Family outings during Hanukkah can be numerous and expensive. Making wise choices about activities will help protect your budget during this holiday as well.
Hanukkah presents a challenge for most parents, since in Israel, children are on vacation while adults typically work their regular schedules, and parents search for ways to keep the little ones entertained during their time off.
Expenses around Hanukkah add up quickly, hosting for candle lighting, performances and festivals, sufganiyot (jelly donuts) and Hanukkah gelt (money), with most spending centered around activities and entertainment. Does creating meaningful experiences with children during Hanukkah necessarily mean participating in expensive outings? Are children’s memories from Hanukkah activities more significant from family gatherings for candle lighting, or from attending a two-hour show that can cost a family hundreds of Shekels?
Advertisers offer us attractive proposals for unforgettable activities, but we at Paamonim believe that children’s meaningful experiences and memories aren’t directly connected to their price tag.
So how should you choose activities that will keep spending under control?
4 Things to Consider to Successfully Save on Hanukkah Entertainment Expenses:
Free festivals, entry to many festivals doesn’t require payment, but they often feature expensive attractions that will excite children and make it difficult for you to say no. Remember that “free” can sometimes be costly, so it’s recommended to review the festival program in advance to check which activities cost money, and decide ahead of time what you’ll be willing to allow and what you won’t. Children who know in advance what to expect and what’s possible will cooperate much more easily.
Activity location, where the activity takes place is critical to the total expected expense. An activity in a location without additional surrounding attractions will cost you less. In contrast, an activity located in a shopping mall, even if it’s free, will likely lead you to many unexpected expenses like purchases and fast food, and create frustration for you and the children due to the need to refuse purchases.
Travel and parking at the activity location, sometimes participation in an activity is offered for free or at low cost, but getting to the location or parking your vehicle for several hours will turn the outing into a very expensive one. Skip activities that require high travel costs or particularly expensive parking.
Food, at some point during the outing, children will always be hungry. Bring appealing food and drinks from home. Buying candy, ice cream, or a popsicle for dessert will be much cheaper than feeding the children a complete meal purchased outside.
With thoughtful planning and smart choices, you can create wonderful Hanukkah memories while keeping your budget intact. Happy Hanukkah!
