If you’re lucky enough to have a special someone to spend the holidays with, then it’s the perfect time to find fun and unique ways to make memories together. And fear not — not every merry memory has to break the bank. In fact, most of these ideas are great things that can be done with little to no cost, or are things you’ll already be doing. Best of all, each of these can serve as the beginning of an annual tradition, should the romance last another spin around the sun.

One of the things I love about the holiday season is that it makes creating romance and closeness practically effortless. Most people are already feeling less cynical about life and are often more open to opportunities to build bonds and be cozy. It’s a special time of the year that’s got a pinch of that Hallmark magic in the air. Thankfully, I’ve gathered these five ways to make the most of the holiday spirit.

Holiday Baking

Regardless of traditional gender roles, romance can happen in the kitchen with anyone dawning the apron. Holiday baking can be a great date idea because it creates an opportunity to bond over a simple project — it takes a bit of communication and might give someone else the chance to take the lead for a change. Best of all, if it goes well, you’ll have a tasty treat to celebrate a job well done.

If you’re looking for a great cookie to try out that doesn’t require a ton of tough work, I recommend Vanilla Bean Butter Pecan Cookies from Britney Breaks Bread. These cookies are delicious and quick to make — which means they can easily be part of a bigger date idea. Turn on the holiday tunes and bake early, then enjoy a couple of them while they’re still warm, and save the rest for the evening.

Decorate the Christmas Tree

Decorating the tree together can bring you two together better than just about anything outside the bedroom; it surrounds you both with the sights and sounds of the holidays, stirring up all the fond feelings of the holiday spent with people you care about. Now fair warning, decorating the tree is a very collaborative effort. If this is your first Christmas together, that might mean deciding on the color scheme, which accessories to use with the ornaments, and much more — tread with caution.

But, should you give this a try, set the vibe with a good holiday playlist and some hot chocolate while you two get to decorating. Take this opportunity to get closer together by sharing holiday memories with each other. Bonus points if you have ornaments from your childhood. ProTip: Filling a day with holiday baking and tree decorating could quickly become an annual tradition.

Christmas Movie Night

Instead of tossing up $50 bucks for the big screen, keep the comfort on the couch and throw on a holiday movie at home. Whether you two spent the day creating holiday cheer or had to be productive adults and make sure the bills get paid, there’s no easier way to welcome the Christmas spirit than making a couple of hot chocolates and cuddling up on the couch with that special someone and the perfect holiday movie. You don’t have to settle for the usuals like ‘How The Grinch Stole Christmas’ and ‘Miracle on 34th Street.’ Instead, opt for a movie with a little more melanin by picking one of these:

• The Best Man Holiday

• Jingle Jangle

• Holiday Rush

• Black Nativity

• The Preacher’s Wife

• Friday After Next

• The Perfect Holiday

• Last Holiday

Volunteer

When the holiday season comes around, the need for volunteers is often at its highest. People are so focused on spending time with their loved ones that many are quick to forget those less fortunate — but that doesn’t have to be the case! A great way to get some holiday time together is by volunteering at a local food bank, clothing donation center, or charitable drive. Many places that serve those in need are often grateful for additional help handling the influx of donations. 

Collecting blankets for families experiencing homelessness may not sound like a ton of fun, but volunteering can serve as a unique opportunity to see your partner’s long-term potential and really give insight as to whether or not they’re the one for you. How do they treat people that are less fortunate? Do they whine about doing the work? Are they willing to roll up their sleeves and get down to business? Hopefully, they’re as compassionate as you, and can create a holiday date that makes you both want to do it again next year.

Go See ‘A Christmas Carol’

There’s never a bad time to get dressed up and have a night out on the town. In many places, December is when the theatre season is getting kicked off. One of the best bets when it comes to local theatre during the holidays is getting tickets to see ‘A Christmas Carol.’ Practically everyone is familiar with the story — Scrooge is a crotchety curmudgeon and gets a visit from three spirits to show him the error of his ways — but what makes the experience magical is seeing how any given theatre company brings the story to life. Austin’s ZACH Theatre has long created a fun-filled production that’s great for the whole family. I was lucky enough to see Alley Theatre create a stunning and unique performance in Houston all the way back in 2015. They’ve since changed the vision, but the quality is there nonetheless. I haven’t seen the Dallas Theatre Center put this one on, but I’ve seen their quality in other work. If you’re not in one of those major cities, then this could be a great chance to really step out on the town.