Making the most of your Christmas Break may seem challenging when you have a lot of free time and no money to do anything to occupy it. Here are eight ideas that range from no cost to very cheap.
- Have a Classic Holiday Movie Marathon
Whip up some hot chocolate, grab some blankets and throw on some fuzzy socks to laugh on the couch with your friends or family as you watch each your favorite holiday movies. Holiday movies always give a good laugh as they bring back those crazy childhood memories. Just a few of my favorites are: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, How the Grinch Stole Christmas and Elf! DVD players and DVDs are not too popular nowadays, but Netflix and ABC Family have a great selection to choose from.
- Make Sweet Gifts
Whether it’s something you do with your mom, dad, or grandma, making gifts is a fun activity that also results in inexpensive gifts. Make a list of 12 people you would like to give a mason jar of goodies to, make a list of the materials, and get to bakin’! Puppy chow is always a good idea and all of the required materials can be bought at Wal-Mart. There are so many recipes on Pinterest that will help you share your joy with loved ones that you may not be able to buy big gifts for on a college budget.
- Exercise
Being on a routine schedule does make working out easier because there is more motivation in comparison to being home over the holidays. While the excuses are real, maintaining some fitness schedule is important, especially when digging into all of those baked goodies and chocolates that come with the holidays. Even if you don’t have a gym membership back home and only at school, you can still crush this goal by running outside, taking your pet for a walk, finding a hiking trail nearby, choosing healthier snack options, and increasing your water intake!
- Stay Ahead of the Game
Christmas break is about relaxing from the busy semesters that surround it, but don’t get so comfortable that you’re not productive with this open time you have. Get organized for next semester with a fresh planner and maybe plan to get a small part time job to make a little bit of cash. After know your availability, start filling out applications that way you can have an interview set up for when you get back to school. If you really want to stay ahead of the game, start researching summer internships or volunteer opportunities that will make your resume stand out.
- Have Lunch with Your Grandparents
I have grown extremely fond of my grandparents and spending time with them when I can. Making Time for your grandparents over break is special to them. Even if you don’t know what to say, they more than likely just want you to keep them company and it will make them so happy. Take them out for a meal or for ice cream (Braum’s has cheap and yummy ice cream)! If money is not an option at all, just go over and visit them and play a game or go for a walk. During the next semester, send them a letter in the mail telling them hello and that you enjoyed your time spent together. I promise, they will be over-the-moon happy!
- Look at Christmas Lights
Grab an old high school or elementary school friend and find a neighborhood or outdoor mall decorated with Christmas lights and drive or walk around while you catch up on each other’s lives and admire the lights. Grab a coffee or hot cocoa after to warm up and keep the conversation going!
- Start a Recipe Book
We all love our mama and granny’s good cooking, but what about when they’re not around! Start a book of recipes from your family or Pinterest that you can start making as a tradition or for your future family.
