12/21 Fort Campbell Life by Creative ink

Postal Customer

PRSRT STD ECRWSS U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 7 FORT CAMPBELL KY

A look inside...

Planning an Epic Christmas Party

Santa’s Cookies

Fun Times With Santa

Christmas Tree Adventure

MWR Holiday Events

Holidays on a Budget

Editor

Merry Christmas, Everyone!

Alex Zapetis

Contributors Dave Marshall CynDe Clack Jenelle Grewell

Publisher Creative ink

Creative Director Sears Hallett

Can you believe we are almost done with 2021? That is insane! Thankfully, December is one of my favorite months, so I am excited for this year to be coming to an end. If you are a holiday lover like me, then this is the issue for you. We have Christmas cookie recipes, the ultimate guide to planning an epic holiday party, the best places to pick a tree or watch a light show, and so much more.

Advertising Kristi Williams 270-484-0463 kristi@creativeinktn.com

I hope this issue brings you a ton of smiles!

Photography

See you next year.

http://www.mixthatdrink.com Dreamstime Photo pg: Cover, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 19, 20, 23, 26, 27 Deposit Photo pg: 29, 30 unsplash photo pg: 6, 7, 10

Alex Zapetis, Editor alex@creativeinktn.com

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Are you wanting to host an epic and unforgettable Christmas Party this year? If so, we have you completely covered. We are providing you with some easy and fun decoration ideas, recipes, and the ultimate Christmas party games. This year's holiday bash is sure to be one that your friends and family will not forget.

Decor These adorable craft ideas are courtesy of OneCreativeMommy.com

Paper Christmas Trees Green 12 x 12 scrapbook paper (solids and patterns) Round hole punch • Elmer's glitter glue pens Elmer's CraftBond Flexible Dual Tip Glue Pen Elmer's School Glue • Empty toilet paper tube Paper scraps in various colors • Cotton balls • Scissors Pencil or pen Trace a large circle onto a sheet of 12 x 12 scrapbook paper and cut it out. Find the center of the circle by folding the circle in half and making a small crease in the middle. Repeat, folding the circle in another direction. Draw three lines from the center to create three different-sized pie shapes. Cut out the shapes. Roll the pie shapes into cones and secure with glue. Allow the glue to dry for a few minutes before continuing to the next step. Using scissors, cut vertical slits in the bottom of each cone to create fringe. Slits should be about 1.25-1.5 inches long, and can be as far apart as you like. Mine are about an inch apart. Roll each piece of fringe upward around a pencil or a pen. Stack the fringed cones from largest to smallest and glue in place. Optional -- Add a toilet paper tube as a trunk. Decorate as desired.

Easy Christmas Chandelier Thread • Ornaments • Hanging Light Fixture This is super simple. All you do is tie a piece of thread or string to two Christmas bulbs -- one on each end of the string -- and loop them over the top of the light fixture. You want the bulbs to hang at various lengths, so be sure to vary the lengths of the string.

Recipes Peppermint Meringues 3 large egg whites • Pinch fine salt • 1⁄4 teaspoon cream of tartar • 3⁄4 cup superfine sugar 1 ⁄4 to 1⁄2 teaspoon peppermint extract • Red gel food coloring Preheat your oven to 250 degrees F, and line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Beat your egg whites and salt with an electric mixer in a large bowl until foamy. Add the cream of tartar and continue to beat until soft peaks form. Add the sugar 1 tablespoon at a time while beating, and beat in the peppermint until stiff peaks form. Fold the top of a pastry bag fitted with a round tip over and down a few inches. Dip a paintbrush in the food coloring. Starting inside the pastry tip, brush a stroke of food coloring from the tip to the top of the bag. Repeat with 3 more evenly spaced strokes, and then fill the bag with the meringue. Pipe 1-inch-diameter mounds of meringue spaced 1 inch apart onto the prepared baking sheets. Bake until the meringues are no longer glossy and feel light and dry when picked up. This takes about an hour. Open the oven for a few minutes, then turn it off and shut the door. Leave the meringues in the oven until they are completely dry inside, about 2 hours. The meringues can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.

Pecan Pie 1 cup Karo® light or dark corn syrup 3 eggs 1 cup granulated sugar 2 tablespoons butter, melted 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 1–1⁄2 cups coarsely chopped pecans 1 unbaked deep-dish pie crust Preheat oven to 350°F. Mix Karo® light corn syrup, eggs, sugar, butter and vanilla until well combined. Stir in pecans. Pour the mixture into pie crust. Bake for 60 to 70 minutes. Cool for at least 2 hours, and then serve.

