Make the Most of the Holiday Season with a Christmas Bucket List

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This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of SunTrust. All opinions and attempt at a graham cracker house are 100% mine.

As a little girl, I used to think birthdays and Christmas were only as good as the number of presents. I didn't care about the expensive stuff, because I knew there would be less gifts to open. Instead, I requested little trinkets that cost barely a thing, just so I had more to unwrap!

Pretty sad, I know.

But the older I get {ack—I hate saying that}, I'm increasingly aware that my taste in gifts have changed.

Instead of looking for quantity, I'm all about quality. It's less about stuff, and more about the experiences and traditions that surround the Holiday season. And December is FULL of amazing experiences, don't you think?

I don't want you to miss making this the best December yet, because you were swept up in a stress-filled shopping trip looking for that perfect gift. Besides, some of the most meaningful gifts are not found in a present you buy, but rather presence in every meaningful moment.

So in an effort to make the most of this joy-filled season, I have a fun little project for you inspired by the OnUp Movement by SunTrust—a Christmas Bucket List!

I'm a pretty big proponent of bucket lists because they are a fun, tangible reminder of what you want to accomplish in life. With a Christmas Bucket List, you get to experience the all the traditions that make Christmas….well, Christmas!

And best part? Most of these activities are either free, or barely cost a thing.

Ideas for Your Christmas Bucket List:

• Decorate the Christmas tree. Obviously, most everyone does this {it's tradition!}, but if you're anything like me, you wait until the last minute to put it together. This results in a very narrow window to enjoy all your hard work. So get your tree up early this year, and if you're feeling extra motivated, give it a theme!

• Decorate a gingerbread house. If the idea of making a gingerbread house from scratch is overwhelming, try a pre-baked kit, or even better, make graham cracker houses! Joseph and I did this last year and it was SO much fun. We each had a $5 candy budget at the dollar store, then whipped up some icing and had a package a graham crackers to work our magic. I have to say…they didn't turn out all that bad.

• Have a Christmas movie night. Classic movies are a Holiday must. Since we don't have cable, I have to forgo most of the sappy Hallmark ones, but Redbox always brings back the classics, and you can also find a lot of variety on Netflix this time of year. Pop some popcorn, turn on the Christmas lights, and enjoy a night snuggled up on the couch. {Psst. there is a secret way to get the Hallmark Channel for less!|

• Look at Christmas lights. Find a neighborhood or town that goes ALL out for Christmas, and drive around to admire all the pretty lights. If you are ever in the Naples, FL area, downtown has a lovely scene that looks like you stepped right onto a Holiday movie set.

• Send out Christmas cards. I personally love sending and receiving Christmas cards. I don't always get to it every year, but it's a fun way to reconnect with old friends and see what everyone is up to! If you're looking for an alternative option, I used MailChimp one year to send out a Christmas e-newsletter as opposed to a card. As an added bonus, I saved a lot money on stamps.

• Bake and decorate sugar cookies. Mouthwatering sugar cookies are hands down my favorite kind of cookie to eat around the Holidays. Plus, they're so much fun to make! Use my go-to sugar cookie recipe if you want your cookies to come out perfect every time.

• Make hot cocoa and snuggle under a blanket. Grab yourself a steaming cup of chocolate and lose yourself in a book for an hour or two. If I'm feeling frugal, I'll make my homemade hot cocoa mix for the occasion, otherwise, I tend to splurge for the Land O' Lakes variety. Ooh, these little packets are SO good and silky smooth!!

• Go ice skating. Have a skating rink nearby? Rent a pair of skates and head out for an afternoon with the whole family. Bonus perk: You'll work off all those sweet treats!

• Read the Christmas story. The Christmas story is a memorable tradition that reminds us of the true reason for the season. Carve out time on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day to read through Luke 2…before getting caught up in the gift giving frenzy.

Come up with a list of your own Christmas Bucket List ideas, or use a combination of my suggestions to make your December that much more awesome. I even have my list in printable form so you can frame it up and cross items off with a dry erase marker as you accomplish them!

This Christmas Bucket List is available for FREE and you can download it HERE, or click on the graphic above.

My hope is that you'll stop stressing about how you spend your money this Holiday season, and focus on the moments that matter most. They are the ones that make the biggest difference, and create lasting memories for years to come!

What Holiday activity is your favorite?

At SunTrust Bank their purpose is lighting the way to financial well-being. When you feel confident about your money, you can save for your goals and spend knowingly on what matters most to you.

The onUp movement was created to guide millions of people one step at a time towards a more financially confident life without ever losing sight of the moments that matter along the way. Join the growing number of people transforming their stress into positive motivation to move onUp.

Disclosure: Some of the links in the post above are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. Read my full disclosure policy here.