Christmas is an expensive time of year for everyone. If you can’t afford Christmas this year, you’re not alone, and you’re not without hope.
There are so many wonderful ways to celebrate the holiday that don’t cost a thing!
Christmas is expensive – period. This year, many of us will not be able to give our loved ones the Christmas we want. But don’t worry. If you can’t afford Christmas this holiday season, all is not lost.
If you’re looking for information to help you navigate this ultra-expensive holiday, I’m here to help.
In this post, you’ll find helpful advice on what to do when you can’t afford Christmas, as well as free gift ideas to help share your love.
Though not being able to afford Christmas can feel shameful, this couldn’t be further from the truth. This is the reality for many people who are doing their best to provide for themselves and their families.
Plus, gifts don’t capture the true essence and meaning of Christmas, anyways.
Showing care and affection to your loved ones can be done in so many ways. Truthfully, gifts barely scratch the surface!
What To Do When You Can’t Afford Christmas
If you’re not able to afford Christmas this year, I have a few ideas that you may want to keep in mind. Use them to help guide you through the holiday!
Be honest
There is no shame in having a budget. Christmas is an exorbitantly expensive holiday, and most people cannot afford to celebrate it to the extent they wish.
If you can’t afford to give gifts this year, be honest with your friends and family. If anyone is going to understand, it’s the ones you hold dearest in your life.
Reframe your thinking
Though Christmas has become a widely commercialized event, gifts are just a very small part of the holiday.
Many use the Christmas season as a way to spend quality time with loved ones, celebrate their faith, and take a much-needed holiday from the everyday.
Christmas is a time to show love and compassion to others and yourself, and giving gifts is only the smallest way you can express these sentiments.
Remind yourself of what Christmas means to you. What are your favorite parts of the season? Do you love a crackling fire? A shared family meal? Watching the snow fall from a cozy nook?
When you reframe the way you view Christmas, you can rid yourself of any unwarranted shame that may come with a low-budget holiday.
Give your time
Another way to adjust your thinking about the holiday is to remember that while it is the season of giving, material objects aren’t the only gifting possibility.
Try volunteering your time (if you have the time to spare) to help those that need extra care this holiday.
You could organize a donation drive, volunteer at a soup kitchen, or pass out warm winter clothes that you no longer need.
Stay festive
If we’re being honest, gift shopping is often the least festive part of the holiday! Long lines, grumpy customers, the frustrating search for good gifts – see what I mean about how it’s not all that fun?
There are so many exciting ways to celebrate Christmas with little to no money! Your family will love and appreciate these activities even more than receiving gifts.
Best of all, these activities will make for lasting memories, as opposed to temporary material gifts. Try any of these to get into the festive spirit:
- Christmas movie marathon
- Free community Christmas events
- Hot chocolate in front of the fire (or under a warm blanket!)
- Christmas arts & crafts
- Drive to see community Christmas lights
- Make a snowman (if your climate allows it)
- Bake Christmas cookies
- Write letters to Santa & his elves – click here to grab my FREE Dear Santa letter printable.
- Decorate the house with orange, cranberry, and popcorn garlands
Know you’re not alone
It seems like Christmas gets more expensive every year, and with it, the pressure to spend widely and frivolously. At this point, very few can afford the picture-perfect Christmas that is fed to us by the media.
If you can’t afford Christmas this year, please know that you are not alone. So many of us struggle to make due. Don’t judge yourself, no one else is.
Be kind to yourself
Beyond financial concerns, the holidays can be extremely stress-inducing! With busy schedules, holiday hours, and the kids out of school, it can all feel like a bit too much.
Because of this, it is extra important to be kind to yourself during the holidays. If you can, take a day, or even an hour, for yourself and plan a bit of self-care.
From taking a hot bath, to relaxing by the fireplace with a book, to painting your nails, there are plenty of relaxing activities that will cost very little, if anything!
Free Gifts To Give If You Can’t Afford Christmas
For those without money to spare this Christmas, you may be wondering – what can I give?
In all honesty, it’s not necessary that you give gifts at all. A kind word, a loving note, or a helping hand throughout the year speaks volumes.
If you’re set on gifting some kind of gift, here are a few free options to get you inspired. They use common household items to limit financial stress while letting you show how much you care for everyone on your Christmas list.
Looking for more inexpensive gifts? I have an entire article on cheap Christmas gifts for kids under $20 HERE >> 10 Cheap Christmas Gift Ideas For Kids {all under $20}
1. Homemade artwork
If you have artistic inclinations, a piece of homemade art is a wonderful gift to give this season.
In my experience, there are few gifts as appreciated as a beautiful craft or another piece of art.
Use the materials you have around the house to create sentimental masterpieces for your loved ones. Try painting, knitting, crocheting, or a simple sketch.
If you don’t have materials at home, you can ask your local libraries about magazines they’re ready to scrap. You can use them to create a beautiful collage!
2. A handwritten note
As humans, it’s important to be reminded that we are loved and cared for. You can know very well that you are loved, but many of us struggle to remember or believe it.
Express your gratitude to your loved ones with a handwritten Christmas card or note. You can even write it on the back of an old photograph for a sweet memory.
3. A home-cooked meal
We tend to undersell the effort that goes into a home-cooked meal.
For all those who are clever in the kitchen, offer your loved ones the gift of a meal. This can be a Christmas dinner, a Friday night event, or an IOU for another time.
The recipients (and their taste buds) will be extremely grateful!
4. A kind favor
Do not discredit the value of a well-placed favor.
Even the most independent people need help once in a while. Still, it can be difficult to ask for this favor when the time comes.
Gift an IOU for a kind favor this Christmas. Next time someone needs help moving, a ride to the airport, or someone to water their plants while they’re away, you can be their saving grace!
5. Repurposed items
I find there is a certain stigma against gifting items that aren’t brand new. And to be honest, I think this faux pas is far from justified.
Gifting your possessions is an extreme act of love. It’s also an incredibly sustainable practice. Pass on a cozy sweater, your favorite book filled with notes and highlights, or a print hanging from your wall.
The people you love will think of you every time they see or use your repurposed gift and appreciate this lovely gesture.
6. A collection of memories
Nostalgia is one of the best gifts you can give when you can’t afford Christmas.
If you have a history with your recipient, try to represent it with a collection of thoughtful memories.
This can look like a collection of notes, lists, and remembrances. It could also take the form of a physical memory box.
In your memory box, include photographs, letters, ticket stubs, and any other bits that you’ve collected over the years.
7. Knowledge
Knowledge is a priceless gift. We all hold individual wisdom that is incredibly valuable.
Share your knowledge by giving it to a friend or family member.
This can take form in many different ways depending on where your knowledge lies. It could be a collection of recipes, a manual on how to sew, or a tutorial on how to change a tire.
Think about what you have to offer and how you can best share it.
Final Thoughts On What To Do When You Can’t Afford Christmas
Not being able to afford Christmas can be a difficult pill to swallow. I hope these ideas for how to celebrate Christmas on a low-budget help to reduce some of that pressure.
And though financial strain can feel crushing, there is a little magic in celebrating a low-budget holiday. This shift forces you to refocus on what Christmas means to you, as well as creative ways to show love in your community.
More Gift Ideas From What Mommy Does
- 27+ Small Gift Ideas for Kids: Perfect for Boys and Girls of All Ages
- 50+ Fun Experience Gifts for Kids – Things to do For Kids and Families!
- Uplifting Gifts to Cheer Someone Up (16+ Ideas!)
- 7 Thoughtful Non-Baby Gifts for New Moms
- 10+ Best Gifts for a New Mom When She’s in the Hospital
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