Games While waiting for dinner to digest, play a few of these family-friendly and fun Christmas games. They are sure to help you make some lasting memories.

Ring the Reindeer Pick up a blowup reindeer antler headband at Wal Mart or on Amazon. Select one person to put on the headband, while everyone else competes to hook the most rings onto the antlers.

Gingerbread House Competition Grab a few of the pre-made Gingerbread house kits, and let your guests team up to build the best-looking house. Post them on your social media platforms and let your guests vote for their favorite one.

Christmas Scavenger Hunt Hide a few treat-filled ornaments around your house for your party guests to hunt for. If you are feeling extra nice, you can even tell them if they are hot or cold.

Guess the Christmas Smells Place a blindfold on two of your guests, and place your favorite Christmas scent under their noses. Could it be cinnamon? Christmas Tree? Peppermint? Let them tell you. Whoever gets the most scents right, wins! 7

Baking the perfect cookies for Santa is a Christmas tradition that every child loves. Who doesn’t love to bake yummy cookies for the jolly old man, and then steal a few for yourself? When you are hunting for the winning recipe this year, give one of these delicious cookies a try.

Vanilla Crinkle Cookie

1 ½ cup all-purpose flour • ½ tsp baking powder ¾ cup granulated sugar • ½ cup softened butter 1 ½ tsp vanilla extract • 1 egg ½ cup powdered sugar • 1 pinch of salt Preheat your oven to 325 F. In a large bowl, beat butter and granulated sugar. Next, add in the egg and vanilla. Beat until smooth. Add in flour mixture and stir until you have a smooth dough. Shape your cookies into about 2 inch balls. Roll the balls through granulated sugar and then through the powdered sugar. Arrange the dough on a baking sheet. Bake the cookies for 12-14 minutes. Cool on a wire rack for 15 minutes.

Classic Gingerbread Cookies

3 cups flour • 2 teaspoons ground ginger • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 teaspoon baking soda • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg • ¼ teaspoon salt ¾ cup softened butter • ¾ cup firmly packed brown sugar • ½ cup molasses 1 egg • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract To begin, mix your flour, ginger, cinnamon, baking soda, nutmeg, and salt in a large bowl. Set to the side. Next, beat butter and brown sugar in a large bowl until light and fluffy. Add in your molasses, egg, and vanilla. Be sure to mix well. Gradually pour in the flour mixture at a low speed until well mixed. Flatten your dough and wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Roll out dough to 1 ⁄4-inch thickness on a lightly floured work surface. Cut into gingerbread men shapes with a 5-inch cookie cutter. Place 1 inch apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake 8 to 10 minutes. Allow to cool completely before decorating. 10

There is an age-old debate that many families have every year. "When is the best time to open presents?" It seems to differ from family to family, so we wanted to know what our readers’ family traditions are. “Christmas Eve we do stockings, and Christmas Day we do the presents.” - Desiree B. “One gift on Christmas Eve, and all of the rest on Christmas Day.” - Pam S. “One small present on Christmas Eve and the rest on Christmas.” - Savannah A. “On Christmas Eve we pick out one gift to open! Stockings and other gifts on Christmas morning.” - Kirstie L. “On Christmas Eve we do a night before Christmas box, it contains pajamas, cocoa, a book, small surprise and a pair of warm socks. Everything else is opened Christmas!” - Danielle R. “Christmas Eve, but we are a German/American family and in Germany, Christmas is Christmas Eve.” - Martina J. “Christmas Eve is jammies, a new stuffed animal (holiday related), and a holiday book. Christmas day is for stockings and presents.” - Kayla S “Christmas Day” - Destyne W “One on Christmas Eve and the rest on Christmas.” - Paige C. “My parents lived in Germany for 4 years so growing up we opened family and friends presents on Christmas Eve and Santa's on Christmas Day. Now I do the same thing. We also lived in Germany for 3 years. This is our way of honoring our memories of Germany.” - Kate A. “We do family presents on Christmas Eve and Santa presents on Christmas Day. We also open presents from other family members usually after Christmas due to travel schedules.” - Anna S.

Warm Woolly Sheep

Heated Cape Cod

The wooly sheep cocktail is a soothing drink. It’s a great alternative to hot cocoa when you want something that’s warm, milky and relaxing, but not chocolate.

