The holidays don’t have to break the bank! Spread the joy with these inexpensive ideas.
Volunteer
Organize a time when you and your coworkers can go volunteer at a local charity. Food banks are especially reliant on volunteers this time of the year. Many companies even give their employees a ‘Volunteer Day’. Give a day off of work where employees can go volunteer at a partner charity. If you are able, suggest adopting a charity for the entire office. That way, you can see all of your time and financial contributions really make a difference. Visit VolunteerMatch for a opportunities in your area.
Host a family outing
Get to know your coworkers outside the office by hosting a family-friendly outing. Set a meeting time for after work and go see Christmas lights, a local high school play, or attend a kid-friendly event at your local library or museum. Kids see the magic of the holidays better than anyone else!
Host an employees-only party
Secret Santa, potluck dinner, dollar-store decorations…holiday parties are completely doable on a budget! Celebrate during the work day (if you can) to boost the holiday spirit even more. If your office is completely swamped around the holidays, have your celebration after New Years, when things die down and venues are less expensive. Host a baking competition to ensure that there are plenty of treats!
Make hot chocolate kits
Hot chocolate kits are an inexpensive gift to give to clients, employees, and families. Simply buy hot chocolate mix, mason jars, and toppings of your choice. Toppings can range from marshmallows, white chocolate chips, chocolate shavings, and peppermint pieces. Layer the hot chocolate mix and toppings in the mason jar until full. Close jar and take a square of festive fabric, place on top of the mason jar, and wrap twine around the lid. Instant, inexpensive, memorable, and useful gift!
Adopt a family
Unfortunately, there are countless families that will struggle this season. Lighten their load by adopting a family or two and spoiling them for the holidays. Families can be found at your local YMCA, newspaper website, and Walmart Adopt-a-Family events. Search with your local city for more information.
Food or coat drive
Food and coat drives are a great way to help others this holiday season. Simply contact your local food bank or homeless shelter, place a bin in your office, and spread the word. One Warm Coat is a website that walks you through hosting your own coat drive.
Decorate!
Have employees bring in old or unused decorations for inexpensive decorating. Host a paper snowflake-making competition, a christmas light drive, and gingerbread making competition for free decorations. Use construction paper and your imagination to make holiday scenes. This blog has more great ideas!
Seasons greetings
Send seasons greetings to your clients or customers, or host a holiday card exchange. Get to know your employees and their families. Put everyone’s card on a bulletin board. Vistaprint offers holiday cards at an extremely discounted rate, so everyone can participate. If you are able to, pool your money and hire a photographer to photograph each family. The memories will last for years to come!
Have any other great ideas for celebrating on a budget? Let us know in the comments below!
President and founder of DVI, Aaron Boerger realized early in life that he had a unique combination of x-ray vision and business acumen for seeing the weaknesses that held businesses back – and the ability to define the right tools, technology and strategy to make them stronger.
From founding a successful technology support business in his early teens, to serving as Chief Operating Officer for several companies in the financial, technology and marketing industries, Aaron has developed a reputation for reinventing technology implementation tactics – and the willingness to tell people not what they want to hear, but what they need to hear, in order to achieve success without overwhelm.
Aaron will always go the extra mile to provide the accountability and support his clients need to achieve their goals, yet isn’t afraid to tell them when they are doing something wrong.