You might still be in shock at the fact that Hanukkah is early this year, but don’t despair! There is still plenty of time to get everything you need without rushing careless through the stores. A lot of people tend to go overboard on the entire Hanukkah experience even though it isn’t one of the larger Jewish holidays. With sales papers everywhere and the huge Black Friday sale to tempt you, you may want to over spend a little bit on this year’s Hanukkah celebration. It is important to step back and remember the holiday for what it is though instead of letting the commercial value of the holiday step in the way. There are a lot of ways to make your Hanukkah celebration great that don’t actually involve you spending a lot of money. You may even find that the less you spend the better you feel about the entire celebration.
1. Make Your Gifts
A lot of people tend to check out pricey items when they want to give their family member a gift. Hanukkah isn’t really about the size or material value of the gift, as a matter of fact gifts are supposed to be small and inexpensive. One way to keep from buy expensive items is to use your natural creativity to make a gift that comes straight from the heart. There are numerous craft ideas that won’t cost you much of anything if you feel you have the skills to create them. For instance, you could always write a loved one a personal poem or create a small painting that shows how you feel about the person. You can also break out your knitting, sewing or scrapbooking skills to create something small for each family member. Of course, if you do love to bake then you might want to pull out your favorite ingredients and mix up a batch of cookies or a cake that would please any recipient.
2. Out of the Box
Sometimes when it comes to keeping to the buget you might have to do a little thinking out of the box, especially when it comes to choose eight nights worth of gifts. There are a few gift ideas out there that tend not to make it to anyone’s actual wish list. For instance, you might have a family member who loves fishing, golfing fashion or other hobbies that have countless magazines dedicated to them. If this is the case then you may want to opt for a magazine subscription which tends to cost less that most gifts and will bring joy throughout the year. The same can be said for teens as there are countless magazines dedicated to teens and their needs and interests. If you want to make an impact on the recipient then you might want to choose a heart warming gift, such as a frame with one of their favorite photographs. There are also a wide variety of school or work items that make perfect gifts even if the recipient doesn’t realize it right away.
3. Keep it Simple
A lot of people tend to over think the holiday when it comes to entertainment. There are so many great traditional things you can do that won’t cost you more than $5 and in most cases are totally free. One of the biggest parts of the holiday is sharing stories about the reason for celebrating as well as family stories that unite everyone. You should also bring out the music and sing along as much as possible. Kids will love playing the dreidel game too, which can take up a lot of the entertainment time. If people start to get bored then you might want to break out some games that you already own. Kids will also love doing arts and crafts and you might even be able to direct a skit with the older children which will entertain the adults. Of course, you can’t forget the lighting of the candles which always brings people together in delight.
4. Arts and Crafts
No matter what holiday you’re celebrating, kids love doing arts and crafts. This Hanakkuah don’t go overboard when you choose which items you need for your craft table. You should always make an inventory of what you already have in the home that could work as a craft supply. Typically people find paper products, tape, glue, pens, pencils, crayons, markers, and yarn which makes up the majority of your crafting needs. If you do need some supplies then try to find the cheapest option and buy in bulk if you can. This will allow you to keep the supplies for another project or for next year’s craft table. A lot of stores have premade kits waiting to be used which often tempt many people. However, if you’re planning on saving money then you should avoid these items. For a lot of fun without worrying about the work you could always look online for free holiday print outs that the kids will have a blast coloring. You might even take your crafting to gifts as you can make some inexpensive wrapping paper with butcher paper and markers!
5. Plan Ahead
A lot of us find ourselves in a bind when the holidays roll around because we’ve put off shopping the last minute. This can be a really expensive mistake as it typically means rushing to the store and grabbing any item we think will work despite the price. One way to combat this is to actually shop throughout the year. You typically aren’t going to be looking for expensive gifts when it comes to Hanukkah, but you if you see something you think would be perfect for someone then go ahead and purchase it and put it away for the holiday. This will cut down on how much you need to spend when it does become crunch time. You should also do the same when you see decorative items or craft projects that might be fun for the holiday. This will allow you to get most of your items when they’re on clearance directly after the holiday!
