This time of year is often known as the most expensive; and for good reason. New winter gear, gifts for the whole family and everything that comes along with the holiday season will undoubtedly be burning a hole in your bank account. Save money with these 10 budget-friendly, family fun tips.
For Holidays savings...
1. Gift experiences. Sites like Groupon, Team Buy and RDeals make it easy to get people unique gifts without spending a fortune. Instead of buying things, try gifting experiences. There are often cheap deals for admission to attractions, family fun centres and even travel for the whole family. Just remember: things are replaceable, but memories and experiences aren’t.
2. Set a limit. Spending can get out of control during the holidays, especially if you’ve got a big family. Deciding beforehand to set a limit on the cost of gifts can save everyone a lot of money, as well as encourage everyone to get creative for less.
3. Get cooking. Rather than buying gifts for absolutely everyone (think co-workers, neighbors, family friends), take a day to make some original gifts. Make a dozen jars of preserved fruits or veggies (pickled beets, pickled onions, orange marmalade and grape jelly are great options) with handmade labels are lovely (and edible). Don’t have time to preserve? Cookies and other baked goods packaged in pretty tins or boxes (go to the dollar store for these) are another easy choice.
4. Clever packaging. Every year, we spend so much money on wrapping paper, plastic bows, tissue paper and gift bags. And, every year, it is money poorly spent (unless you’re one of the rarities that save and reuse all of those items). Instead, wrap gifts in comics from the newspaper, fabric (grab some from the discount bin at a fabric store) or even in other gifts (blanket, towel, dishcloth, etc.). Reusable tote bags are also an affordable and practical option, and are typically less expensive than disposable gift bags.
Winter fun...
5. Hit the slopes. Have a family of adrenaline junkies? Skip the lift tickets at the ski hills and opt for a day of tubing at Mt. Norquay in Banff. Price wise, it’s cheaper to go tubing. Day passes for skiing are roughly $80 for adults and $30 to $60 for kids. Tubing, however, is $22 to $25 for two hours, and $20 to $30 for a full day (or $65 to $85 for a family). For more information, visit www.banffnorquay.com/tubing.
6. Play the waiting game. If you can wait until Boxing Day or end-of-year clearance sales to buy new skis, snowboards or other winter sports equipment, do. Prices go down drastically, and there’s still enough time left in the season to make use of the new goods.
7. Snow much fun. Don’t underestimate how much fun a simple day in the snow can be. Bundle up the family, bring some thermoses of hot chocolate, hot dogs, marshmallows and head to your favorite picnic spot (just make sure there are fire pits!). Some not too far choices: Sandy Beach, Bowness Park and Allan Bill Pond.
8. Gone fishing. Hours on end can be spent on a lake, ice fishing. It’s a different experience for kids, and aside from the once-a-year cost of licences, it’s also a free activity. For more information on licences, regulations and fishing spots, check out www.albertaregulations.ca.
9. Bulk dinners. After a long day at work, and a long, cold commute, the last thing you want to do is stand in the kitchen for hours making dinner. Set aside an entire day to make big batches of dishes like lasagna, chili and stew, and then freeze them in individual or family-sized portions. Having these meals on hand is not only great for dinner, but also for warm, comforting lunches on those extra cold days.
10. Give back. Take some time during the holiday season to give back to the community. It’s a tough time of year for many people, and not everyone is fortunate enough to have a great family to spend time with, a delightful dinner to indulge in or gifts to be opened. Make your kids feel good about doing good by giving your time to those who need it most. The Mustard Seed (theseed.ca), and Inn from the Cold (www.innfromthecold.org) are two good choices, and be sure to check out volunteercalgary.ab.ca for many great volunteer opportunities.
Stephanie is a freelance writer specializing in travel and food writing. For more information, visit www.stephaniearsenault.ca.
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