Sweet Frugal Life

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Best Christmas Traditions For Families On A Budget

By: Sweet Frugal Life12 Comments

Frugal Christmas Activities To Do This Year.

Are you looking for the best Christmas traditions for families on a budget?  I’ve got you covered in this article!

Christmas is just my very very favorite season.  I love the lights, the snow, planning that perfect gift for a loved one, and the joy I feel from everyone around me.  It truly is the most magical time of the year!  

This fun holiday makes December the perfect month for establishing frugal family christmas traditions.  My hope is that one day my little family will look back on their childhood and remember the sweet memories and traditions we made together year after year.

The best part about traditions is that you do not have to spend a lot of money to make these memories with your family.  A lot of activities can be done completely FREE!  Here are 20 of the best frugal Christmas traditions for families.

Best Christmas Traditions For Families - Free Christmas Activities

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Frugal Christmas Activities For Families

I hope you find one, or many traditions to start with your family this year!  Time passes fast, we have to enjoy every single moment while we can!

1.  Decorate the Christmas Tree

Each year our family hikes through the forest to cut down our very own fresh Christmas tree.  This is one of my favorite things to do all year!

After we find that “perfect” tree we bring it home, turn on some Christmas music and spend a fun evening decorating it together.  Our Christmas tree is decorated with salt dough ornaments, candy canes, and all the things that bring sentimentality and love to my life.  The ornaments made by the hands of my sweet children are ones I will cherish forever!

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2.  Read Christmas Stories By The Christmas Tree

Another frugal Christmas tradition that I love is reading a Christmas story by the Christmas tree each night.  It’s such a sweet and magical time as a family.

Every night for the entire month of December we turn off the lights in our house, sit in front of the lit up Christmas tree, and read a Christmas Story.  I’ve been collecting sweet holiday short stories from the internet and Christmas picture books from thrift stores.  I try to buy one or two used Christmas books each year and have slowly increased my collection over the years.

3.  Look At Christmas Lights

One of the best family Christmas traditions for families on a budget is to drive around looking at Christmas lights.  We love during this activity each year and have found a few favorite neighborhoods that we like to visit.

I always pop some popcorn for the kids (and me!) to snack on during the drive and the kids bring a blanket and wear their pajamas.  Of course, we have our favorite holiday music on in the background.  It is one of the easiest and cheapest ways to enjoy the holidays together as a family.

4.  Bake Holiday Goodies

I mean really, does it get any better than holiday baking??  I think NOT!  With hundreds of different recipes and treats to choose from, we could be baking all month long!

Holiday baking is a great frugal Christmas tradition to do with kids.  My kids love to help in the kitchen, ESPECIALLY if they know treats are involved!  A few of our holiday favorites are gingerbread men, cinnamon candy, pretzels dipped in chocolate, Christmas tree cookies, and homemade toffee.

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5.  Deliver Neighbor Gifts

After all the holiday baking it’s so fun to deliver those yummy homemade goodies to friends and neighbors.  This is a great activity to get the kids involved with.

Package the goodies onto a cute plate, add a homemade card and spend an evening bringing some joy to your neighborhood.  I love this tradition and the way it brings a community together.

6.  Christmas Countdown With An Advent Calendar

My kids love counting down for Christmas each day with our homemade advent calendar.  We have one very similar to this Christmas Tree Calendar.  Each day they get to put a new ornament on the tree.  I love watching their faces light up as the tree fills with ornaments.  When the tree is full, Christmas is here.  It makes the long wait a little bit easier for the excited kids!

 

7.  Watch A Christmas Movie

Plan an evening and have a Christmas movie night together as a family.  I love snuggling up with my family and watching a feel good holiday movie together.  We enjoy classics like; It’s a Wonderful Life and White Christmas; or a newer family favorite like Elf.  It really is one of the best Christmas traditions for families on a budget.

Netflix has a lot of great Christmas movie options, or check out a few from your local library.

8.  Make A Christmas Craft

There are hundreds of darling Christmas Craft ideas all over Pinterest.  These are so fun to do with the kids during a school holiday break.  Be creative and try making a new craft every year.  It will be so fun to look back on crafts made over the years.

9.  Make Paper Snowflakes

Homemade paper snowflakes can add a fun and whimsical look to your home, plus they are free!.  Spend an afternoon cutting out paper snowflakes with your family and hang them all around your house. 

