Creating Holiday Traditions on a Budget

This post is sponsored by Regalo, but like always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Holidays are here and I have a two year old and I am not sure if it gets better than that. My son Christian has been excited about all the holidays and of course I started drumming up excitement for Christmas with him back in October by listening to songs and reading stories. He is a huge fan of Santa and Rudolph and thinks that every house with Christmas lights on it is "Santa's house!"

It's been so much fun and has inspired me to start some Christmas traditions this year for our family but there is no reason why we need to spend a lot of money to make the holidays feel special. My husband and I did not grow up with a lot and we want to instill in our son the true meaning of the holidays aren't the gifts, because those don't last. It's the memories and the people you share those memories with that will always last.

Here are a few money-saving holiday traditions that we are beginning.

1. The Stockings.

Toys are great! But here is a pro tip: they do not have to be big expensive, flashy toys. If you have a toddler than by now you know that's true. They find the most pleasure out of the smallest little things. So starting this year Christian and his best friend cousins are all getting their own personalized stockings that I, I mean Santa, will fill with random little toys such as kaleidoscopes, card games, bouncy balls, etc. I know that they are just going to love finding all of the little treasures in their stockings together!

The best deal on personalized stockings and stocking stuffers can be found at Oriental Trading. For $25 dollars I got a personalized stocking and a stocking stuffer grab bag with up to 50 little toys to fill it up with. And if you really like to save and don't mind storing stuff purchase it after the holidays and save even more.

2. Santa Sleepover

So for the past two years we have stayed with Christian's Mamaw and Papaw on Christmas Eve and this year him and his cousins will get to have a sleepover together and wait for Santa together. We have made sure to bring our beloved Regalo Toddler Cot so that the kids can easily and comfortably sleep next to the Christmas Tree and wait for Santa. We love the portability of our Regalo Cot. It is so easy to pack up and take anywhere and hardly takes any room in our trunk (So glad those pack-n-play days are over...for now at least!)

And don't think you'll only use the toddler cot for this special occasion. Christian just loves his and we use it daily to play on and watch movies on. Make sure to head to Regalo to grab yours here at an always great price!

3. Making Cookies

What is the night before Christmas without making cookies for Santa?! We have a fail proof cookie recipe that any toddler can help make and they will always end up chewy and yummy and you won't have to run out to purchase anything because most likely you'll have it all in the pantry. Just beware this makes 2 dozen and you may not want to share your cookies with Santa!

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

1 cup softened butter

1 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup white sugar

2 eggs

2 tsp of vanilla

1 1/2 cups of flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp of salt

3 cups of quick cooking oats

1 cup of chocolate chips

(optional 1 cup of walnuts or 1/2 cup of raisins or anything else sweet you have in the kitchen!)

Directions

Cream together butter and brown and white sugar together

Hand mix in one egg at a time

Add vanilla

Then add all other ingredients and hand mix them. Toddlers love this part and you can't over mix it by doing it by hand.

Let dough chill for one hour.

Form into balls and bake at 325 for 12 minutes

4. Santa Surprise

I mean if we are going to be camping out in the living room waiting for Santa on our Regalo Toddler Cot than we should probably see him! Right?! Well of course!! So this year I got a Santa suit for a super great deal at Oriental Trading and Santa will be making a visit to all the kids as they wait for him on Christmas Eve. This could be the best idea I've ever had or not. Either way it should make for some great memories and adorable and funny photos.

What are your favorite Holiday Traditions?