How To Celebrate The Holidays With Family Near and Far

Did you know that according to a recent study, only 33 percent of adults with children and 29 percent of adults without children said that the location of family members is important? Today, more and more families are separated by geography, and are a long car ride or a flight away from each other.map

Thankfully there are more ways than ever to stay connected when you’re living far apart:

Celebrate remotely: Programs like Skype, Gchat and FaceTime make it possible to really feel like you are in two places at once, for free. Ask your family to sign up for one of the many video chat services, and you can enjoy your entire holiday dinner together over the internet.

Take advantage of free shipping: This year, companies like Target and WalMart are offering free shipping throughout the holiday season as a way to compete with Amazon.com and other online vendors who also offer competitive holiday shipping programs. You’ll save lots of money sending gifts to your nieces and nephews, and in many cases, have a chance to get your gifts there in two days or less!

Enjoy a shared experience together: It’s not the same as being together, but why not go see a movie at the same time as your family, and talk about it afterward? Or consider making the same family recipe and then enjoying it together over Skype or FaceTime.

Consider a “flex-iday”: If the high cost of airfare is what’s preventing you from being with your family for the holidays, consider shifting the holiday a day or two. By traveling on non-peak days, you’ll be able to save hundreds of dollars and still enjoy the holiday season with your loved ones.