Enjoy a Heated Cape Cod the next time you want to snuggle up with a hot fruit-based tea. I automatically think of evenings for warm drinks, but this is actually a great pick-me-up in the afternoon. 1 ounce vodka 4 ounces cranberry juice

1 shot Scotch 1 1⁄2 shot Drambuie Warm milk

Pour both ingredients into a saucepan over low heat (alternately, you can microwave it). Pour it into an Irish coffee . mug to serve.

Drink recipes and photos courtesy of https://www.mixthatdrink.com

Belgian Brownie With a name like Belgian Brownie, you expect a cocktail to be chocolate. The Belgian Brownie does not disappoint. It even looks like chocolate milk, so you’re supposed to serve it in a very grown-up looking glass to make sure people know you’re having a real drink. 1 2

⁄ ounce Kahlua ⁄ ounce Bailey's Irish Cream 1 ⁄2 ounce Grand Marnier

1 2

Pour the Kahlua into a shot glass. Pouring slowly over the back of a spoon or with a bottle pourer, add an equal layer of Baileys Irish Cream Still pouring slowly over the spoon or with a pourer, add the layer of Grand Marnier.

Mix the Scotch and Drambuie in the glass of your choice and fill the rest of the way with warm milk Red Hot Santa Tini

The Red Hot Santa Tini mixes chili pepper infused vodka with Godiva chocolate liqueur, whipping cream and a surprising rim of cocoa and chili powder. 2 ounces chili-infused vodka 2 ounces Godiva chocolate liqueur Cocoa powder Cayenne pepper Sweetened whipping cream 1 small Thai chili pepper Chili Infused Vodka Handful of Thai chili peppers Vodka Put a handful of Thai chili peppers into a bottle of vodka. Let it sit for 3 days. Taste it to test the heat level. The Drink Mix some cocoa powder together with a pinch of cayenne pepper on a saucer or rimmer dish. Rim a chilled martini glass with it. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add the chili infused vodka and chocolate liqueur. Shake until chilled.Pour the mixture into a cocktail glass. Top it off with the whipping cream. Garnish by floating the chili pepper on top of the cream.

Pictures with Santa are a staple of the Christmas season. These pictures are treasured by loved ones for years and years to come. The funnier they are the better, so our readers wanted to share a few of their most memorable Santa pictures with you!

Live Christmas trees smell and look amazing. They can bring such a magical feeling into your home. They are so much fun to decorate and take care of all season long. Another treat that comes with live trees is that picking the perfect one is full of memories. It is a thrilling feeling finding the tree that is going to hold all of the gorgeous decorations you have planned. If you wish to cut down a tree this year, the Fort Campbell area is home to many Christmas tree farms so that you can find the tree of your dreams. Time to go tree hunting! Don’t forget, the average live Christmas tree lasts around 3-4 weeks after being cut, so plan accordingly. Also, bring blankets and protective items to cover your tree to prevent vehicle scratches, and make sure to water your tree regularly to keep it nice and hydrated.

Lazy Spread Christmas Tree Farm 3682 Dailey Rd, Clarksville, TN 931-648-2921 • http://www.lazyspread.com

Santa’s Place Christmas Tree Farm 2169 Dunbar Rd, Woodlawn, TN 931-338-6076 • https://santasplacetreefarm.com

Erin’s Farm 7000 Hodges Rd, Cunningham, TN 931-980-3985 • https://erinsfarm.com

Kandi Kane Christmas Tree Farm 2950 N Hinton Rd, Clarksville, TN 760-220-3259 • https://kandikanetrees.com

Kirkwood Tree Farm 3792 Buck Road, Clarksville, TN 931-624-8392 • https://kirkwoodtreefarm.com

“All I Want for Christmas Is You,” Mariah Carey

“Feliz Navidad,” Jose Feliciano

“Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” Brenda Lee

“Have a Holly Jolly Christmas,” Burl Ives

“The Christmas Song,” Nat King Cole

“The Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” Andy Williams

“Jingle Bell Rock,” Bobby Helms

“White Christmas,” Bing Crosby

“Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer,” Burl Ives

“Last Christmas,” Wham “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” Judy Garland

There is nothing quite like cranking up the Christmas tunes to really get yourself into the holiday spirit. It is common for people to have a favorite Christmas song that brings “Frosty The Snowman,” Jimmy Durante back such warm and pleasant memories. If you have ever wondered if your favorite song is a popular choice, or if you are looking to build your own holiday playlist, check out our list of the Top 15 Christmas songs of 2021.

