Christmas is a festive season, but it can also be hard on your bank account! With gifts, decorations, food, and cakes to buy, the money can vanish, especially if you struggle with financial management. Even when the budget looks fine, it always seems to fall short as Christmas approaches. That one more beautiful gift, the yummy treats you want to buy, the new stall at church you didn’t plan for, and several other desired items keep popping up in our minds and on our phones!
We have had to spend a few Christmases under financial constraints. Initially, I would feel low and sad that I couldn’t buy the most beautiful decorations for my home. Then a cousin encouraged me to get creative and switch to DIY stuff. In the past decade, I have realised that celebrating Christmas on a budget doesn’t mean that one has to be frugal on joy or warmth. The balance in my account is a reminder to me that Christ needs to be my everything instead of finding my contentment in the joy of shopping and gifting! Being on a tight budget around Christmas also softens my heart for those who don’t have enough, even throughout the year. Jesus, Himself, came from a lowly home and empathised with the struggle of our everyday life!
So, if your bank balance is running low and your budget is tight, you can embrace the spirit of the Christmas season with Jesus in the middle and surround that with thoughtful gestures, simple choices, and a ton of creativity.
Here are five ideas to make Christmas special without stretching your budget.
Bring a personal touch to your home by crafting decorations using some DIY Christmas crafts. You can reuse old materials at home and even use traditional Indian styles. DIY paper lanterns, clay diyas painted in Christmas colours, string lights wrapped with fabric scraps or colourful bangles can make your space look festive. You can even try garlands of marigold flowers mixed with Christmas ornaments, or use old sari fabrics for draped decorations, to give the regular Christmas décor a break. Handmade décor not only brings a unique flair but also brings family members together for a fun, shared activity. For many a Christmas, I have done DIY Christmas trees and ornaments with my children and it becomes a great time for us to enjoy creativity together! Pinterest, YouTube, and Instagram are good places to find tons of creative ideas.
Personalized gifts often mean more than costly ones. Handmade gifts like baked cookies, spiced tea blends, or framed photos make excellent presents. This one Christmas, when we were in a season without jobs, I made my signature chocolate fudge and made small packets for the family get-together. While I was embarrassed to not be able to give anything more, it was actually well-appreciated by all! Similarly, you can consider small, budget-friendly items like a book, a scented candle, or a small home décor piece. For children, simple craft kits or handmade bookmarks work well. When you put thought into the gift rather than focusing on the price, it can still feel special.
Christmas is often celebrated with big meals and family gatherings, which can quickly become expensive, especially with the inflating prices of food and ingredients! Hosting a potluck-style meal where each guest brings a dish can ease the financial load while adding variety to the menu. You can cook a main dish, like a simple biryani or a roast chicken, while guests bring complementary dishes, starters, desserts, or drinks. We have hosted these kinds of celebrations with our church and family and other than reducing financial pressure, it reduces the stress on the host.
Who doesn’t want a new outfit for Christmas? However, instead of spending on new clothes, create a festive outfit from your existing wardrobe. There are so many of those dresses or clothes that we haven’t worn for a while! Christmas is a great time to bring out some overlooked clothes in the closet. Bright colors like red, green, and gold—typically associated with Christmas—can be found in many Indian outfits, such as saris, kurtas, or dupattas. Get creative by mixing and matching items in your closet or adding small accessories like jewellery or a vibrant scarf to complete your Christmas look!
With the wave of marketing and commercialisation around it, it can feel like the only way to spend a good Christmas is by spending well! It takes a good look at the Gospel to recognise that Christmas is all about giving, and one of the best ways to celebrate it is by showing it in action! You don’t need to spend much—or anything at all—to make a difference. Volunteering at an old age home, sponsoring food or warm clothing for a children’s home, or even organising a neighbourhood Christmas story time for kids are all meaningful ways to engage. Another group of people to remember at this time are those members in your church you haven’t connected with- the old, single, the ones who don’t stay too long or come very often. Those are exactly the kind of people Jesus wants us to look for and Christmas is a great time to reach out (don’t forget to keep it up through the year, though). This sort of celebration goes beyond materialism and focuses on spreading the good news and joy that Jesus came to share.
A meaningful Christmas isn’t about the money spent; it’s about bringing tidings of comfort and joy- to the lonely, poor, and lost. By the grace of God and the presence of the Holy Spirit, we can even do that with a few DIY decorations and a one-pot biryani!
Photo by Caley Dimmock on Unsplash
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