The holiday season is here. Especially during this time of year I love to spend time with my family. There are some traditions that my family and I have which I truly love. But I have been thinking of some new traditions that are simple and not very expensive to possibly add to our list. So I have come up with 8 ideas to add to your Christmas traditions with family.
The list of ideas I am sharing with you do not have to take up a lot of time or cost a lot of money. Some will cost more than others. You may even consider setting aside a little bit of money each month for the traditions that may cost a little more to save for them. Whether they are free or cost money, spending quality time together is what matters most.
Over the years it can become difficult to come up with new traditions that are meaningful while still honoring old ones. With this in mind I've put together eight ideas that you may want to consider to help build new Christmas traditions into your holiday season that are simple and frugal.
- Volunteer
- Attend a Christmas concert
- Play in the snow
- Put up your decorations earlier
- Christmas Eve pajamas, movies and cookies
- Christmas Eve exchange
- Ugly Christmas Sweaters
- Thankful jar
Volunteer
Volunteering at a soup kitchen is an excellent way to give back and help others in their time of need. Whether you’re helping serve food or setting up tables, there are many ways for your family to volunteer together while starting a new tradition along the way. It is quality time together while making a difference in others lives. Check and see if there are any local soup kitchens that you could volunteer at.
Another idea for volunteering is at an animal shelter. There may be different things that they need some help with such as spending time with the animals and helping to keep their cages clean. If you are interested try giving your local animal shelter a call to ask if they are in need of any volunteers.
Attend a Christmas concert
There are different types of concerts throughout the year. Attending a Christmas concert may be a new tradition you would like to start with your family.
A few years ago I attended one with some of my family and it was absolutely amazing. We saw the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. It was one of the most magical concerts I have ever been to. The talent of the performers was outstanding. It was very festive and I hope to get to see them again. Perhaps even making this a holiday tradition for my family.
This is an event that does cost more. I had mentioned the idea of possibly setting some money aside each month for a tradition that may cost a little more. This could be one for example to save for.

Play in the snow
This is a free activity and may even be as close as in your very own backyard to experience. As the weather is cold, be sure that everyone bundles up. Being outside does not have to be for long. You could go out and build a snowman, go sledding, or have a friendly snowball fight. Afterwards, come inside to get warm and even enjoy some warm hot cocoa together.
Put up your decorations earlier
The holiday season seems to go by quickly. Consider decorating for them earlier than you usually do. Bring your family together and put on some Christmas music and bring out your holiday decorations. Enjoy going through them together and deciding which ones you will be put out and where. Are there any you want to hand down to your children? You could set those in a bin for when they become older. If your children have a place of their own now, you could hand them down to them now.
Christmas Eve pajamas, movies and cookies
Do you plan on baking cookies this year? Or do you plan on buying some festive cookies for the holidays? Either way, they can be a wonderful treat to enjoy.
While enjoying cookies, how about spend the day wearing your pajamas and watching your favorite Christmas movies together? Everyone could pick out a movie to watch or take a vote on some to watch.
Christmas Eve exchange
This is a tradition my daughters have enjoyed now for a few years. They have always enjoyed getting each other a gift for Christmas. But rather than waiting until Christmas day to open them from one another, they do on Christmas eve. This is something special and fun they enjoy doing together. As parents it is so fun to see their excitement. Plus they have the fun of opening a gift early.
Ugly Christmas sweaters
Do you have an ugly Christmas sweater? If not or perhaps even if you do, make an afternoon or evening of making your own.
If you and your family have a solid color sweater it could be transformed into your very own style of an ugly Christmas sweater. If anyone does not have one, consider stopping by your local thrift store to look for one.
Gather any crafts that you have that you could use to decorate them with. Some items to consider are: glue, sequence, feathers, beads, buttons, pipe cleaners and paint. If you are in need of items you may want to consider the Dollar Tree to find some items to use. They offer a great variety of items you may want to use like these.
Thankful jar
There is so much to be thankful for year around. Take the time at the beginning of December to start a thankful jar. You can use a jar you already have at home. If you are having Spaghetti for example, after using the sauce simply wash out the empty jar and use it for a thankful jar.
Each day through December 24th, everyone right down on a small piece of paper something that they are thankful for. Do not show it to anyone else. Fold it up and place it into the jar. On Christmas, everyone gather together and take turns reading each piece of paper sharing what everyone is thankful for.
Conclusion
Make a list of family Christmas traditions that you and your family enjoy doing together. Then look over this list I have shared to see if there are any that you may want to add to it. Traditions can be free and cost even little money. Plan ahead for the ones that may cost more so that you can enjoy some that may cost a little bit extra.
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Hard Knock Mama says
Great post! I’ve been hoping to add some volunteering to our Christmas traditions as our children get older.
https://hardknockmama.com/
Amy says
Thank you!
Maria says
Great ideas!
Amy says
Thank you!
Tamera-YourChristianBestFriend says
A Christmas tradition my family and I have is every year we pick out new ornaments to go on the tree. The ornaments are usually something that we are interested in or that speaks to who we are in that moment. Last year our son picked a dinosaur and this year a gamer remote because he is heavy into video games now.
Amy says
What a great tradition! I love this idea. Thank you for sharing and commenting.
Kate says
I really want to do matching pajamas but my husband doesnt agree lol. I may have to with my puppy!
Amy says
That would be adorable to do that with your puppy! Thank you for commenting!