8 Experience Presents that Don’t Cost a Thing and Create Memories Instead of More Stuff

Check your television or mailbox and you can see the real meaning of Christmas, or at least the meaning that retailers want you believe. It's all about the stuff. Presents are a big part of the season, and there's definitely nothing wrong with that, but there is a point at which possessions become a burden rather than a blessing. When that happens, it's okay- and even preferrable-to get off the commercialism merry-go-round and give gifts that don't cost money and don't accumulate more. Before you paint me as the Grinch, this is not about not giving gifts.The key is to use creativity to find things that are already in your home and use them to make a memory. These ideas are great for families who want to get away from the typical commercialism of the holidays or for those whose budgets are already stretched so thin that presents aren’t possible.

Presentation is hugely important in making this a success, especially for kids who are used to getting tons of the typical toys and gifts under the Christmas tree. Make it special by wrapping it all up just like you would for any expensive toy or gift. Include all the accoutrements for a special experience together and let the kids have the excitement of ripping open the box. Of course, the fun really begins when you dig into the box and make a memory.

1.Snow fight in a box.  Snowball fights are the best! Raid your winter gear for hats, gloves, scarves and the like. Throw them in a box with socks rolled into balls or plain computer paper crumpled into balls. Open the box and let the throwing begin. If your family is competitive, you can make it a game by challenging your gang to find and don their winter gear before they can grab the first snowball.

2.Holiday Spa Day. Any kitchen can instantly be transformed into a luxurious spa with the right supplies. In your box you can include bathrobes, candles, a CD (or download) of relaxing music, nail polish, and nail files. For an extra treat, add a mason jar filled with homemade sugar scrub and enjoy your pedicures.

3.PJs, Cocoa, and Christmas Lights! Oh My! Wearing your pajamas in public has that glorious feeling of playing hooky from school. And that’s exactly why you should do it. Grab a pair of pajamas for each member of your family- parents too. Wrap up a mug, hot chocolate mix, marshmallows, and some treats, if you have them.  When the presents are unwrapped, it just makes sense to put on your PJs and head out to look at Christmas lights while enjoying your hot chocolate and treats.

4.Blanket Forts and Books. Cozy up a cold Christmas morning with snuggles under a blanket fort and a stack of your favorite books. For this treat, grab all the sheets, blankets, and covers you can find. If you have clothespins, chip clips or any other securing devices, grab those as well. The fun happens when you transform a pile of blankets into an unforgettable blanket fort. The key here is to go big! Use as much space and as many blankets as you possibly can. Bonus points if your fort extends into more than one room. Once your fort is built, grab your pillows and climb in for a marathon storytime session.

5.King of the Castle. You know the old joke that kids would rather play with the box than the toy? Turns out, it’s true! To pull off this epic scene, visit a local appliance shop and ask for their leftover boxes. Break the boxes down and bring them home with a big ribbon tied around the pile. Present your kids with the boxes and let their inner engineer go to work building a castle fit for a king and queen. Include a package of markers for decorating the exterior of the castle and a roll of duct tape and you are set.

6.It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane, It’s a Jumping Frog.  Paper has endless possibilities and it seems like there are endless amounts of paper. Even if you don’t have a ton of scrap paper on hand, you can use old magazines, junk mail, and newspaper to create some fun. After you have collected a supply of paper, use the internet to find a guide for origami, paper airplane folding, or fun cootie catchers.  Spend time coloring and decorating your paper creations while listening to Christmas Carols. You can even take the fun further by having an origami frog jumping contest or a paper airplane flying exhibition.

7.A Magical Time of Year. Amaze your family and friends by practicing a magic show using just the items you have around the house. Do a little pre-planning by searching the internet for some tricks that your family will enjoy. Collect the items you need for the tricks-think coins, cards, scarves, matchsticks, and other details-and put them all together into a big box of magic fun. Break up into teams and help each other perfect your magical skills with the help of You Tube and other internet guides.  Once you have your act ready, throw up a sheet over two chairs for a stage and perform for each other.

8.Cure for Common Board-dom.  A day to lounge around and play board games is an ideal way to spend Christmas without spending any money. The trick here is to do a little board game swap with another family or neighbors. Gather up a few of your favorite games and swap for a few new games. Wrap up the games in colorful paper and enjoy the fun of unwrapping and playing together by the light of the Christmas tree. 

~Welcome to Travel Tips Tuesday!

• READ THIS FIRST: The purpose of Travel Tips Tuesday is to build a community that encourages sharing and support among travel bloggers and writers. As your hosts, we don’t want to create a list of rules for participation, but we ask that you use the “Golden Rule” whenever you link up to the carnival. We would be thrilled if you would add a link to one of your hosts in your post, or give us a shoutout on social media, and we will do our best to reciprocate. In the spirit of community, it would be ideal if you visit some of the other blogs and keep the travel tip love circulating.
• Posts on both Suitcases and Sippy Cups and Walking on Travels will go live at 11pm EST on Monday night. You only need to link to one of these sites to have your link show up on both.
• Spread the word via Twitter using the hashtag#TravTipsTues
• Please note: any and all spam links will be deleted immediately to uphold the integrity of this blog carnival. This is not the place to post advertising or sponsored links. Please contact the hosts directly with these types of inquiries.