Christmas and Thanksgiving this year will be very different for a lot of people. Most of us cannot travel to be with our families or friends for health safety reasons while for others, it would simply be too costly. The unemployment rate is still very high and people do not have the money to make such significantly long travel plans. Here are the four ways you can still enjoy the holiday season without breaking a bank!

Spend Virtual Time With Your Loved Ones

COVID-19 is a good reason to do a virtual Friendsgiving, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. While the holidays are about friends, family, and togetherness, COVID-19 has definitely altered our notions around physical interactions. You don’t have to cancel anything. What better way to still spend the holidays together by planning virtual celebrations! Jump on Zoom, FaceTime, or WhatsApp to catch up with your loved ones.

Use Available Resources

Keep It Simple. Stick to the recipes that you use every day and the ingredients you would normally keep in your pantry. Opt for cheaper ingredients like grains and vegetables and you’ll save a lot of money. Expensive ingredients like butter, cheese, and meat can add up quickly. Many of these cheap Thanksgiving side dishes are simple and inexpensive

Thanksgiving table decor, too!

Buy in Bulk. I wrote an article about what you can buy in bulk so check that out for your shopping list. Look for store coupons and weekly specials, especially during the holidays when retailers are trying to attract you into the stores. Consider boxed items and lean into seasonal ingredients

Consolidate Resources Among Each Other

Bring your heads(and wallets) together as you plan for the holidays. Spread out the cost shared amongst multiple people instead of putting the strain on one person (the host). Thanksgiving potlucks are a great way to share the big feast(and the cost) with family and friends. It’s a win-win all the way around. 

Do Something Local & Avoid Travel

Air and ground transport can usually form the bulk of holiday expenditures. Paired with food purchases, this can quickly add up. With COVID, everyone has the perfect excuse to not travel but instead remain where they currently are to keep themselves and everyone else safe, while saving a lot of money. Go for an affordable local option.

PRO-TIP: Avoid going into debt during the holidays if you don’t have to!