If you're like many modern parents, you want to make the holiday season as special as possible. However, today's parents also struggle with keeping holiday costs reasonable -- and after all, it takes away from the enjoyment of the season when the prospect of going into debt is looming. Fortunately, there are many ways available for families to enjoy the holiday season that don't involve spending great sums of money. Following are three ideas designed to provide you with inspiration concerning making the most of the season and creating holiday memories that your children will cherish for a lifetime while staying out of debt. 

Choose a Family Cause 

Choosing a family cause provides an excellent way to make memories while helping out your community. Your cause can reflect anything that makes you unique as a family. For instance, if your family members share a love of animals, consider spending time in local shelters providing the animals with much-needed personal attention. If you're musical or theatrical, put on a free holiday performance at your local community center or church. Whatever you decide to do, make sure it's something that each family member can participate in, and consider keeping a photo journal to preserve the memories for when your children are adults. 

Enjoy an Afternoon -- or More -- of Baking 

Baking from scratch doesn't cost much, and it's a great way to teach young children how to find their way around the kitchen. If you're a imaginative cook, develop your own holiday sugar cookie recipes or embellish an existing one. Let children discover creative side of baking by setting up a cookie decorating station on your kitchen table with tubes of icing and colorful sprinkles. If you have lots of visitors to your home during the holidays, consider always keeping a plate of sugar cookies near the front door to welcome guests. 

Your children will forget all about that fancy present they found under the tree on Christmas morning in time, but they'll never forget how they felt the afternoon they all helped make sugar cookies in the family kitchen. 

Visit a Tree Farm

A visit to a tree farm during the holiday season offers a great way for family members to de-stress and connect with one another during the busy holiday season. The fresh air and country setting are an excellent antidote to bustling holiday activities in the city. Many tree farms offer fun activities, such as hay rides, as well as seasonal beverages, such as mulled apple cider and hot chocolate.