This week officially marks the start of the holiday season in the United States. By now, you’re probably looking towards the month ahead and all the upcoming festivities.

Of course, holiday travel, gifts, and gatherings will inevitably take a toll on your budget.

According to the National Retail Federation, Americans are predicted to spend around $902 on holiday expenses in 2024. That’s a hefty sum, especially if someone is very budget-conscious.

We get it: the holidays are meant for having fun and spending quality time with loved ones. At the same time, rising costs are quickly making many items and activities prohibitively expensive.

Fortunately, you have more budget-friendly alternatives. Here are several activities that won’t break the budget. If you’d like to host or help organize an event, these suggestions might give you and your guests a little breather on spending.

Try a Holiday Potluck

Nothing defines “the holidays” quite like the dinnertime spread. Of course, giving a single family (or person!) the responsibility of hosting and preparing supper risks running their budget straight into the ground. You can only imagine how stressful and costly such a strategy is.

Instead of putting the stress, workload, and costs on a single person or family, try a potluck. Have every attendee bring an appetizer, entrée, or dessert to share with everyone.

The gathering doesn’t have to be fancy or full of formalities. As long as each invitee contributes something, the meal should be just as satisfying.

Another thing you can do to keep things thrifty? Impose a spending limit, similar to a gift exchange. This limitation helps keep people mindful of their money while inviting creativity in others’ recipes.

Best of all, the potluck doesn’t just have to be for a meal. You can also adjust the scale to meet different age groups or interests. Some ideas:

• Cookie baking and decorating for kids
• Multicultural food exchange
• Barbecue with community tailgating
• Bonfire with fireside snacks

Send Cards and Greetings to Neighbors and Friends

Holiday cheer is easy to spread. The gestures you extend to your neighbors can leave a significant impact. Therefore, including them in your holiday greetings might be a good idea.

Blank, generic holiday cards are relatively inexpensive. On the other hand, blank cards are a great way to express yourself and create heartfelt messages that your neighbors and community members will value.

Take the time to review the little things that your neighbors did to make a difference in your life. Or express gratitude that they have been there for you throughout the year. Now is your time to say thanks and display your appreciation to your neighbors.

This strategy is also great for including your coworkers in your holiday festivities. Take some time to reflect on how your coworkers have positively impacted your life this past year and commit those sentiments to writing. You might be surprised at the reactions you receive for expressing gratitude!

Host a Night of In-Home Activities

Maintaining perspective this holiday season can be challenging as you review this year and look ahead. Having friends and family nearby may be considered a blessing.

Why not spend that quality time doing things together? It can be a challenge getting everyone to unplug from their tablets and phones, but sometimes, the best memories can be gained from simply being near one another.

You can do many things as a group at home that don’t require much money. Here are some suggestions:

• Host a movie marathon
• Sing holiday songs or karaoke
• Walk around the neighborhood to see the lights
• Go door-to-door caroling

Not every activity this holiday requires going to a theme park or across town. Sometimes, the most meaningful memories come from staying where you are and catching up with loved ones.

This season’s most popular holidays will be here before you know it. Consider some of these lower-cost alternatives and spend quality time with your closest friends and loved ones.

For more tips on how to take your budget a bit further this season, count on First Florida. You can explore our articles on saving money while keeping up with holiday cheer.