“Your a Mean One Mr Grinch,” Thurl Ravenscroft

“It’s Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas,” Michael Buble

“Santa Baby,” Eartha Kitt

Fort Campbell MWR is planning some awesome Family activities for this holiday season! They will kick-off December with Holiday Wonderland - two days of fun starting on Friday, December 3. The Annual Tree Lighting starts at 5pm on the 3rd and will be held in a new location. The tree will be located at T-39 (on the Gate 4 side, in the grassy area where Screaming Eagle Blvd separates into two one-way roads). Also new this year is a tree/card decorating contest. Fort Campbell agencies were invited to join in the Holiday Spirit by creating a tree or card for the Garrison Holiday Decorating Contest. The entries are placed in 8’ x 8’ spaces located around the holiday tree. After the tree lighting, Holiday Wonderland will continue at the newly renovated R.F. Sink Memorial Library, located at 83 Screaming Eagle Blvd (across the street from the tree) where there will be a Holiday Market and Soldier and Family Readiness Group fundraisers, Santa’s Workshop, Story Time with the Grinch, children’s crafts and Santa Photos. Their sprint into the holidays will continue with the Annual Ugly Sweater Run on Saturday, December 4, starting at 8:30am. The run will offer both a 2.5 mile and a 1.5 mile route and will start and end at R.F. Sink Memorial Library. This is a free, Family friendly, stroller friendly run. Dress for fun and be sure to enter the Ugly Sweater Contest at 8am! Registration for the run will be onsite starting at 7:15am. Stick around for Candy Land inside the library after the Ugly Sweater Run. Make your way around a life-sized board through all the candy worlds, reach King Candy and receive a prize. Participants will also hear a story and will be able to do a craft. Roll on into the holiday with the Library’s Polar Express event. Movie: The Polar Express will take place at R.F. Sink Memorial Library, on December 7. Participants are invited to wear their pajamas, bring a blanket if they want to, and enjoy watching the movie. Snacks will be provided. Be there by 5:15pm to get your snacks and get settled for the movie that will start at 5:30pm. ® heduled for Trees for Troops is scution will be December 3. Distrib m for open from 12pm to 2pand below Enlisted Soldiers E4 til all trees and open from 2pm un for all have been distributedparking lot ll be the bers. The location wi e outbound side of em m e ic rv Se ty Du e m th Activ T-39. You’ll enter fro tree on the Gate 4 side of (across from the library), pick up your g vd in Screaming Eagle Bl d exit onto the inbound side of Scream the in the parking lot, an wn Center). If you plan on transporting ur Eagle Blvd (across Tour car, please bring a blanket to protect yosed tree on the top of yo at these times are subject to change ba paint. Please note the delivered. on when the trees ar .com/FortCampbellMWR. Updates at facebook

Whatever you celebrate during the month of December, their wish is for you to have a relaxed and joyful season! More information at www.campbell.armymwr.com

Enjoy the holidays with the Gateway Chamber Orchestra as they announce their return to the stage with a modern interpretation of The Nutcracker. In their first live audience performance since February 2020, the GCO presents the Tchaikovsky favorite with a Duke Ellington twist featuring special guest artists from the Nashville Ballet. For the first time, Nashville Ballet performers partner with Conductor Gregory Wolynec and the orchestra’s talented musicians to perform the timeless Nutcracker classic. “We are so excited to create a new holiday tradition for our audience with a combination of video and live dance from our new partners, Nashville Ballet,” Wolynec said. “Tchaikovsky’s classic score gets a big band twist that is sure to have your toes tapping.” Gather the whole family for a fun and festive holiday performance! After the last performance, the GCO will host an optional Sugar Plum Party with sweet treats for children and a photo opportunity with the Sugar Plum Fairy. Children are invited to dress up. Join the Gateway Chamber Orchestra and special guest artists from Nashville Ballet on Saturday, December 11 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, December 12 at 3 p.m. at Austin Peay State University’s Mabry Concert Hall. The optional Sugar Plum Party immediately follows the Sunday matinee performance. Separate Sugar Plum Party tickets are required. Masks are required for guests during each performance and during the Sugar Plum Party. Concert seating will reflect social distancing guidelines. Concert and Sugar Plum Fairy tickets can be purchased at gatewaychamberorchestra.com.

