Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, is a special time of year to stop and remember the miracles of life. The faithful around the world pause to celebrate how the lamps miraculously stayed lit in the temple for eight days. However, on holidays like this, it can be tempting to splurge on travel, decorations, gifts for family and more. Keeping the spirit of the celebration in mind will not only make the season more meaningful, but it also will help to keep the family spending under control.
Here are some frugal tips to share during this special holiday season.
Travel
There is no better way to observe the high holy days than in the company of family. But many times, spending time with family means traveling. Hopefully, you’ve already booked your travel for the busy season, but even if you’ve waited until the last moment, there are still ways to save on your trip. If you have the time to drive, it will cost you a lot less money at this point in the season. It might take longer, but can be much less expensive than a flight. Consider carpooling to split expenses. This is a good option for younger family members visiting from college. If you can be somewhat flexible on travel dates, there are still excellent last-minute travel deals online. Consider staying with friends or family instead of spending money on a hotel room. You’ll have more quiet time with those you’re closest to and save a ton on lodging expenses.
If last-minute travel options still aren’t fitting into your budget, consider tapping into technology. You won’t be able to spend the more observant hours together, but a video call via Skype, Facebook or Google Hangout is better than completely missing family connections.
Decorations
Nothing sets the holiday mood like festive decorations. However, décor can get expensive. Part of the importance of observing festival days is the chance to share the stories and pass down traditions to children and grandchildren. Creating crafty decorations together is not only frugal, but also is the perfect way to share those stories and create new family memories.
Although there are many beautiful menorahs to purchase and pass down, I have always been impressed by the handmade versions. A dear friend of mine recently told me about how he and his son created a menorah out of a large tree branch they found on a nature walk together. It was large enough that they could use a router to create holes for the candles, and it was sturdy sitting on the table. The individuality of the natural branch makes it a one-of-a-kind, and the time father and son spent together is a memory both will carry with them for the rest of their lives. Pinterest can be a great resource for beautiful ideas to create something truly special for the centerpiece this holiday.
Food
Family holidays frequently inspire big family meals. Rather than catering in, connect with mothers, grandmothers, aunts, and other family members who can share favorite family recipes and help with preparation. Asking for a little guidance will help ensure a delicious meal, money saved and a great family gathering.
Gifts
For those of you who will be giving gifts throughout the festival days, keep your holiday budget under control by mixing up the presents with handmade gifts, trinkets and one or two bigger gifts. You don’t have to give high-end gifts all eight days. There are tons of ways to save on special presents throughout Hanukkah. Tap into mobile technology for an easy way to find savings opportunities both in-store and online. You can use your smartphone to check out savings apps from stores like Walmart and Target. Those apps allow you to take advantage of useful tools like price matching and deal alerts.
The best deals on gifts may very well be found online rather than in-store this year. Make the effort to search for free shipping offers and coupon codes when shopping online. Double-check delivery dates and rates for savings on express shipping. You are at an advantage, since most American retailers are eager to get orders shipped early before the last-minute rush for Christmas day.
No matter how you choose to put your frugal skills to work this holiday season, I wish you all the peace, love and joy of being among family and friends.
More from U.S. News
12 Habits of Phenomenally Frugal Families
10 Strategies From Super-Saver Shoppers
11 Ways to Save Time and Money
Celebrating Hanukkah on a Dime originally appeared on usnews.com
