The holidays are a time for connection, celebration, and—unfortunately—a little bit of stress about spending. But joy doesn’t have to come with a hefty price tag. Here’s how you can keep the spirit bright, your wallet happy, and your well-being front and center.

1. Savor the season, save your budget

With some research and creativity, you’ll see that Rhode Island has plenty of opportunities for low- or no-cost holiday fun:

• Check your local library: Most libraries in Rhode Island host a variety of family-friendly events. See if any libraries near you are offering themed activities, like holiday movie screenings, arts and crafts sessions, or even visits from Santa Claus. Plus, you can rent seasonal books, movies, and items instead of purchasing them.
• “Look at those lights!” Drive or walk (while being cautious of weather and road rules) around local neighborhoods and take in light displays. Pack some treats and hot tea or cocoa to enjoy as you go. Make it more fun by ranking your favorite displays with your family and friends. You could even drop off a handwritten compliment to the neighbor who wins your contest!
• Specify time to enjoy your own displays: Holiday decorations are beautiful—but leaving on electronics, like Christmas tree lights, can raise your electric bill. Consider plugging your lights into a timer or carving out a specific window of time to enjoy your displays. Ensuring your lights are off when you’re away from home or asleep can also prevent accidental fires.
• Tree lightings: Celebrate the season in your community! Many cities and towns all across Rhode Island host ceremonial tree lightings. Visit your town’s website to find out more.
• Host your holiday potluck style: It can be fun to host family and friends for the holidays. However, if you’ve hosted before, you know that it can also get hectic, stressful, and expensive. Consider encouraging your guests to bring a dish or dessert with them to alleviate some of the cost—and the pressure—of cooking or catering the whole meal. This can also help lighten the cleaning load afterwards!
• Warm their hearts and yours by volunteering: The holiday season, and winter in general, can be especially difficult for those experiencing homelessness, food insecurity, or other hardships. Volunteering will have positive impacts on those neighbors—and studies show it could have positive effects on your well-being, too.¹ See how you can serve others, and, when appropriate, consider bringing older children along to help nurture a spirit of kindness and giving. If you’re looking for opportunities, check out United Way of Rhode Island’s Volunteer Center.²

2. Shop smarter on gifts

It can be hard not to splurge on your loved ones during the holidays. But you don’t need to gift them coal in order to stay on track with your finances. These tips can help.

• Set a budget: Follow a plan when you do your holiday shopping—and stick to it.
• DIY is just fine! Homemade gifts are especially cost-effective and can add a sentimental touch. You can make cookies, ornaments, candles, cards, and so much more. Try making similar gifts for all so you can reuse supplies. Bonus: The quality time spent creating your gift alongside a loved one is a gift in itself!
• Try a gifting game: Traditions like Secret Santa or White Elephant let you buy fewer gifts and still enjoy the holiday spirit.
• Pace yourself: Spreading your spending out over 12 months instead of one or two can help reduce the financial burden. Keep your eyes open for gifts throughout the year. You can tuck them away until the holidays.
• Watch for sales: If your loved one has their eye on something special, see if the retailer runs sales, especially for Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
• Take advantage of Blue365³: Did you know you have an extra savings opportunity thanks to your health plan? Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island members can find exclusive discounts year-round on a wide variety of products, memberships, and experiences. Plus, many of the items available for purchase can help the gift recipient focus on improving their health and well-being. Don’t miss out: learn more here.

3. Portion and repurpose leftover food

Holiday meals often mean leftovers. To avoid waste and stretch your grocery dollars:

• Freeze promptly: Store leftovers in shallow containers and freeze within 3–4 days. Thaw in the refrigerator for best quality and safety.
• Get creative: Use leftovers in sandwiches, salads, or soups. Individual-sized portions make for easy grab-and-go meals all week.
• Share the surplus: Offer to-go containers to guests or donate unopened items to local food banks.
  • Food safety tip: Never leave perishable food out for more than two hours. Divide leftovers into small portions and refrigerate quickly.

4. Protect your health so you can enjoy the holidays

The holidays can take a toll on your physical and mental well-being. Your sleep or exercise schedule may be disrupted, tempting treats are all around, and ‘tis the season for colds and flus. Sickness and stress make it hard to enjoy the festivities and can strain your well-being and your wallet. These perks of your BCBSRI health plan can make it easier to stay well:

• Eat healthy: Find a wide variety of recipes that our licensed dietitians love here.
• Feel healthy: Practice self-care to keep your mind at ease. Take 5 for You offers ideas for small steps that can help improve your mental, physical, and financial health.
• Get healthy: Take a fun, free fitness class at Your Blue Store^SM. Too cold to leave the house? Find a workout video to follow along with on our Facebook page. Bonus: If you have one of our Medicare Advantage plans, your fitness benefit includes membership to a fitness center within the Silver&Fit® network and unlimited $0 on-demand exercise videos.⁴
• Stay healthy: Wash your hands frequently and avoid contact with folks you know are sick.  You can also talk to your primary care provider to see which seasonal vaccines (like flu, COVID-19, and RSV) are recommended for you.

Your friends at Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island wish you a happy, healthy holiday!