The holidays can take their toll on the family finances, but that doesn’t mean you have to sit at home and be bored.

There are plenty of frugal holiday activities for families to enjoy this winter.  Start with this list:

10 Frugal Holiday Activities for Families

1. Play games.  Whip up some hot chocolate and grab a pile of board games and get ready to play.  Have a family video game tournament. Or go old school and play charades.

2. Watch holiday movies.  The television is full of holiday movies right now, so check the schedule and set your DVRs.  You can also find holiday movies on Netflix or Amazon Prime,  at your public library, or through your local Redbox kiosk.  A little snuggling on the couch in front of a special movie helps bring out the Christmas spirit.

3.  Go for a walk.  The physical activity will do everyone (even the family pet!) some good.  A walk in the country on a starlit night is also great for creating special memories with loved ones.

4.  Drive around town to check out the Christmas lights.  Hop in the car and tune in some Christmas music.  Drive around town to find all the holiday light displays that you can.  You can even pack cookies and hot chocolate for a special treat as you drive around.

5. Play outside.  Fresh air does wonders for the spirit. Build a snowman with the kids.  Go sledding.  Create some projects from ice.  Build a snow fort.  Have a snowball fight.  Get outside and have fun!

6. Volunteer.  Lend a hand at your church or in your local community.  There are many charities in need of volunteers this time of year, so ask around.  You’ll find that the time flies when you’re helping others.

7. Bake.  Whip up some tasty treats to eat or to share.  One of our family’s favorite frugal holiday activities is decorating sugar cookies.

8. Do a puzzle.  Puzzles are great way to spend a winter afternoon.  You can listen to music, chat, and work together on a piece of art that all of you can enjoy when it’s done.

9. Do some crafts.  Creating things for your home or for others is a great frugal holiday activity you can do with the kids.  Make homemade Christmas ornaments, build graham cracker houses, or make greeting cards or homemade gifts.  Check out Pinterest for ideas to inspire you.

10. Play some music.  Crank up the tunes – both holiday tunes and whatever else suits you – and dance!  We all end up looking like the Peanuts gang dancing around, but we burn off some energy and have a blast doing it.

Sharing time with family is more important than expensive experiences.  Enjoy each other’s company, not spending money on stuff.

Now it’s your turn:  What are some frugal holiday activities you enjoy with your family?