Drive-Thru Christmas Lights at Clarksville Speedway Enjoy over one mile, and over three million lights, from the comfort of your car. This warm and cozy light show is one that you are not going to want to miss. Sun–Thur: 5:30pm till 9pm or last car is gone thru Fri & Sat & Holidays: 5:30pm till 10pm or last car is gone thru December 27 until January 1st: 5:30pm till 8pm $30 per carload, $100 for Tour Bus, and $50 for Cargo Vans Also, there are special admission nights this year: Every Night is Military Night: $25.00 per car with Military ID (Not For Tour Buses and Cargo Vans) Mon Nights are Working Man and Woman: $25 with no coupons needed. Thur Nights are First Responders: EMS, Healthcare Professionals, and Police are $25 per car on Thurs, Dec. 2nd, 9th & 16th. Additional deals can be found at https://www.clarksvillespeedway.com/other-events/christmas-lights/

Christmas on Cumberland The City of Clarksville’s Christmas on the Cumberland at McGregor Park is sure to create lasting memories this holiday season as thousands experience the captivating displays of over one million lights! Open nightly November 23, 2021 - January 2, 2022 • Sun-Thur: 5pm to 10pm • Fri & Sat: 5pm to 11pm Admission is free!

Discovery Park of America - Let It Glow Light Show Drive-Thru and Walk-Thru The popular drive-thru light show allows cars to drive the 50-acre park as they experience more than a million twinkling lights synced to the beats of popular Christmas songs. Nov 12th @ 5pm - Dec 30th @ 9pm Admission to the drive-thru is $10 per vehicle, $25 for 15-passenger vans and $50 for school buses/charter buses. Admission to the “Let it Glow” walk-thru is $5 per guest, and ages 3 and under are admitted free. A family discount card is available that provides admission for 12 different guests or the same guests multiple times up to 12 visits for $50. 27

The holidays are quickly approaching, and the USO is excited to be celebrating the USO Fort Campbell Holiday week December 14th through 18th.

The Holiday family dinner meal will be hosted on December 14th and supported by our friends at the Gary Sinise Foundation. Each year, before Christmas, the North Pole sends the USO projects to work on just like the elves! Each kit includes crafts and goodies for the kids to bring Santa's Workshops to their homes. The pickup for the kits will be on December 15th. December 16th is the virtual reading with Santa and his helper! The Great Gift Give Away is a holiday gift program for Active Duty, Guard and Reserve Service Members and their families. The program allows families to add a little sparkle to their holiday seasons from generous donations from our local community. Families receive one toy per child, a board game for the family, a Disney DVD, books, stocking stuffers and a gift wrap item. This year, the USO is hosting the program on December 17th starting at 10:30 a.m. Due to the size and scale of this program, families will enter into a lottery for their chance to be registered into the program. Once registered for the program, families will choose time slots to attend the program. This allows for the most amount of participation in a safe and controlled environment. The program is a walk-through program. Children can attend with their parents. Breakfast with Santa will be held on December 18th. They will host this program as a drive-through event. Families can pack up their cars on Saturday morning and stop by the USO for a Chick-Fil-A breakfast and a quick wave to Santa before he heads off to get ready for his busy week. Each program requires registration—you can find the latest information on their webpage (fortcampbell.uso.org) or on the Facebook page (USO Fort Campbell).

Holidays On a Budget By Jenelle Grewell

I just recently graduated from college so you would be correct if you guessed that I am not exactly rolling in dough. Since I was a college student for the past six years, I have had to get creative during the holiday season with my limited budget. Whether it is buying gifts, traveling or going to holiday parties, this time of year can get kind of pricey, so here are some ideas to keep you within a reasonable budget. It is seriously the thought that counts. I know that sounds cliché but any true friend will appreciate whatever you get them as long as it is thoughtful. So here are few wallet friendly gift ideas: •

Potted plant. $3 and up where plants are sold. Look for cacti or other small house plants that are durable. Try not to give any thing that is picky about sunlight and water. A photograph that means something to your recipient in a nice frame. 9 cents and up for each print and you can find cheap picture frames at the thrift store. For a couple or a movie buff consider getting a gift card for a few streaming rentals and a box of popcorn. A box of popcorn can start as low as $3 and you can put whatever amount you are comfortable with on an Amazon gift card. Kitchen utensils like an apple corer or potato peeler. Small utensils that make life in the kitchen a little easier can start as cheap as $5. Attach a favorite recipe or two. A coffee or tea mug for hot drink lovers. Mugs can be as cheap as $5 at various stores. You could add a few favorite tea bags or hot chocolate drink pouches.

