When it comes to choosing an advent calendar for the holiday season, there really is no shortage of options! The only problem is that one-time-use advent calendars can get a little spendy! Today I wanted to share some of my favorite Christmas countdown activities that don’t require a bunch of extra time or money. Check out these low-cost advent ideas!
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10 Low-Cost Christmas Countdown Activities
Many of these activities include things that you already have at home or can find for a low cost (or free). Several of these Christmas countdown activities also include free downloads that I’ve created over the years.
1. Christmas Stories
First, we have the classic wrapped-book advent. This is a classic for a reason! However, if wrapping 24 to 25 Christmas books isn’t high on your list of ways you’d like to spend your time, consider creating a “magic book basket.”
You can put all of the books in the bottom of the basket, then put a place mat on top of the stack. Choose one book to put on top of the place mat and then cover it with an additional place mat. In the morning, your child can check under the top place mat for that day’s book, without being able to see the rest of the books in the basket. Then you repeat the process each day.
If you’re worried your child is a little young to leave the book basket alone, you could store the books somewhere else and just add one book to the basket each day. You could also use the same gift bag and tissue paper to wrap the book of the day, so you don’t have to wrap all 24 at once.
Not sure you have enough Christmas books to do this? Check your local library for some free options.
2. Christmas Jokes
Who doesn’t love a corny joke every now and then? How about a corny joke every day for 24 days in a row? A pile of Christmas jokes is the perfect low-cost advent activity!
I have a free download with two sizes of joke strips – one set is perfect for tucking into an advent calendar or gluing to craft sticks. The other set is perfect for creating a paper chain to count down the days to Christmas. Just click here to download the large color set or click here to download the small black and white set.
3. Build the Nativity
Each day, you can have your child unwrap a piece of your family’s nativity set. I haven’t seen many nativity scenes that have 24 pieces, so you could either start this later in the month or alternate your nativity pieces with a scripture, a wrapped trinket or small piece of candy.
4. Christmas Music
Listening to music is the perfect way to count down the days to Christmas! You could choose one Christmas song and listen to a different variation of it each day (this is really easy to do on Amazon Music, Spotify, or Apple Music). That sounds like a weird idea, but it’s actually fun to compare and contrast the different renditions of common Christmas songs.
My favorite advent idea that involves music is the Handel’s Messiah advent calendar. I listen to a few selections from Handel’s Messiah each day and read the corresponding scripture(s). It’s the perfect way to get in the Christmas spirit! I created a printable calendar to help me stay on track, and I have it available to download here.
5. Scriptures
Many people like to read a specific portion of scripture during the holiday season. Since St. John has 24 chapters, you could read that particular account of the Savior’s life – one chapter a day until Christmas.
6. Puzzle
There are SO many 24-piece puzzles at Dollar Tree! Grab a holiday-themed puzzle and give your child one piece per day until the picture is complete. You could even write a scripture or quote on the back of each puzzle piece. An easy way to store the puzzle-in-progress would be on a cookie sheet or similar tray. You could also attach magnets to the backs of the pieces and display the puzzle on your refrigerator.
If you don’t mind spending a small amount of money, a wooden Nativity puzzle would be perfect! It comes with its own tray, so it would be easy to keep tabs on the puzzle-in-progress during the month.
7. Coloring Pages
There are basically a gazillion advent coloring pages that you can download for free on MANY websites. Just Google “advent coloring pages” and you’ll see TONS of options for counting down to Christmas. Some sites have 24 unique coloring pages while others have pages with 24 items to color. Take your pick!
8. Bucket List
Give your family the chance to count down to Christmas by completing traditional December activities together as a family. Create a holiday bucket list with 24 items and then complete one activity per day until Christmas. Looking for some bucket list inspiration? My Bucket List Bingo printables would be great!
9. Acts of Service
It really does cost nothing to be kind! Performing one act of kindness daily as part of your low-cost advent calendar is a great way to get in the Christmas spirit! A free printable calendar that outlines many ideas for acts of service during the holiday season can be found here, on the website for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Although it is provided by a particular church, it is meant to be used by anyone looking for service ideas.
10. Movie Night Countdown
There’s something about the holiday season that makes you want to curl up with a blanket next to your Christmas tree and watch a movie. You can use this as a Christmas countdown activity! If you don’t have time for a full movie each night, you could watch the holiday episodes of your favorite TV shows from over the years.
If you don’t subscribe to a streaming service, there are plenty of holiday videos available on YouTube!
Low Cost Advent Ideas on YouTube
Speaking of YouTube, you can find a video with my low-cost advent ideas for families. I’ll share with you which of the ideas above my family chose for our Christmas countdown this year.
Save These Christmas Countdown Activities
I hope these low-cost advent ideas will help you if you are looking for a fun but cheap way to count down the days to Christmas. Be sure to save this post if you want to find these free printables when you’re looking for a fun advent idea for your family. Just add the pin below to your favorite holiday board on Pinterest.
I wish you and your family a happy holiday season!
