The Chinese New Year is right around the corner. Starting January 28, everyone will be celebrating the year of the fire rooster, which is sure to bring on some joy and excitement during the long holiday celebration. However, if you’re not financially prepared for another holiday then you may be wondering how you can enjoy the Chinese New Year without spending a small fortune. There are many things you can do to enjoy the Chinese New Year though, without having to add even more debt to your holiday budget. With a little preparation and an open mind, this could be one of the best starts to the New Year yet, so you can make the year of the rooster the year of you too.
1. Make a Dedication to Education
The year of the rooster is all about gaining knowledge and improving yourself as an individual. So, instead of spending lots of money on fireworks and other decor you may want to sit down with the family and work on any educational goals you may have. Working on your own education doesn’t have to cost you a lot of money, if any at all. In fact, you can easily find college courses online that will ensure you can benefit in a wide field of knowledge. There are also many apps you can download to improve your cognitive functions or simply to teach you a foreign language. Don’t just make the year all about your own educational transformation though. Get the whole family on the bandwagon, so you can all find new passions in the education world and create great habits.
2. Embrace Feng Shui
It is always a good idea to add a fresh look to your home when the Chinese New Year rolls around. So, instead of rolling out the food or passing out red envelopes, you may want to spend your energy working on some feng shui in the home. This ancient method can actually help you feel healthier and happier throughout the new year without forcing you to spend a penny on the holiday. The best thing is, you can learn all about feng shui online without spending a single cent. There are even many books written on the subject that can help you figure out how to adjust your home. If you do want to seek advice on this method then you can look online for cheap advice or see if there is anyone in your community who offers these services. You shouldn’t have to spend too much on a simple quote and usually the method is so simple it will only take one home visit to help get your home flowing with the best energy.
3. Ditch Something Old
Like January 1, starting fresh is one of the best things you can do for yourself during the Chinese New Year. One of the best ways to do this is to get rid of all of the junk that you just don’t want or use anymore. You might want to start in your closet to get rid of clothing that doesn’t fit anymore or simply doesn’t suit your style. You may even want to go through the kids’ and get rid of the smaller sizes unless you plan on having more children. Most homes acquire a whole lot of junk over time too though. So, look through your storage units, garages and even on your shelves to see if you can find anything that doesn’t bring you joy any longer. These items can be donated or sold to start your year off a little more prosperous. With the extra space in your home you may find yourself breathing easier and feeling set to take on a whole new year.
4. Dine Out
Cooking a meal for the Chinese New Year can mean spending a lot of money, especially if you plan on feeding a lot of people. Instead of having a feast, ditch the guest list and take your family out on the town. This can be a refreshing way to start out the year as no one will have to cook or clean up the meal. It will also allow the family to relax, discuss the New Year and enjoy one another’s company without any extra pressures. A lot of restaurants, especially Chinese locations, will actually offer many discounts around this time of the year to ensure people can enjoy the holiday. So, you may look around and see who is having sales. If your city has a China Town then you may want to spend the day there and enjoy eating classic Chinese street foods and celebration favorites, like dumplings, at a low price. With the great savings happening all over the place, you’ll be happy you chose to skip all of the cooking.
5. Keep it Clean
Cleaning has been a tradition of the Chinese New Year for generations, so why let the tradition fade this year? This is one of the most frugal things you can do to celebrate the new year and it will leave you feeling incredible with the fresh new start. While cleaning, try not to go overboard on buying new supplies to make the house sparkle. Instead, try using what you already have on hand in order to keep the cleaning process down. If you’re running low on supplies or you want to change things up to make the cleaning more frugal for the New Year, then try natural products like vinegar and baking powder. You may be amazed by how clean your home feels after using these products. Of course, you should also turn off the heating or air conditioning and let in some natural air to help cleanse the air in the home.
6. Bring on Crafts
One simple way to take part in the holiday is to pull out the crafts. This is a great way to get young children involved in the holiday so that they can learn about the celebration as well as some of the traditions that go along with it. There’s many crafts that don’t cost a fortune to make too. You can easily find many online or come up with ideas of your own. You might even be able to find great deals on craft supplies for these projects during the time of celebration. One fun thing to help the children make is a dragon puppet, which can then be paraded through the home to traditional music. The kids will love both creating the craft as well as playing with it. You might even have older kids come up with masks and create their own shows based on some of the culture they have studied during the holiday. You can do a whole lot with just a few crafts, including decorate for your celebration without spending extra money.
7. Community Events
Instead of worrying about your own celebration, you might want to do a little research to see if there is a Chinese New Year celebration in your area. A lot of the time communities will host an event, even if it is something small. If there’s not one in your own town then you might want to consider heading to a city for the celebration. If there is a China Town located in the city then chances are you will be able to enjoy parades, firework shows and other amazing community events at no charge. Smaller communities that do celebrate the occasion may charge a small fee, but it will be worth it to have a bit of fun on the special day. Even if you do end up traveling for a while, spending time out with your family could be the best way to bring in luck as you begin your year of the rooster.
8. Watch Celebrations Online
Sometimes, there’s simply not an option when it comes to joining in on a celebration. However, if you want to be a part of the fun then you should look online to see if you can find some live streams of the celebrations around the world. This will allow the family to not only watch a proper Chinese New Year celebration, but will allow them to see how it is celebrated all over the world. You may even be able to watch back to back celebrations as you enjoy a meal with loved ones. These celebrations should be streamed on the internet at no cost, so you may want to look around for websites that will offer them. This shouldn’t take long to find though and will allow you to be all set up and ready to share some special moments with your loved ones.
9. Try a New Dish
If you’re on a tight budget then you don’t need to go all out when it comes to making food for the celebration. In fact, you may just want to start out small by making a new dish for the family to try out. There’s actually lots of foods to pick from when it comes to foods that are considered lucky, so you won’t have to work too hard to add to the celebration. Some of these foods are even incredibly easy to make. For instance, some variations of noodles are considered exceptionally lucky and will delight the whole family. Another great option is dumplings which can be made in bulk for very cheap. Other options include some fruits, which are nice, healthy desserts for the whole family. You might even consider a family recipe or asking a friend to offer a recipe to help improve your options.
10. Discover Your Zodiac Predictions
Of course, before the Chinese New Year begins you may want to check out how your own Chinese zodiac will do in the upcoming year. You can find a whole lot of predictions online that can help guide you to make decisions in the upcoming year. No matter what your zodiac is, you should be able to find ways to maximize your luck and avoid any confrontation that may come your way. This can also be a good time to learn more about your zodiac too, especially if you haven’t put any research into it. If you have children expected in the year of the rooster then it may be wise to look into this amazing zodiac to help your child lead the best possible life. Predictions and explanations can be found all over the place for free.
The year of the rooster is bound to be a great year, especially if you start it off by celebrating the Chinese New Year frugally. These ten tips will ensure you get the year off on the right foot without having to stress out about how much money you took from your budget just to celebrate. With all of the great changes headed your way, skipping the party may become your new favorite way to start fresh.