Here is an easy paper snowflake tutorial to follow.  It’s such a joy to see every snowflake, each with a different unique design.

10.  Host A Christmas Eve Dinner

I love hosting my families annual Christmas Eve dinner.  It’s a fun way to get together with friends or family and celebrate the holiday.  We always eat a big dinner (potluck to spread out the work and cost) and play a few Christmas games.  It’s simple and basic, but one of my favorite traditions.

11.  Write Letters To Santa

Another fun Christmas tradition for families on a budget is to write letters to Santa Clause.  I am personally not a huge fan of the traditional letters to Santa, where the kids ask for all the things they want to be brought to them. 

Instead, I have my kids write to tell Santa about all of the good and nice things they have done throughout the year.  My hope is this will encourage them to focus more on being kind and less on materialistic things.

12.  Light the World

We have been participating in Light the World for the past few years.  Light the World is a campaign sponsored by my church.  It encourages families to look for ways to serve within their family, community and in the world.  It is absolutely open to EVERYONE!  The focus is less about religion, and more on giving others service and love.

There are so many different ways to serve and love others.  Bake cookies for your local fire department, participate in Operation Shoe box, volunteer at a local soup kitchen, or become “Secret Santa” for a family in need.  I love having my kids participate in this and have found it really brings the true spirit of Christmas into our home.

13.  Act out the Nativity

Every Christmas Eve my kids act out the nativity as an adult reads the story out of Luke 2.  The kids dress up as Mary, Joseph, The Wise Men, etc. 

I love this tradition and how it helps us focus on the reason for the season.  It really is one of the best Christmas traditions for families on a budget.

14.  Make a Ginger Bread House

Spend an afternoon making a ginger bread house with your family.  You can usually find fairly cheap gingerbread kits at your local grocery store.  One year we just used graham crackers and homemade frosting.  For decorations we used items we already had in my pantry, like chocolate chips, marshmallows and almonds. 

It really doesn’t matter how fancy of a house you build, all that matters is that you’re spending time with your loved ones and participating in family friendly Christmas activities.

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15.  Have A Christmas Cookie Exchange

Invite some friends over for an annual Christmas Cookie Exchange!  It’s an easy party to throw, just ask everyone to bring a dozen cookies and enjoy socializing and taste testing all of the different holiday cookies. 

You might even find a new favorite recipe!  One of my favorite Christmas cookie are these Christmas Tree Cookies.

16.  Send Out A Christmas Email

Instead of following the traditional tradition of sending out Christmas cards, try sending out a Christmas email instead.  This is a much cheaper option (hello free!) and still a fun way to reach out to friends and family.  You can include a few pictures and a short update of what your family has been up to over the past year.  I have even seen some free email card services you could look into!

17.  Host A White Elephant Party

Host a White Elephant Party at your home.  Ask everyone to bring a wrapped gift (something they already have around their house) and then play a fun gift exchange game.  

This is a fun way to exchange gifts with friends, without having to spend a lot of money on everyone.  It’s also sure to bring a lot of laughs!!

18.  Make A Hot Chocolate Bar

Set up a hot chocolate bar on Christmas Day.  Keep it simple to prevent overspending.  A few peppermint sticks, some marshmallows and whipped cream are all budget friendly ideas.  Try out my easy homemade hot chocolate mix recipe for something quick and delicious you can make at home.

19.  Attend A Christmas Concert Or Event

Look around your community for free Christmas Concerts and Events happening around town.  Does your city put on a free nativity, light parade or other special concerts?  You can usually find at least a few Christmas Concerts at the local high school this time of year.

Pick one or a few of these activities you can attend as a family.  Many of them will be free, or maybe just a few dollars.  It’s a fun way to spend a night out of the house and support your community.

20.  Cookies for Santa and Reindeer Food

My kids love setting out milk and cookies for Santa Clause on Christmas Eve. It’s such a sweet and fun Christmas tradition for families.

Consider going one step further and make some Reindeer Food.  This is so easy to do by mixing oats and glitter together.  Sprinkle the magic reindeer food out in your yard to help the reindeer find your house.

Christmas Traditions

Spend Time Together

I hope you enjoyed these ideas for some of the best Christmas traditions for families on a budget.

