Cheap Ways to Make Christmas Day Special

[antelopevalley]

I thought it would be nice to have a thread about cheap ways to make the day special.

One thing I always do is try and make the table look really nice and special. I just lay out the table properly with wine glasses, Christmas disposable napkins, bits of free holly, a white tablecloth I already have and a few red candles.

Any other ideas?

• Christmas music (playlist)
• Table set with pinecones or dried sliced oranges, cinnamon sticks, foliage, holly ... etc
• Staying calm and not get stressed! Calm happy mood in the household
• Going for a walk in nearby parks or woodland maybe feeding ducks or squirrels
• Watching a Christmas film and playing games
• Going to church?
• Visiting friends, family or neighbours
• Zoom Christmas pop quiz if not too depressing a reminder of Covid?
• Secret Santa
• Eat what you like instead of traditional food you don't like

I agree with staying calm! When my eldest was a baby I madly invited lots of relatives and worked really hard to make everything perfect. I was just stressed and exhausted and it was my worst Christmas ever. I never made that mistake again. It is about finding the things that make a difference but still enjoying the day.
So I never do starters. No one cares about them in my family. And I only do the veg everyone really likes rather than what you are supposed to have.