Looking for staycation ideas for your family? Even though most people think of summer break as the best time to have fun with friends and family, winter break can still be a great time to bond and enjoy your time together. With lower prices on fun activities and the kids home from school, it’s the perfect time to have a winter staycation!

Related post: How to Decorate for Christmas on a Dime

15 Staycation Ideas for Families

1. Involve the kids in planning and preparing a family meal.

Look through some cookbooks and create a grocery list together. Head to the score to get everything you need and then let the kids do most of the work preparing the meal. You can also get your friends involved! Having a party with all your besties is a great way to connect and get out of the slump that can sometimes happen during the winter break.

2. Have a movie marathon. 

With snowy roads and freezing temps, you don't have to go anywhere to have a fun time while you're on your...

With the kids home from school and plenty of fun things to do throughout the season, it’s challenging to stick to a budget during the winter vacation. Armed with the right tips, you can help yourself save money by staying on budget during the winter vacation! 

Winter vacation is not only expensive, but it can also be draining emotionally and mentally. It’s important to stay engaged and continue enriching your life no matter how low the temperatures dip! 

Stick to a Budget by Enjoying Free Activities 

Many places have free activities you can do during the winter months. From driving around looking at Christmas lights to participating in a Polar Plunge, you can try so many fun activities that are winter-friendly. Get your kids involved in free activities and keep them happy throughout the entire (YES!) winter vacation!  

To find free activities that will help you stick to your budget, check community social media pages, bulletin boards, and even...

I always found it hard to buy gifts for my grandfather. The fact is that he never wanted a lot of stuff and everything he did really want, he had. Still, I always tried to find him thoughtful gifts over the years - a card that would make him laugh, a favorite candy, etc. My grandfather passed away a year ago but we were just reminiscing about him recently. He was excellent on the grill so I've included some grilling gifts in his honor. He also loved to fish when he was younger so I've included some fishing-related items as well. May he rest in peace and may you treasure the time you have with your grandfather.

Related post: 25+ Gifts Under $25 for Grandma

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15 Affordable Gift Ideas for Grandpas

Grandfathers can be hard to shop for. Here's a list of gifts that are all available on Amazon and are all under $25 so you can easily cross Grandpa off your list. Simply click on the picture and you'll be taken right to the product on...

My mom and I are super close, and I would love to spend tons of money on her. Unfortunately, it's not in the budget. Besides, she would consider it a waste of money. I still always want her to know that I'm thinking about her and that I deeply appreciate all that she does to support our family.

Related post: Funny Christmas Gift Ideas for Mom Friends

Related post: Affordable Gift Ideas for Grandpas

25+ Gift Ideas for Grandma 

Here are a variety of different gift ideas for grandmas. All are under $25, and all can be found on Amazon by clicking on the photo of the item.

Calendar of Family Photos

The one pictured below has space for you to scrapbook for each month of the year. Get your kids involved and create a masterpiece their grandmother will love. Of course, you could always get a digital printed if you don't want to create your own.

What I Love About Grandma

Help your kids fill in this book and have an absolutely precious keepsake for Grandma.

Recipe...

If you’ve got a big family or a huge group of friends, the cost to entertain all of them over the holidays can really add up. These affordable holiday entertaining tips to save you money will make it easier to host quality time with your loved ones with less of a drain on your Christmas cash! 

Big-Batch Drinks 

Whether you’re making your signature cocktails or going for a more family-friendly hot chocolate option, making the drinks in a big batch will help you save some money while serving your guests! Punch, mixed drinks, and gourmet hot chocolate all taste delicious when you make them in large quantities and your guests will appreciate being able to get what they want when they want! Since you’re saving more money by making the drinks in bulk, you may even be able to afford to have different options for your guests! 

One-Bite Desserts Are Delish

Who even finishes a giant piece of cheesecake anyway? Bite-sized desserts are so much easier to handle,...

From the tree to the trendy new Christmas decor and even the extra electricity you spend on lights, your Christmas decor budget can be almost as much as the money you spend on presents. Instead of blowing it all, making your home look festive, use these tips for decorating for Christmas on a dime! 

Dollar Store Decor

Decorating for Christmas on a dime is easier when you make use of all the beautiful decorations you can find at the dollar store. From ornaments to figurines and even Christmas wreaths, you can find almost anything you need at discounted prices. 

Consider decorations that would typically cost much more than a dollar, such as window lights, garland, and cookie plates. You’ll also be able to find cute Christmas pictures and wall hangings to use as décor and potentially as gifts as well.

Repurpose Old Decorations 

We all have a box of decorations that really doesn’t fit the current theme. If that’s the case for you, make this...

When it comes to the season of thankfulness, you might not feel as thankful for the cost surrounding that road trip to be with family. While I can’t quash the expense entirely, I can offer you a few ways to save money along the way.

Plan Your Route

No matter where you are heading, it’s a good idea to plan your route ahead of time. While the fastest distance between two points is a straight line, it’s not always the cheapest way to go. When you take the time to plan your route, you might find that you can avoid that sometimes treacherous mountain pass by going a short distance out of your way, thus eliminating the need to purchase chains. Perhaps you’ll be able to eliminate the need to use toll roads (that alone can save you quite a bit). You’ll also have the ability to steer clear of resort-type areas that will cost more when it comes to gas, snacks, and lodging along your way.

Check the Weather

There’s nothing worse than heading out on a road...

We’ve asked several people to share their financial horror stories with us with the idea that we can learn from their mistakes. Today we have the opportunity to get to know Dailson, the person behind the inspirational Instagram feed, Living on Savings.

What’s the biggest money mistake you’ve ever made and how did it impact your life?

The biggest money mistake I have made was spending 7,000 dollars carelessly. After spending I had no funds saved for a rainy day. Instead, I lived paycheck to paycheck, constantly seeking help from others, and started to live below my ego for the very first time.

If you could go back in time, what would you do differently?

I think about this question every day. If I could go back, I would invest my money in the stock market, start a small home business and put my funds in a high yield savings account.

Did anything good come out of the mistake?

Yes, I was able to gain wisdom from my mistakes. If this mistake hadn’t occurred, I...

We’ve asked several people to share their financial horror stories with us with the idea that we can learn from their mistakes. Today we have the opportunity to get to know Andrea, the writer, blogger, and owner of Saving Joyfully. Andrea works diligently to share valuable tips and insights on how to save money and achieve financial freedom while living a more joyful life.

What’s the biggest money mistake you’ve ever made and how did it impact your life?

Debt acquired on credit cards while in college to help me be able to afford tuition and books when I was unable to get student loans. Once I was able to qualify and receive student loans I accumulated additional debt that way as well.

If you could go back in time, what would you do differently?          

I look back on these decisions now and wish that I had made them differently. If I could go back in time I would not use credit cards to fund my tuition and books, when I simply could...

We’ve asked several people to share their financial horror stories with us with the idea that we can learn from their mistakes. To start this series, it’s only fair that I share my own story of a not so great financial time in my life.

What’s the biggest money mistake you’ve ever made and how did it impact your life?

When I was growing up, I always worked. There were times in college when I had three part-time jobs. I never imagined a day when I would be jobless, but there I was - laid off from a job with zero emergency savings, divorced, three kids, student loans, and credit card debt. It was indeed a recipe for disaster.

I did get unemployment, but that didn't start right away and didn't last all that long.  While I didn't have any emergency savings, I had been saving for retirement over the years so it could've been worse. Still, I blew through my retirement savings faster than I ever would've imagined.  If I'd had some emergency savings,...