FUN, but inexpensive stuff to do together

Like many others out there, DH and I are pinching pennies to save for our first home.

We work for the same company and one of the BEST perks is that the company shuts down every year for a couple of weeks in December leading up to Christmas/New Years! AMAZING!!! We usually travel to go see a football game somewhere or take a long weekend trip, etc etc...but this year that ain't gonna happen.

Any creative ideas for budget-friendly fun stuff to do? I LOVE this time of year.

One more thing...I work in the city and drive around the gridlock ridden city basically EVERYDAY...so with the exception of a day or two I don't really have any interest in going into the city on our time off.

Ice Skating
$5 knicks tickets
Taking our neice/nephew to kids museums

WHAT ELSE?!

Re: FUN, but inexpensive stuff to do together

let's do a winter double date to the wineries lol??

Re: FUN, but inexpensive stuff to do together

MERRY!!!

YAY! I was thinking about that...really! Maybe we can take a limo from your apt in queens! Do you think they have cut rates this time of year?! Let's look into it!

MISSSSSSSS YOU!!!!! xoxoxoxo

Re: FUN, but inexpensive stuff to do together

yes definitely let's look into it. i WISH my 'company' closed down this time of year. but maybe xmas/new years time ...

Re: FUN, but inexpensive stuff to do together

we close between xmas and New years, but that's awesome you get so much of december off!

i was going to suggest the wineries too. it's off season so won't be crowded and with the xmas decorations, probably really beautiful this time of year.

Re: FUN, but inexpensive stuff to do together

Here are some suggestions:

Movie Night: (at home!) rent a movie, pop your own popcorn. You can make it special by covering it in chocolate or adding your favorite seasoning to it. Drink some wine while you watch.

Christmas Lights/Music: drive around your neighborhood and look at all the houses that have decorated for christmas while listening to christmas music on the radio. You and your husband could make bets on which block will have the best decorated house (or some other random stat) and whoever wins gets a treat (foot massage, or something like that!)

Wine Tour: For $20 every saturday at 1pm, Castello di Borghese Vineyard and winery has a tasting as well as a guided walking tour of the winery and the production facilities.

Night Out: Go to a bar or restaurant that has live music.

Free Day Out (museum or ecology center): You can choose a museum and spend a couple of hours there one day. I think there is a guitar museum on LI that is free. Or there is a free zoo, the Holtsville ecology center. They have over 100 animals. you can feed ducks and goats and they have a long trail you can walk or jog. You can take your nieces and nephews there if you want.

Board Games: Sometimes when we are bored and we can't afford to go out, DH and I love to set out some appetizers and wine and just get competitive and play board games all night long.

Re: FUN, but inexpensive stuff to do together

Love some of the ideas...especially the christmas lights and winter vineyard tours! We love spending time at home so the board games with wine sounds silly and fun which is totally our style.

Thank you!!

Re: FUN, but inexpensive stuff to do together

If someone asks what you want for Christmas or Hanukkah (late shopping?), ask for a DVD of a show or mini-series you have been meaning to watch.

My DH and I had lots of fun getting through some shows we like: Firefly and Star Trek. We also have some mini series to watch - John Adams, The National Parks, The Bronx is Burning, etc.

If you have Netflix you can order seasons of lots of shows on DVD of you can't buy them.

Ditto to board games - but invite your friends over! Game nights are great. Especially with beer and wine. The food and drinks are cheaper than what you would pay in a bar, and you can hear everyone talk.

Re: FUN, but inexpensive stuff to do together

Bayport Christmas Light Show
Old Bethpage Village Restoration Christmas
Check out holiday shows at high schools/colleges/etc.
Hicks Nursery
Drive around looking at Christmas lights

Re: FUN, but inexpensive stuff to do together

Bowling!

Re: FUN, but inexpensive stuff to do together

We love doing giant potluck dinners with our friends. Cheap entertainment and a lot of fun to see/eat what everyone makes!

Re: FUN, but inexpensive stuff to do together

Bowling is super fun.

Make christmas cookies!!! DOZENS. (Bring me some)

Hopefully we'll have some snow (did I just say that?) and you can play in the snow.

Re: FUN, but inexpensive stuff to do together

mmmmmmmm christmas cookies, snow outside, warm cozy couch, DH, one of Mrs Brown's delish sounding christmasy cocktails....oh I LOVE this time of year! When oh when will my DH get home from work?!?!

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This is motivating me to drive to long island, get the kitchen aid mixer my mom bought me for my shower, drive back to queens, OPEN the box (instead of hiding it behind the couch) and using it to make cookies!!

Re: FUN, but inexpensive stuff to do together

MERRY! So funny - I JUST brought my KitchenAid (also from my mom) back to Jersey after Thanksgiving...it is now proudly displayed in our kitchen! Yet to be used... but proudly displayed! I think I am going to bake tomorrow!

What color did you get?!

Re: FUN, but inexpensive stuff to do together

day/bus trip to AC!!