Meaningful and Inexpensive Christmas Traditions

Let's face it, Christmas is a stressful time of year for many people. Instead of joy and love, these folks just feel hurried, worried and down-right grumpy. There are easy ways to simplify Christmas and to make the holiday season meaningful and joyful without spending a lot of money.

1. Home Nights - The holiday season brings lots of activities and parties along with shopping and running around. Set aside a few nights during December where you just stay home as a family. Listen to Christmas music while you bake cookies or wrap presents. Make homemade gifts or decorations together. Or curl up with a mug of hot cocoa and watch a Christmas classic movie like "A Christmas Story."

2. Advent Calendar - Kids are usually very impatient when it comes to waiting for anything - and especially for Christmas. Advent Calendars are a great way to help them understand how much longer they have to wait for Christmas to arrive. Our family tradition is that we do our Advent Calendar after breakfast each morning and the children take turns. It's a very special tradition that our children love. You can make your own Advent Calendars or there are many options available in stores and on the internet. Lillian Vernon has a fun one that the whole family will enjoy. Oriental Trading Company offers a nativity themed kit that allows you to create your own Advent Calendar.

3. A Giving Christmas - Teach your little ones the joy of giving without spending a lot of money. Make cards with hoilday sentiments on them and attach them to tiny candy canes. Take them to a local nursing home and hand them out. Or take them to your neighbors. You can also give them to your postman, UPS delivery guy, hairdresser, Sunday School teacher, etc. Your children will never forget this experience.

4. Christmas Tree Decorations - Each year, purchase or make a special ornament for each member of your family. For example, if your 9 year old son is really into Star Wars, then purchase or make an ornament related to Star Wars. It's so fun to reminisce as you place these special ornaments on the tree each year.

5. Holiday Meal - A lot of people have turkey or ham for their big Christmas meal. Don't be afraid to do your own thing. My husband and I love a good steak and have made that our Christmas dinner for the past four years. It's very special to us and brings tremendous joy to our celebration. This will also save you having to spend a lot of money on a big ham or turkey and all of the ingredients that you need to fix those dishes. Doing your own thing will probably play off the spices and ingredients that you already have on hand (or will use again).