The most important part of family traditions is that you focus on spending time together.  It doesn’t always matter what you do, as long as you are focused on each other.

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What are some other fun Christmas traditions for families on a budget?

Best Side Hustles For Stay At Home Moms

By: Sweet Frugal Lifecomment

How to earn money from home!

I have been so lucky to have been able to spend the past 16 years at home with my kids.  Being a stay at home mom is a job I always dreamed of, and I am definitely living my dream!  But, as my kids have grown older and I have had more free time, I have been looking for ways to earn a little extra income, without having to give up my time with my kids.  If you are in a similar situation at me, wanting to stay home with your kids, but are also wondering how to earn money from home, this article is for you!  I brainstormed a list of the best side hustles for stay at home moms, and I hope they help!

The best thing about this list is that these jobs are for anyone who wants to work part time out of their home.  Many of these can be done in the evenings or on weekends while you are still working a full time job.

This article contains affiliate links.  I will receive a commission off of purchases made through my links.

1.  Clean Businesses or Homes

A great way to make money as a stay at home mom is to hire yourself out to clean local businesses or homes.  Many businesses will need to be cleaned after office hours, which is perfect for stay at home moms because this mean you might be able to leave your kids at home with your husband once he gets home from work while you go clean.  This is also a good option for those needing to earn money after their day job is done.

You can easily market yourself on Facebook Marketplace, just post in a local group that you are available to clean and when.  There are also a few cleaning companies you could call and ask if they are needing another cleaner.

This is actually my side hustle.  I have been cleaning two AirBnb Rentals for the past year and actually really enjoy it!

I stick my earbuds in, listen to my favorite podcasts or a new book and clean away.  It’s good money and fairly easy work.  I’ve also been given permission to bring my kids with me, so I give them little jobs to help with and pay them for their help!  It’s been a great experience for all of us!

2.  Ebay Reseller

Do you like to thrift shop???  Why not turn that hobby into a part time job?  Look for brand name items at local thrift stores or garage sales and resell them on ebay.

Before buying anything remember to do a quick check on eBay to see how much money similar items are selling for, this should give you an idea of what is a good buy or not.

I’ve sold items here and there on eBay, but never consistently.  If you are interested in learning more, I found a fantastic article that can help get you started!

3.  AirBnb Hosting

I first learned about AirBnb Hosting from the lovely Jamie at Fly By The Seat of Our Pants.  Her family travels constantly, and they have learned to rent out their home using AirBnb while they are on vacation!  This has given them the ability to EARN money while they are on vacation!  I mean seriously, can it get any better than that????

I’ll be honest, when I first heard Jamie talk about letting strangers come stay at their house while they go on vacation, I was not on board.  But, the more I have learned from her, the more that I can see it is in fact a GREAT way to earn an extra income.  If you’re like me and have questions about how she makes it all work, check out her post Secrets of an AirBnb Host-FAQ of Renting our Home. She explains it all so well!

 

4.  VIP Kid

VIP Kid is currently one of the most popular work from home jobs, and for good reason!  The company is super easy to work with and hires most of their applicants!

This job sounds so fun because you get to sit at your computer while teaching English to kids in China!  If you are a teacher at heart, this is the job for you.

The best part is that all of the work is already done for you!  The lesson plans are all prepared, your job is just to teach it!

They do require you have some experience working with kids and a bachelors degree.  But!  It doesn’t matter what your degree is in!  (whoo!)

5.  Babysit Kids in Your Home

If you are already at home taking care of your own kids, why not offer to babysit a few other kids.  This is an easy way to earn an extra income, while doing what you would be doing anyways!

If a full time daycare feels like to much, consider just watching one child a couple of times a week.  I constantly see posts on Facebook Marketplace of parents wanting to find a part time sitter for their child.  Check there first!

6.  Blogging

Hello blogging! I fell in love with blogging last year when I decided, completely on a whim, to start this little blog.  I’ve always had a love of writing and being able to do that while being a full time stay at home mom felt like the perfect fit.

I’ve learned a lot over the past year and made a lot of mistakes at the same time.  But, you know what.  All of the ups and downs have been so worth it!  I love getting to do what I love from the comfort of my home.

Feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions about getting started blogging!  It’s a long road, made much easier with a support system.

