Want to have fun this holiday season on the “cheap”? These activities are right up your alley. 😉
1. Host A Movie Night with Friends
Watching a movie is fun but watching in a group? Double fun. Why else do you think cinemas make so much money???? (Well apart from the fact that they have such big screens). Simply pick a date, (check with your friends first), get your friends to vote for the movies they’d like to watch (this can be easily accomplished via a Whatsapp group) and get some popcorn. To save extra cash, get everyone to come with snacks and/or drinks to share. After all, you’re going to be fueling the generator (if you’re Nigerian, that is). 😀
PS: It just struck me that this could be a monthly friendship ritual. Friends could take turns hosting month after month, Brilliant! You’re welcome guys. :p
2. Attend Christmas Carols
Christmas carols are often joyful. And one great thing about them is that they are usually free to attend! I’m sure by now, one or two of your friends have invited you to their church’s Christmas carols. Just accept one or two of those invitations and be sure to wear a Santa hat. If you’re lucky you’ll get to see the classic nativity play. And if your luck is very strong, they will share Jollof rice afterwards.
3. Volunteer
Christmas is definitely the season of giving and happiness and there’s nothing more heart warming than contributing to other people’s happiness whether directly on indirectly. Do a little research on places where you can offer volunteer services: orphanages, old peoples’ homes, Motherless babies homes, hospitals etc and go lend a helping hand.
PS: The last time I tried to volunteer at an orphanage in Lagos, I was told that I needed to have filled a volunteer form earlier, so you may want to check that.
Related: How I Spent my Last Birthday With the Kids of Heritage Homes.
4. Craft DIY Christmas Gifts
If you still haven’t bought Christmas gifts for your loved ones (me!), probably because of money and/or poor planning (me again!), the good news is you can try last minute hand made gifts (okay, maybe not me ’cause I suck at DIY). I think it’s really sweet to make something with your hands just to gift someone. Something about the labour of love…
So if DIY your thing, awesome! Here are some ideas you’ll probably love. Even if you screw up (read: hilarious Pinterest fails), you can laugh at yourself and share your fails on social media. So either way, it’s a Christmas win.
5. Go Somewhere in Your City that You’ve Always Wanted To Go
So I met someone who’s lived in Lagos all his life and has never been to the national stadium. Trust your girl to give him the most intense “are you kidding me???” look he has ever received in his life. So you see, this doesn’t have to be anything expensive or outlandish: it could be an art gallery, the museum, a local play house, an ancient book store, anywhere! If I hadn’t visited Freedom Park for the first time about three months ago, it would have been high up there on my to-visit list this holiday season. And yeah, I got that look too when my arty friends learnt I hadn’t visited Freedom park.
6. Plan A Picnic Hangout
Last Christmas holiday, some friends and I contributed money and planned a picnic hangout at Tarkwa Bay. Ah, good timesss….Might be a good idea to try something similar and it doesn’t have to be at a beach. With good music and outdoor games, you’ll be sure to have a great time! PS: You might want to avoid the beaches in Lagos on major days like Christmas day and the day after unless you love a crowded beach.
Related: All you need to know about planning a Tarkwa Bay Picnic.
7. Read those Books You’ve Been Collecting All Year
Ah yes, those of us who spend six months reading half of one book and so piously blaming it on our tight work schedules (me!). God is watching us. Remember your new year resolution of reading 12 books in 2016? It’s not too late to catch up. 😉 Here’s an amazing book I’m recommending: The War of Art by Steven Pressfield (Yes, not Art of War).
8. Visit Friends and Relatives
A lot families have mini parties going on in their homes almost every day around Christmas. There’d be food aplenty and those big chickens ain’t gonna eat themselves, you know? Just make sure you call before visiting because some people hate surprise visits. By the way, Who remembers those days when the adults in the house used to “dash*” us kids Christmas money? Now I go visiting and the kids are looking at me and expecting me to drop “something”. I’m like….uhmmm…I’m one of you, bruh! When did all this growing up happen? Do you still receive Christmas money? Yes? Will your family be interested in adopting me? At least just until 31st December?
9. Take A City Lights Tour
It’s simply driving around the city, looking for interesting Christmas lights to be awed by. Anyone who lives in Lagos knows that Ajose Adeogun road on Victoria Island is lit (literally) by this time of the year. Remember to take pictures, that’s Instagram content right there, fam! 😉
10. Get Some Rest
In all my years of observing the Christmas holiday season, I have come to the conclusion that it is the most fleeting period of the year. Like, I swear it was the 1st of December like 5 minutes ago. Morale of this age old wisdom? Don’t put off resting as something you’ll come around to doing because that time will never come, trust me. So if you have to, tick days on your holiday calendar to kick off your shoes (assuming you wear shoes inside your house) and just rest. Your body will thank you.
On a final note, where is our Harmattan?????
On a final, final note, what did you think of this post? Got any budget-friendly ideas of your own? Do share with me in the comments and let’s connect. 😉
Love,
Moji
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*dash- Nigerian slang for “gift” (the verb).
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