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Christmas is around the corner already, and I know a lot of us already have plans in motion or still thinking of how to get the best experience this holiday season, when we think holiday, most of us think of exciting moments, some other relaxing moment and most of all spending quality time with family and close friends. But one thing that often dampens our plan is the cost involved in having a good time as you wish, the inflation doesn't even help matters.

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Just yesterday, I went to the market and priced a bag of rice and was shocked at the new inflated price, the last I got was sold at 32,000, now it is sold for 49,000 naira, you can imagine the huge differences between these prices, and rice dishes in whatever form, rice and stew, jollof rice, etc are thee mostly prepared meal during Christmas. The same goes for transport costs, traveling to a vacation spot or just a fun place within your state means spending lots of money, thinking about all of these can sip away the excitement of Christmas because we are constantly thinking about the high expenses we are about to make, but do you know you can still have an exciting Christmas on a low budget and still have savings for the new year, you don't have to spend all to fell the rush and excitement of the season and end up having regrets later or be in debts.

1 Carpooling with family and friends

So you want to have a nice time at the beach or any fun with your family and friends, instead of everyone bringing their cars out, which adds to the traffic and the more exhaust pollutes the air, furthermore, the hike in fuel price, calculating the total cost of taking all cars out means more spending, why not carpool and contribute a lower amount for fuel in the biggest vehicle amongst you to convey everyone, and if you don't have a car, you could all as friends book an Uber especially if you live close, this is the idea I and my sisters have taken to, to enjoy the Christmas celebration with our kids, we are working with a budget, we want to have an exciting time that won't put a strain on our pocket.

2 Team up with different dishes

My husband used to tell me stories of childhood days when he and his friends would dress up and visit each of their houses for Christmas, that way they ended up eating a variety of meals and to their fill, 😂 it's a funny experience but also an idea can be gotten from it. It can be difficult and even impossible to cook all of your favorite dishes, since the holiday season is all about catching up with friends, each of you could volunteer to prepare different special meals, that way everyone gets to have a taste of their special meals, it could even be over a flip the bottle game, there is excitement/fun In the air, while we enjoy the meals, we also spend less on just one meal and also have a good time with friends and family catching up.

3 Netflixing

Gone are the days when you could only see a good movie at the cinemas, not disputing the cinema experience, you could have that at the comfort of your home even spread the cost of a subscription, or the others could make snacks like popcorn and fruit juice, while you all chill and have fun and endless movie time during this holiday season, you would realize you spend less, also stress less and overall have a fun time which is the aim right.

4 Attend Carol Services

This is specially for those who would love to attend to Christmas concert but can't afford the tickets, especially as a Nigerian, don't forget we have churches, and almost all organizes Christmas carol services at the end of the year and from my experience, they are always lively, from the beautiful Christmas decorations, talented musicians that makes your soul jingle with the melody of christmas songs, making your Christmas feel so right, if you haven't, you can give this a try this year, trust me, you won't regret, you get a free pass and you have just as much fun time as you would have in a paid concert.

5 DIY

You don't have to spend huge amount on decorations and gifts, which is also part of what we love to do this Christmas season, checking the diyhub community gave me lots of Christmas decorations ideas, and gifts, and their materials are very affordable, you could also check YouTube for more ideas, I personally admire hand made gift so much no matted how little, it's the pure heart and intention that matters. If you have children, you could gather them and also teach them how to make the decoration of your choice, you would be surprised at how you can make yourself and loved ones something beautiful at a lesser price too.

CONCLUSION

As the festive season approaches and the costs seem to soar, it's essential to remember that the joy of Christmas doesn't have to be directly proportional to extravagant spending. By embracing these simple yet meaningful strategies of having budget-friendly activities, you can have a delightful Christmas without breaking the bank.

Thank you for reading❤❤

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