6. Dreidel
A dreidel can be a big part of your family’s fun during Hanukkah. One way to prevent having to spend money on one is to hold onto a dreidel that acts as a family heirloom. A lot of people have had one specific dreidel in the family for generations which makes it an important piece to the household. Of course, your children may want their own or a dreidel that can pass to their children which leaves you with the predicament of buying a special one that will last for years. A great way to give children one with so much meaning is to actually carve it yourself, or work with the child as they learn the basics of carving. Of course, this only really works with older children. For younger children you may want to work out origami dreidels. They won’t last long but they will be fun for the holiday and will leave children feeling special.
7. Menorah
The menorah is a key piece when it comes to Hanukkah. This beautiful piece helps you tell the story of the holiday while celebrating its beauty. If you’re looking for a new menorah you might be in for spending some money you don’t need for the holiday. Try to stick with one that runs in the family. If for some reason you need a new one then you might try making your own, or looking in a thrift store for a cheaper option. There are a few modernized ways to represent the menorah without actually having one though. For instance, many people have started buying paper lanterns and numbering them. For each night of Hanukkah they light the lantern and enjoy the modern décor while also getting more table space for food and games. You could also have the children make their own so they can enjoy in the fun without danger of being burned. Simply find eight wooden spools, pencils and eraser ends and your child is ready to get to work. If you really want to have fun and save money then you might consider making your own candle sticks.
8. Decorations
You can really go all out for very little money when it comes to decorating for Hanukkah. For starters you may want to find the little chocolate coin candies. These are perfect to lay around the house and make incredible treats for the kids. You might also look for some Christmas garland to put around the mantle piece and tables and chairs. It will be cheap at most stores and comes in blue and white shades for the holiday. One of the best ways to decorate is to have kids color print outs of Menorahs, Dreidels, the Star of David and other symbols of the holiday. You can post these up all over the house for a cute way to keep it festive. One of the best center pieces for dining tables is painted twigs that are glued together as art which will cost you very little money at all. If you do want to buy professional decorations then you might want to wait until after the holiday and buy the items on clearance for next years décor.
9. Food
Like all holidays most people consider the food to be one of the highlights of the get togethers. One of the cheapest ways to keep to your budget is to actually follow tradition. Try to make sure you have all the ingredients for latkes which are simple and cheap to make and are always a hit amongst guests. Latkes are also a great filler during parties so you won’t have to worry about people being hungry when they leave the party. You might also want to consider making items such as matzo balls which are another great filling dish for your guest. Seasonal foods are also a great way to keep company happy without having to go overboard on the spending. It is important to remember that you will eight days of delicious foods to make so don’t exhaust yourself or your resources. You might also guest to bring their favorite dish too, which will make the holiday more of a shared experience.
10. Combine Efforts
Although it might be a bit of a shock that Hanukkah is so soon this year, it is an even bigger shock that the first night of Hanukkah will actually fall on Thanksgiving. If you tend to celebrate both holidays then now is the time to combine efforts to save you some money! Hanukkah rarely ever falls on a Thanksgiving so this is your year to take advantage of the savings. In fact, the last time people celebrated both occasions Abraham Lincoln was still in office and the next time it will occur will be in the year 2070. This gives you the opportunity to choose foods for Thanksgiving that could be recreated into new meals for the rest of Hanukkah. With these huge savings you’ll be able to relax a bit when it comes to finances!
With Hanukkah only a week away it might be time to make some plans to get your holiday rolling. These tips will help you relax as you make decisions that will affect your family budget and the way you celebrate this fun holiday. It only takes a few simple steps to turn around the way you spend on holidays so don’t be afraid to try a new way of working your holiday budget. You might even find this holiday will be your most relaxed yet.
