!
• Give your time to others. Not only is volunteering during the holidays particularly important for people in need, but it can also provide an opportunity for you and your family to spend time together while doing something good for your community.
• Check out the community holiday events. Utilize our Nonahood News Community Events Calendar on our website to see the local events happening in the area that might have little to no cost.
• Go for a drive and look at the holiday lights. This was always one of my personal favorite activities as a kid. The magic of the holidays can’t be ignored while looking at all of the sparkling holiday decorations around your neighborhood.
• Cook together. Making a holiday meal as a family not only takes pressure off the parents but also helps teach your younger ones about the hard work required to eat a good meal!
• Play a board game. Most of us have old board games laying around somewhere in the house. A family game night is a totally underappreciated, free family activity!
• Go outside. Perhaps the least expensive option on the list, take some time to get back to nature and enjoy the natural environment as a family.

All in all, remember that the holidays are not just about the gifts that you give each other, but they are also a valuable time to create long-lasting memories that are more of a treasure than any gift ever could be.