Every year for fifteen years now I have planned a fun advent for our family. As my children age though, they like to help plan it more and more. Now, we all sit down for a family meeting and hammer out the December bucket list.
After that, I write it up on the calendar with our appointments to make sure we get to do what we want. For many years we did an advent chain, one year we did a grab with strips of paper, and this year I am adding our advent frugal fun to the calendar.
Why Make a Family Christmas Advent Bucket List?
We make a family Christmas Advent bucket list each year to create memories. Too well do we understand how fast childhood evades us and adulthood takes over. There are not many years’ left where we will all be together for the holidays. Work and family demands will take precedence over get togethers. Our family philosophy is to make memory now to ponder later.
Another reason that we make a bucket list is to mark off fun things to do. We get so caught up in shopping, wrapping and the business of Christmas that we forget to enjoy the season. Going to church on Christmas Eve is important to us. In addition to that we like to see fun light displays each year. Making a list of all the crafts and other activities helps my checklist personality happy.
25 Activities for Your Ultimate Frugal Christmas Bucket List
Any number can be your magic number to create. If you choose to do twelve days of Christmas that is a perfect idea to try. Don’t overwhelm yourself with a ton that becomes a job. Twenty-five works for our family because I stop everything but Christmas school at this time each year.
Some of our bucket list activities include but are not limited to: Christmas lights scavenger hunt, Church on Christmas Eve, making teddy bear ornaments, cookie baking, a bake off of desserts, caroling (family only) watching Christmas movies and shows, decorating and picking out a tree, read Luke ch. 2, read Christmas books and have a reading challenge, hot tea, game day, pinecone hunt for a centerpiece, shopping, reading vintage Christmas stories, elfing a family (donating gifts to the needy) teen Christmas parties,
Christmas Bucket List Cocoa Bar
Cocoa bars at Christmas are a must. All kids love them, and they are fun. We always have hot cocoa after visiting lights outside, playing in the snow and other fun ways to enjoy the colder weather. Hot cocoa is a bonding experience when reading a Christmas book. For some added fun this year one of my sons’ decided to take on his role of entrepreneur and make his own cocoa bar. He has been selling it to his brothers’ after they come in from working or playing in the snow.
My husband is in construction and there are many days’ they work in area’s that have no heat, so my older son is happy to come in and see the coffee bar is set up. Who knew a family bonding bucket list activity would turn into a self-employment opportunity. Adding the hot cocoa to our Christmas bucket list years ago was definitely a positive experience.
Sacrifice Now for Time Later
Christmas time is a full of many jobs. Adding in a Christmas bucket list is a sacrifice now that pays off later. Investing in our family is something that will come back full circle. Christmas is a time to remember our savior was born. God sent his son through a miraculous birth. We are to sacrifice for our children and they teach us so much. Each Christmas that I am able to bring a smile to the face of the four blessings that God allowed me to raise gives me joy.
That is why I plan our Christmas Advent Bucket list. Not because I want to stay busy, but because I want them to come for Christmas always. Home really is where the heart is and if we give them a warm happy holiday it will return to us. So, this Christmas sacrifice a little more time, find some joyful things to do with your family and live in the moment. The wrapping can wait!
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