Christmas break is almost here. For some of us, it can’t come soon enough. For others, too soon. Either way, we will all find ourselves sitting at home or in our apartments, wondering what the heck to do with all this extra time on our hands.

Well, there are the usual options that get checked off of my list within the first four days. One is visiting with old high school friends who are, yep, the same people as they were in high school. Check.

Contemplate if said high school friends think the same about my own personality. Check.

Watching TV shows and football with the family. Check.

Eat a ton of free, homemade food and discover where the freshman 15 really comes from. Check.

Drinking massive quantities of alcohol and proving to everyone at the local bar that college has made you a really awesome person. Check.

Now what? For those of us who don’t want to endure another boring three weeks at home, there are plenty of interesting ideas and some tips for keeping the activities financially reasonable.

Snowboarding has always been the No. 1 priority for Christmas break, at least for myself. Sadly, many resorts had to close their doors this season due to the recession. Resorts that stayed open have hiked up their prices for a lift ticket, making the casual skier or snowboarder think twice about investing into a day on the mountain.

Here are some tips to make a day on the slopes bearable for your wallet. Weekday or non-holiday days have cheaper lift rates than weekends and holidays. Sometimes resorts will have specials, like bringing in 10 empty Pepsi cans for a $5 reduction on Wednesday. These deals are not widely advertised, but a call to the ticket office can unearth them.

Go to ski swaps to find deals on early-season gear. For example, the OREC puts on a spectacular ski swap. If you missed it last weekend, be sure to hit them up next year. Also keep an eye on Craigslist and eBay for deals.

Buying used snowboards and skis can yield great results. My board was bought used and still works great four years later. And, as always, carpool for the betterment of your wallet and the planet.

Even with all these money-saving plans, most of us college-going folks won’t be able to afford more than a couple days on the slopes. Don’t worry - there’s cheaper snow filled fun to be had. Sledding and cross-country skiing can be a great alternative. A lot of state parks offer both these activities. I have fond memories of sledding with friends and family at our local state park called Field Springs. It was a lot of fun. We bought cheap Wal-Mart saucers and went slipping and sliding down snowy hills. It was also a great workout as well, especially when getting back up the hill without the help of a chairlift.

Support your local ice skating rink. I know it sounds a bit cliche, but ice skating has lots of potential. Moscow has a fantastic semi-outdoor skating rink. Guys, don’t be afraid of taking girls out on first dates here. She will think it’s cute, and the fun of trying to stay up and turn will break the ice – maybe both metaphorically and literally.

Another great activity to invest in over break is a CPR/First Aid certifying class. Many community outlets offer this class over break. This may not be a first choice for entertainment, but the class is painless as far as pressure. Classes are interactive, and being certified is beneficial in many ways. Obviously, if you have the training, you will be more prepared to deal with emergencies in the future.

A certification also looks good on job applications. Someone who took the initiative to get certified shows to an employee that that they are self-improving and have that ever enduring quality of self determination. Besides, getting certified is just a part of being a good member of society.

Whatever you end up doing, plan ahead, be safe and have fun.