National Day Celebrations Made Easy: Fun, Cheap, and Delicious Ideas

A few weeks ago, I stumbled upon two websites (here and here) that list all of the national day celebrations. I know this sounds funny, as I’m a whole grown 40-year-old woman, but I’ve been celebrating them with friends, and honestly, it’s brought me so much joy. Not to mention, it’s a great budget-friendly way to mix up my week and have something to look forward to while vigorously trying to spend less money.

So far, I’ve been celebrating all of the food-related days. I do need to limit it to once a week or else it would get a bit pricey, but here’s what I’ve been celebrating!

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National Day Celebrations Made Easy: Fun, Cheap, and Delicious Ideas

National Homemade Cookie Day – October 1st

I baked oatmeal craisin cookies with vegan chocolate chips, and OMG – they turned out so well! Don’t worry, I’ve got the recipe here for you. I picked a simple recipe and just used what I had in my pantry. I did have to buy another package of craisins since I was almost out (they’re a salad staple for me), so this fun national holiday only cost a whopping $1.99.

I made these without my trusted hand mixer, unfortunately, but they still turned out amazing. Highly recommend baking homemade cookies instead of buying fancy desserts when you’re saving money. ☺️

National Coffee Day – September 29th

For the record, I don’t buy coffee very often. It’s a real treat – usually reserved for Fridays or when I’m meeting a friend for a weekend walk. But on National Coffee Day, I splurged and ordered an Apple Pie Latte at Caffe Vita in Seattle. Normally, I’d make coffee at home, but I decided to support one of my favorite local spots since so many small businesses are feeling the impacts right now.

If you’re also saving money, you could easily make a fancy coffee at home instead. This one had caramel, brown sugar, cinnamon, apple syrup, and a sprinkle of nutmeg on top. So simple to recreate in your own kitchen!

National Shawarma Day (Upcoming!) – October 15th

As much as I’d love to try making a cuisine I’ve never attempted before, I’d be a big ol’ liar if I said I wasn’t using this day purely as an excuse to go out to dinner. Since I’ve been on a budget, I’ve been trying really hard to limit dining out. I’ve been opting for quick grocery trips instead, to grab whatever I don’t already have at home.

I love Middle Eastern food, and I had a very traditional meal while in Vancouver a few months ago that was phenomenal. Luckily, the greater Seattle area also has tons of local spots I’ve been meaning to try, so this is my perfect excuse to pick a good one!

This is such a fun, low-budget way to explore different cultural foods. 10/10 recommend these national days!

Tips for Celebrating National Days on a Budget

Pick inexpensive or free holidays (think cookies, ice cream, books, games, walks, etc.)
Use what you already have at home to keep costs low.
Combine your celebration with a cozy night in or a fun activity to make it memorable – like game night, movie night, or a baking session with music.
Make it social! Invite your family or friends for a small, easy gathering to enjoy it together.

Examples of upcoming October days to celebrate:

National Chess Day – 10/11
National Indigenous Peoples Day – 10/13
- This article has great ways to celebrate – like reading a book or going to a native american museum.
National Chocolate Cupcake Day – 10/18
National Cat Day – 10/29
- Fun for kids to count cats on a walk, visit a cat cafe, or consider adopting a cat!

Thank you so much for reading today’s blog post, my friends. It’s been such an interesting experience getting back into blogging this time around. I find myself busier than ever with a huge backlog of travel posts to share, but know that I’m working on getting into a routine again to make it all happen.

What are some of your favorite quirky holidays to celebrate? I can’t wait to hear about them in the comments below!

Also! If you’re looking for more unique and fun tidbits from my life, make sure to subscribe to my newsletter. It’ll be going out every other Friday… just as soon as I get my life back in order.

Much love, darlings!