7.  Open an Etsy Shop

Do you love to craft or create?  Consider opening an Etsy shop to sell your handmade items.  We all have the ability to create something to share with the world.

Maybe your shop would be crafts, or jewelry.  It might even be graphic design or printables….the sky is the limit!  Spend a few minutes searching through Etsy to get some ideas for your own shop.

8.  Teach a Service

Do you have a skill you could teach to others?  I bet you do!

A few years ago I was a piano teacher (until I retired for personal reasons).  I loved having the ability to pick my own schedule and teach right out of my home.

What skills could you teach to others?  Maybe you could teach music, sewing, gardening, art, or cooking.

It would be fun to create a summer camp and focus on teaching for a few weeks straight if you don’t want to commit to something long term.

You could even teach through Zoom, Skype, etc.

9.  Photography

Do you like to take pictures?  Why don’t you turn it into a business!  All of the photographers I use are stay at home moms, and they are fantastic!

This side hustle will require some upfront costs as you invest in a camera and possibly some equipment.  But, it might be worth it if this is something you feel passionate about.

Do some research online and learn about what it takes to start a photography business to help you decide if this is the right fit for you or not.

10.  Refurbish Old Furniture

Refurbishing old furniture might feel a little daunting at first, but once you get going with it it’s actually really not that hard!!

Search thrift stores, estate sales and garage sales for old furniture and when you find a cheap price on a nice piece, snatch it up.

The trick is to look for the POTENTIAL!  Try to see beyond the yellow oak stain, the scratches and nicks and imagine the beauty the furniture could be.  Be sure to BARTER if you’re at a garage sale (always).

You can find hundreds of YouTube video tutorials all about how to refurbish old furniture!

Once you’re done fixing it up, list the item for sale, Facebook Marketplace works great, and enjoy the profit you’ll make!

I actually LOVE buying from people who have fixed up old furniture.  I love the look of it, but don’t like putting in the work.  So, you never know….I just might be your first customer!  😉

11.  Become a Virtual Assistant

Becoming a virtual assistant is easy!  All you need is motivation and a computer!  Virtual assistants work from home while assisting companies with social media, blogging, editing, e-mailing and more.

This job is wide open to whatever the company needs from you to keep their business thriving.  I have heard SO many good things about being a virtual assistant, and have considered it myself!

If you are interested in becoming a virtual assistant, I recommend joining a few Virtual Assistant Facebook groups.  These will be a great resource for you to ask questions and network.

12.  Tutoring

There have been times (actually many, many times) when I would be willing to PAY someone to help my daughter with her math homework.  I just don’t do math!

If I knew of a stay at home mom who would be willing to tutor my daughter in this subject, that is a fee I would be willing to pay!  If you enjoy working with others and feel confident in a specific subject, this is a great way to earn extra money from home.

Consider signing up through a tutoring company, or hire yourself out online.  This is a great job for setting your own hours!

In Conclusion

I truly believe that with the technology we have there are so many side hustles for stay at home moms, or anyone wanting to earn an extra income from home.  Do some research, find the right fit for you and your personality, and then get started making money!

Let me know if you have any questions, I am here to help!

 

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Budget Friendly Birthday Traditions for Kids

By: Sweet Frugal Life2 Comments

Fun Birthday Traditions to Start This Year.

I love celebrating my kids birthdays every year.  They love having their special day all about them.  fun to have one day just focused on helping them feel important and loved.  I try really hard to give them a special day to remember, WITHOUT spending very much money; I truly believe that you do NOT need to spend money to help a child feel special.  Here are a few of our budget friendly birthday traditions for kids.

12 No-fuss Birthday Cakes

Decorate Bedroom

The night before a birthday, I sneak into my childs room after they fall asleep, and decorate. 

I blow up a bunch of balloons and leave them on the floor and then hang streamers from the doorway.They know every night before they go to bed what will happen, but they still love it.  It’s so fun for them to wake up to a party!

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Birthday Breakfast

A birthday is always started with our traditional breakfast of birthday pancakes.  These are so easy to make, but the kids favorite.

Whip up a batch of this delicious pancake recipe and then add some sprinkles to the batter.  So easy!

