Don’t overthink your holiday this year by worrying about how much you’re spending. There are a whole list of activities to do to keep the good times rolling while your money stays in your pocket. Festival lights, concerts, homemade desserts and movie nights are just a few activities that can help you stay to your budget.

Light festivals

Glittery shining lights in the shape of Santa Claus’ head are just what a crisp winter night calls for. Grab your friends and family and pile into a car or, better yet, set hay bales on a trailer to go see the festive lights. Here are a few unique light shows offered this season:

• Hee Haw Farms Christmas Festival in Pleasant Grove.
• Festival of Lights in Spanish Fork.
• Christmas on Temple Square in Salt Lake City.

The wide array of lights and decorations will have you in awe and won’t cost much. Prices may vary depending on group size and the organization hosting the event, so double check their individual websites to see if they fall in your budget. Don’t forget to bring hot chocolate to warm up afterward.

Concerts

It’s the holiday season, so you know what that means: concerts, concerts and more concerts to put you in the holly jolly spirit! Utah offers some amazing performances every year, and this year is no different. In fact, The Utah Baroque Ensemble is showcasing their skills on three different dates:

• Sunday at 7:30 p.m. at 1081 W. 1060 North, Provo.
• Nov. 19 at 7:30 p.m. at 481 E. Center St., Orem.
• Christmas singalong on Nov. 30 at 7 p.m. at Orem Library Hall.

Utah Baroque Ensemble was started in 1987 with Martha Sargent as director and she has celebrated her love of choral music alongside several talented singers ever since. These special concerts are free and open to the public.

Bake desserts

‘Tis the season to get creative in the kitchen. Who doesn’t love a homemade dessert, especially around the holidays? Make a heartfelt dessert for your neighbors as a gift or just for a fast pick-me-up around the house. Try this timeless chocolate chip recipe. Here are the ingredients you’ll need:

• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour.
• 1 teaspoon baking soda.
• 1 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch.
• 1/2 teaspoon salt.
• 3/4 cup unsalted butter.
• 3/4 cup packed brown sugar.
• 1/2 cup  granulated sugar.
• 1 large egg and 1 egg yolk.
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract.
• 1 1/4 cups semisweet chocolate chips.

If you would like to make your cookies more festive, add white, red and green chocolate chips instead. This cheap and easy Christmas activity is one you surely won’t regret.

Movie night

Jump into the holiday season by having a movie night — or maybe several if you want to get through all of the classics. Gathering your family and bonding over a good movie can make for some fantastic memories. Here are three ideas to get your movie marathon started:

• “A Christmas Story.”
• “Elf.”
• “The Santa Clause.”

So what are you waiting for? Grab your homemade chocolate chip cookies, popcorn, a blanket and your favorite movie and make the most out of your night.

It’s so incredible the amount of fun that can be had with budget-friendly activities. Save some extra money to maybe put toward a few gifts for your loved ones. Whether you are a homebody who prefers making a delicious dessert and watching a movie or someone who likes to get out and take advantage of the concerts and festive lights readily available this holiday season, there’s something for everyone.

Lindsey Certonio is a project manager at Stage Marketing, a full-service content marketing agency based in Provo.