The 2020 holiday season is going to be different than any other holiday season they’ve experienced. In addition to the usual holiday concerns of which gifts to get or what to make for a special holiday dinner, many people are wondering if they should risk seeing their family and friends face to face, how they can stay safe due to the COVID-19 pandemic and whether having a happy holiday season is even possible this year due to all the uncertainty.

The reality is that even though COVID-19 is definitely a threat you want to take seriously; you and your family can have a holiday season that is just as happy as those of years past. Here are some suggestions on how to enjoy the 2020 holidays and still remain safe.

Deck the Halls, the Walls and the Windows

You’ll probably be spending more time indoors this holiday season, so why not make the most of it? This is the year to go all-out in decorating your home and turning it into the Christmas wonderland you’ve been dreaming of. You can even take the opportunity to upgrade your existing decorations, buying energy-efficient LED lights that also last longer than traditional electric bulbs.

Focus on Socially Distanced Holiday Activities

Of course, just because you and your family will be spending most of the holidays indoors doesn’t mean you have to limit your holiday events to watching streaming holiday movies and playing board games. Many organizations are still putting on holiday events and adapted them for social distancing.

If you want to see just what local holiday activities are available, the Rochester Moms blog is a great source of information. You can also find a list of several holiday events and activities at the city of Rochester website.

Give to a Charity

The pandemic has affected a lot of people this year. Hundreds of thousands of Americans have gotten sick, and millions are unemployed and trying to figure out how to make ends meet. That means that giving to charity is more important than ever.

Giving to charity doesn’t just benefit people in need. It can also benefit you. Giving to charity reinforces your personal values, teaches your children about generosity through your example and just plain feels good.

Host Virtual Parties

One of the good things about 2020 is that most of us have become comfortable with being on video calls on platforms including Microsoft Teams, Zoom and Facetime.

Why not take advantage of this technology to host virtual parties and virtual dinners? You can sing together, play games like charades and holiday trivia, and even download popular board game apps like Settlers of Catan, Ticket to Ride and Carcassonne to play together while you’re apart.

If you’re feeling really ambitious, you can also come up with a menu for your party. Have everyone share a favorite recipe, then have all the participants make each dish. Be sure to share the results on screen!

Reallocate Unused Money

One of the biggest effects of the COVID-19 pandemic has been the number of travel plans canceled. If you’re one of those people, it’s understandable if you’re a little sad you won’t be able to see your loved ones.

However, there is one big advantage—you won’t be spending any of the money you were saving for holiday travel. That means you have some extra money in your savings account you can use.

The easiest option is to keep the money in a traditional savings account until next year and let it earn interest. However, if you have enough money saved up, you should consider putting it in a money market account to earn even more interest. You can also put your money in a 12-month certificate of deposit and collect it at this time next year.

You can also use the money you’ve saved to get a head start on paying down the credit card debt you more than likely have after completing your holiday shopping. If you have other high-interest debt, you can also use the money you have saved to pay down on it. You could also consolidate your debts with a debt consolidation loan and use the money you’ve saved to make a huge payment on the loan.

Another great way to use the money is to spend part of it on a nice activity for you and your family. You can also put the money toward a large project you’ve had in mind, like remodeling your kitchen or buying a new appliance. Both of these options will help you avoid feeling deprived, and spending time with your family is never a bad thing.

Have a Happy Holiday With First Alliance Credit Union

This holiday season is definitely going to be different than those that have come before. However, depending on where you’ve lived, you’ve also had to contend with other natural disasters like blizzards, hurricanes and even the occasional tornado. We can get through COVID-19—all it takes is a little innovation.

You can also make sure you have a happy holiday season when you become a member of First Alliance Credit Union today. You can save your money in our traditional savings accounts and money market accounts, invest money in CDs and IRAs, and even get a debt consolidation loan to help you avoid being overwhelmed by your January credit card bill.

Want more information about how to have a happy holiday season? Listen to episode 19 of our Good Money Moves podcast, which talks about holiday shopping.