•

A small mason jar of the recipient’s favorite candy. Sets of mason jars can run as low as $6 for four jars. Large bags of candy can be as low as $2. You can also browse thrift stores or dollar stores for cheap jars and glasses to put the sugary treats in and you could hit the bulk candy store if you are making a lot of gifts. Mini nail polishes for the more fashionable people in your life. Depending on what store you go to, you can pick up mini nail polishes for as little as $1 and large nail polishes for less than $2. Some pet treats or pet toys for those who love their furry friends. You can get pet toys for less than $5 and pet treats can cost less than $5 as well. Socks. Now I know this may sound ridiculous but really warm socks in crazy patterns are an appreciated gift in the cold winter months. I personally have a love for knee socks. You can get some pretty kooky looking cool socks for around $5-$10.

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Travel size toiletries are a good gift for those who are on the go a lot or for a Soldier. Raid the travel toiletry rack and you can find mini bottles of tooth paste, wipes and much more for around a $1.

With the holiday season around the corner, you may be invited to a lot of parties. It can get expensive bringing dishes or drinks to every party you go to, plus not all of us are masters in the kitchen who can whip up something amazing to wow guests. You should also consider what kind of holiday party you are attending. For a more laid back party among friends, you can probably pinch pennies and just be honest with the host or hostess about your budget. For a function among coworkers you might want to fork over a bit of cash. I personally like to make a calendar of all my social appointments and think about what I can bring ahead of time. Overall, I think any host or hostess will appreciate anything you bring so here are a few ideas that won’t break the bank:

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• Cookies. Everyone loves cookies! You can either bake them yourself for less than $5 with the ready-made dough or you can buy cookies already made for about the same price (there just won’t be as many). Also, most ingredients for your basic chocolate chip cookies are already in most pantries. You may just have to buy some chocolate chips or eggs. Bonus: Then you get bragging rights for bringing homemade cookies. Baking mini cookies means there are more to go around! • Chips, crackers and pretzels. Many stores have sales and coupons for snack foods all the time. Check sale papers or online before you go shopping. Munchie-type foods can costs about $3 a bag.

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Traveling can get expensive when you consider gas prices and all the stops you may have to make for hotels and food. Cut down on costs with a few tips: •

Keep up on maintenance with your car. It may seem like a large amount of cash to get your oil changed and do a winter check on your vehicle but trust me, regular maintenance on your car will not only save you from future costly repairs but having a well maintained car can also save you a lot on gas and keep you safe.

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Pack a lunch. Make some sandwiches, grab a few of your favorite snacks from the grocery store or your pantry and a few bottles of water (or caffeinated beverage) before you hit the road. The average fast food meal is around $5 or more. That can be $15 per day for one person! Bring your own food and keep your wallet happy. Check ahead of time for hotels and compare prices. Look for a hotel with complimentary breakfast. Even if it’s just toast and cereal, that is one less cost you have to figure in. A hot breakfast that is included is a huge bonus! Many hotels offer different discounts, including military discounts. Do you know anyone who is headed in the same direction as you for the holidays? Offer to car pool part way. You can split cost of the gas for the part of the journey you ride together.

If you set yourself a budget and stick to it, you should still have enough money after the holidays so you are not broke going into the New Year.

Make your own party tray. Buy various fruits, vegetables and cheeses and make your own snack tray instead of purchasing one that is already made. This is a great idea if you have several gatherings to go within a few days of each other. You can make several party trays depending on how much food you purchase but don’t buy too much that will go bad before you use it! That will be a huge blow to your pocketbook. You can also offer to bring the non alcoholic mixers for beverages that will be served at the party. Alcohol can get expensive but you can suggest bringing the soda or juice and save a lot of cash. You can get a 2-liter of soda or juice for about $2 and even less for store brands. Slow cooker dips. Search online for recipes and you will find pages and pages available to choose from. For example, you can make a cheese dip with Velveeta Cheese (or a similar cheese block that melts easily) and a can of spicy tomatoes like Rotel. This super easy dip could cost you less than $10. Let another friend on a budget know to bring the tortilla chips!