Sometimes, if I’m feeling real fancy, I’ll try to make a pancake in the shape of their initials….but let’s be real, I’m rarely fancy!  😉

Your-Choice Dinner

The birthday child at our house always gets to choose what I make for dinner the night of their birthday.  If they choose pizza, I make pizza!  If they want waffles, well then, I make waffles! 

This isn’t a hard tradition by any means, but my kids think it’s fun to get to be in charge of all the dinner plans.

Red Birthday Plate

Another fun birthday tradition for kids is the “Red Birthday Plate.”  I bought this red plate years ago at a home decor store.  It’s a little chipped and loved, but also full of memories and joy.

This red plate only comes out on someones birthday.  The birthday child gets to eat their dinner on this special plate. 

This is a tradition I grew up with and have enjoyed carrying the tradition on with my own children.  It’s so simple, yet for some reason, it brings so much joy to whoever gets to eat on the birthday plate.

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Birthday Love

Another fun traditions happens while we are eating dinner.

Everyone in the family takes a turn telling the birthday child what they love about them.  I love focusing on all of the many wonderful qualities in each of my kids, and getting to hear them express these to each other.

Bedtime Stories

At bedtime I lay with the birthday child and share the story of their birth.  I try to go through all the details from that special day years ago, including the highs and lows.

Of course, I always end with sharing how that day was one of the most special, important, beautiful days of my life and I talk about just how perfect my life has become because they were born.

In Conclusion

None of these traditions cost a lot of money.  Sure, I spend a few dollars on streamers and balloons, but really that’s it!  It does NOT take a “pinterest worthy” birthday to celebrate a loved one.  All it takes is a little thought and a lot of love.

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FIRE: Here’s why I don’t participate.

By: Sweet Frugal Life9 Comments

I’ve been asked a few times my opinion about spending money on life experiences right now, or if it’s best to keep saving and wait for the future.  The obvious answer from a frugal, budget loving blogger, who loves to encourage everyone to spend conservatively and plan for their future, would be to advise everyone to wait until later and build your wealth now.  The FIRE (Financial Independence Retire Early) Movement continues to gain popularity.  I love the idea of sacrificing now to enjoy life later, and completely support those who are working towards FIRE.  However.  I actually believe in the importance of budgeting for joy.  In THIS moment….because, you know what, those golden years you are anxiously waiting for, they just might not come…..

My sweet mother was a huge saver.  I have learned ALL of my frugal ways from her.  And, the truth is……I’m still not as frugal as she was, I don’t think I’ll EVER be as frugal as she was.

I think the thing I admire most about her is the fact that she did not need to be frugal, she had a very comfortable income.  She chose to be frugal because she understood the value of saving money.

She passed away when she was 48.  I was 22.

Losing her at such a young age has had a HUGE impact on the way I view life.  I have developed the mindset that life is temporary, short, and fragile.  It is a gift to be treasured and celebrated.

I am fairly confident in saying that my natural instincts would be to work towards FIRE; to save EVERYTHING for the future and look forward to enjoying life once that comfortable retirement kicks in.

But…..my life experiences have taught me a different lesson.  Sure, I do believe in saving for your future…..I also believe in spending some money on enjoying life in the present.

It’s important to focus on BALANCE.

It MUST be a priority to pay off all debt, save aggressively for your retirement, save to send your kids to college, try to build wealth, etc…..

At the same time, you need to budget for a little bit of JOY.

This does NOT mean it’s ok to go on a luxury vacation while charging everything to your credit card.  And it’s definitely NOT an excuse to blow your budget because you are “enjoying life.”

It does mean it is ok (and I would argue important) to give yourself some fun money, take a break every now and then, explore the areas around you, and LIVE life to it’s fullest.

This will look different for everyone.  For some this could be a weekend road trip, others might prefer a quiet stay cation.  Do what sparks joy for you, this will look differently for everyone.  (and…you know what, it actually doesn’t need to cost a lot of money to have meaningful, joyful experiences!)

In conclusion, be intentional with your spending.  Intentional with saving money and intentional with budgeting and building wealth.  But also, be intentional with your life experiences.  Life is to short to only enjoy it when you get older…..make sure you are experiencing it right now too!

I would love to know your opinion on this subject!  We each have had different life experiences that have shaped us into the people we are today.  Do you agree or disagree with my thoughts?  Are you trying to be intentional with budgeting AND enjoying life?  Do you budget for joy?  Let me know in the comments!!

 

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