The holidays are almost here so we’ve started to think about what we’re going to do to celebrate. It’s Thanksgiving this week and although this holiday isn’t celebrated in the UK, we know our US users will be getting ready for some Thanksgiving fun.

The holidays are a great time to relax and enjoy spending time with family and friends but they can also be expensive, especially if you’re the person hosting the family get together; there’s all the food and drink to buy or the restaurant bill to pay if your family want to eat out, plus presents for the kids and extra bits and pieces – it can all add up!

However, Thanksgiving doesn’t have to break the bank. Remember that the spirit of the holiday is showing gratitude and spending time with loved ones. So, we’ve thought of a few things you can do for Thanksgiving that won’t cost a fortune and will still ensure you have a great day…

Watch the parade – Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade has been shown on TV since 1948 and watching it with your family and friends is a great way to start the holiday – plus it costs nothing! Get cozy on your sofa and watch the giant balloons, floats and marching bands make their way through New York City.

Play touch football – striking up a family game of touch football, or any sport that takes your fancy, will make your Thanksgiving a really memorable day. Football games are televised throughout the day so if your house is full of sports fans you might have to work a bit harder to pry their eyes away from the TV but it’ll be worth it when you’re all running around and laughing outside!

Have a family feast – most people will have a Thanksgiving dinner at some point during the holiday and we know that buying all of the bits and pieces can start to get expensive. So why not invite the whole family round, and even some friends, and ask everyone to bring some food and drink – that way everyone gets to enjoy a delicious Thanksgiving feast and it won’t cost very much for anyone.

Hold a board game-off – having a little friendly competition helps families bond and what better time to do this than Thanksgiving. Why not choose a classic board game that everyone loves, split in to teams and play a few rounds – you could even have a prize for the team who wins. Just make sure everyone remembers to be a good sport!

Give thanks – giving thanks for family, friends, the holiday feast and other good fortune is really what the holiday is all about and is absolutely free to do. You could give thanks for something verbally at the dinner table before you get stuck in to your feast, or even exchange Thanksgiving thank you cards. Showing gratitude for something, no matter how big or small, is the true spirit of Thanksgiving.

No matter what you decide to do, if you’re surrounded by loved ones it’s sure to be a lovely day. Happy Holidays!