At this time of year, many of us put pressure on ourselves by striving for perfection. Whether it be the perfect gift, the perfect meal, or the perfect gathering, we set standards that create unnecessary stress when our loved ones would be happy with something simple. If you’re facing the task of planning a get-together, read on for five ideas for low cost and low fuss winter gatherings.

NO-vember might be over for this year, but we can carry the theme of saying no to things that stress us out, and yes to things that bring us joy, into December. (I tried to think of a catchy name like “NO”vember for December with no success. I’m taking my own advice and letting it go!)

Following up on last week’s post about making the holiday season about presence, not presents, today’s focus is on reducing stress by simplifying our winter gatherings.

Low Cost and Low Fuss Winter Gatherings

If money is tight, or you’re just choosing to simplify and refocus, here are 5 ideas for low cost and low fuss winter gatherings.

Game Night

When my daughters were in elementary school, I served on school council for several years. Coming up with ideas for activities was always such a challenge. One of the most successful events we ever held was one of the simplest. We hosted a family board game night. We set up tables in the gym with an assortment of board and card games, provided some snacks and drinks, and let people have fun. They loved it!

A board and card game night with family and friends is one of the easiest gatherings to plan. All you need is a couple of decks of cards and a few board games. If you don’t have a big selection of games, invite your guests to bring their favourites.

Appetizer Potluck

Putting together a meal for a group of any size is stressful. Instead of a big dinner, plan an appetizer potluck gathering. Everyone brings their favourite appetizer, and you can spend time visiting with your guests instead of slaving away in the kitchen preparing a meal. As a bonus, you can enjoy all the delicious appetizers without worrying about saving room for dinner.

Outdoor Fun

At this time of year, getting outdoors for some fresh air and exercise will boost your mental and physical health. Invite friends and family to join you for a winter walk or skating on an outdoor rink. If the weather cooperates, you could go sledding or have a snowman building contest.

Afterwards, warm up with some delicious hot chocolate that you’ve prepared in advance in your slow cooker. Find my easy slow cooker hot chocolate recipe on my personal blog.

Movie Night

Invite a few friends over for a holiday movie night. Can’t decide which move to watch? Ask everyone to write down their favourites, then put them in a jar and pick one or two. Or put together a short list from your DVD collection or streaming service and ask people to vote.

Supply some homemade popcorn and enjoy! You could even add some additional spice with gourmet popcorn seasonings.

Volunteer Together

As I shared last year in Charitable Giving and the Helper’s High, helping others is good for your mental and physical health, and there are so many organizations that would welcome your help.

Get some friends together and volunteer at a soup kitchen, food bank, holiday parade or party, or any other cause that is dear to you. You could even lead a sing-along at a local seniors’ home. The good you do might just start a ripple effect of good deeds!

Resist the Urge to go Overboard

I hope these ideas will inspire you to rethink your gatherings with family and friends and focus instead on just being together. If you’re still fighting the tendency to go overboard, you might want to go back and read my earlier post on Breaking the Cycle of Overachievement.

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What other ideas do you have for simple low-cost gatherings? Drop me a comment below with your thoughts.

Learn more about me in my bio and on my personal blog at BoomerEcoCrusader.com. You can also find me on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest.