54 LONGISLANDPRESS.COM • DECEMBER 2021
HOW TO ENJOY THE HOLIDAYS ON A BUDGET
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You want the holiday season to fi ll you
with joy, not money woes or budgeting
headaches. Luckily, there are plenty
of ways you can achieve both holiday
happiness and fi nancial savings.
Here are some tips for saving money on
gift s, decorations, and holiday activities
so you can get back to spending quality
time with your family this year.
LOW-PRICED GIFTS
Gift s are typically the largest expense
in December’s budget. For certain items
on a kid’s wishlist, it will be diffi cult to
get around the price tag. But for others,
there are ways to fi nd cheaper alternatives
they’ll love.
For example, when shopping for smaller
children especially, a trip to Once Upon
a Child, a seller and buyer of gently used
kids’ clothes, shoes, toys, furniture, and
baby gear, will score you a variety of
gift s on a budget. The store in Seaford
will also buy your kids’ used items,
so you can get cash for other holiday
purchases.
For that matter, any local thrift shop will
have many possibilities for presents for
your loved ones. Go in with an open mind
and you never know what you’ll discover.
Still can’t fi nd what you’re looking for?
Search the Facebook Marketplace. Many
users even have new toys for sale at low
prices. If toys are gently used, some people
will even list them for free. Plus there are
so many other items for sale below retail
price. So search away — just beware of
scammers.
DIY DECORATIONS
Holiday lights drain the electric bill and
become another large expense during
the holiday season. But instead of buying
decorations, turn decorating into a fun
activity with do-it-yourself decor you
can make with your kids. Aside from the
classic paper snowfl akes, there are plenty
of ways to get craft y this holiday season.
Here are some ideas.
Make your own ornaments. Rather than
buying new ornaments this year, grab a
few craft ing materials, sit down at the
kitchen table, and create your own. They
can be made from felt, wood, or plastic
and decorated with glitter, paint, or even
straws, Q-tips, paper plates, and other
household items. And don’t forget the
string to hang them on the tree.
Craft with tea light candles. Instead of
going overboard with electric-powered
lights, buy tea light wax or soy candles
or battery-powered tea lights to add that
extra shine to your decorations. They can
be placed in small glasses or mason jars
that you can decorate to look like a winter
wonderland.
Build a cotton ball snowman. As mentioned,
everyday items do just fi ne for
craft ing. A bag of cotton balls is enough
to glue together a jolly snowman to hang
on your door or window.
For more ideas, visit your local craft
store. Some options are AR Workshop,
which has locations in Bellmore, Smithtown,
and Patchogue; Ace Handicraft in
West Hempstead; Blick Art Materials in
Carle Place; or your local Michaels store.
ACTIVITIES ON A BUDGET
The holiday season is full of parties,
Santa brunches, and other festivities.
But you don’t need to break the bank
in order to have some fun and create
lasting memories with your family.
Instead of paying to see a light show, drive
or walk around the neighborhood to
admire Christmas lights. Many villages
throughout Long Island are decked in
lights and encourage homeowners to do the
same. For example, the Village of Rockville
Centre is holding its second annual holiday
lights competition, so a drive around the
streets of RVC should be exciting this year.
Watch a Christmas movie. There is no
shortage of these airing on television
at any given moment this month. Hello,
Freeform 25 Days of Christmas! While
you’re at it, cozy up under a blanket with
some hot chocolate. You and your family
deserve this low-key time at home together.
Play a holiday-themed game. This can
be charades, Pictionary, or Christmas
trivia you fi nd on the internet. We hear
that charades can get pretty serious —
try acting out Rudolf the Red-Nosed
Reindeer for a room of family members.
Sometimes keeping it simple yields the
most fun and memories.
FAMILY & EDUCATION
TIME for
Back to School Smiles
At Manhasset Dental Arts, we are specialists in today’s
most advanced dental and orthodontic care.
We create a personalized approach for every patient
so you get the right care every time.
Schedule your back to school check-up today!
Accepting new patients. Teens and adults welcome!
Manhasset Dental Arts
16 Park Avenue
Manhasset, NY 11030
516-472-7575
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