Getting in the holiday spirit doesn’t have to break the bank. Below are ten cheap activities you can do with friends (or alone) to enjoy the magic of the season without dropping a lot of cash.
1. Enjoy a holiday drink.
Get holiday cheer by the cupful with a nice peppermint mocha or hot chocolate from your favorite coffee shop. Enjoying a hot beverage while walking around campus or going on an excursion is a cheap way to feel festive. If you’re looking to enjoy a holiday drink from the comfort of a cozy coffee shop, head over to Audrey’s in South County Commons. You can enjoy a peppermint chai latte while sitting by their tree!
2. Drive around and look at the holiday lights.
Now that you have a drink, grab your friends and drive around to look at Christmas lights. Part of the beauty of the season is that you can see everyone’s decorations no matter where you are. Be sure to stop by Narragansett Pier and South County Commons to see decorated Christmas trees – perfect for a photo op. Of course, adding Christmas music on your drive is a must too!
3. Go to The Farmer’s Daughter.
The Farmer’s Daughter is a go-to spot in the fall but have you ever gone in December? All of the greenhouses are decorated and filled with the perfect little gifts to buy your friends and family. Even if you’re not looking to shop, it’s a beautiful place to browse during this time of year. If it’s not too chilly out, walk through the rows of Christmas trees and smell the fresh pine.
4. Bake cookies.
Grab your roomies or housemates and pick up some cookie dough, icing, and sprinkles. The materials are cheap and the actual cookie baking and decorating are time-consuming in the best way. Plus, you could pick up some Christmas tins from Dollar Tree and give the cookies as gifts if you’re looking to give gifts on a budget.
5. Build gingerbread houses.
If you’d rather skip right to cookie decorating, consider building gingerbread houses with your roomies. You can work on one together or you can have a competition to see who can decorate the best house. Target has fun gingerbread houses, stadiums, tree houses, and more for $15 or less so you can get creative with it.
6. Go ice skating.
Bundle up and head to Newport or Boss Arena for a night of ice skating. Ice skating is the perfect group activity if you and your friends are looking to get out of your dorm/house. Plus, it doubles as a way to get physical activity in while enjoying the cool winter air.
7. Decorate your dorm or house.
Decorations make all of the difference during this time of year. Decorating may seem expensive but it doesn’t have to be. Dollar Tree has tons of holiday decorations to choose from. A simple way to elevate your dorm or room is by wrapping your door with wrapping paper. It’s a cheap and easy way to spread holiday cheer to your whole floor.
8. Make a Christmas craft.
Love to get crafty? Pick up a few materials for a holiday-themed craft. You can make Christmas cards, paint canvases, and more. These crafts can double as Christmas gifts or decorations for your space depending on what you choose to make.
9. Host a movie night.
Grab some friends, blankets, and popcorn, and cue up your favorite Christmas movie. A few classics to consider:
- Elf
- The Santa Clause
- How The Grinch Stole Christmas
- National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
- The Holiday
- The Polar Express
- Home Alone
- Love Actually
- Daddy’s Home 2
- Fred Claus
If you’re looking to make it even more festive, have everyone pick up a cheap pair of holiday pajamas or fuzzy socks from Marshall’s.
10. Check out the mansions in Newport.
The Newport mansions go all out with holiday decor. It can be pretty pricey to go inside the decorated mansions but you can take in plenty of decorations by walking around the property. Once you’ve admired the lights of the mansions, walk down to Bowen’s Wharf to see the pretty Christmas tree and the tall ship with lights. Many of the storefronts have festive decor up as well. Bonus points if you stop at Starbucks for a hot chocolate before you stroll around.
As you can see, there are plenty of ways to enjoy the holiday season without spending too much money. Let us know if you do any of the activities! Have a wonderful break.
Hi everyone! My name is Liv Mott and I am from Cheshire, Connecticut. I’m a senior communications and public relations major with a minor in writing and rhetoric. On campus, I am also involved in Greek Life. When I am not writing or watching the sunset with my sisters, I am probably going on long car rides and exploring Rhode Island with a Starbucks pumpkin spice cold brew in hand. I love the beach and even in the winter, I can be found eating a Cool Beans acai bowl in the Narragansett Town Beach parking lot. This is my first semester as a blog writer for Campus Rec and I am super excited to share my voice with the Rhody community!