The Winter Holidays are a time when billions and billions of dollars are spent by consumers. The purchase of holiday decorations makes up a healthy part of holiday spending along with gifts, food, etc.. And many people find themselves and their bank accounts reeling from the spending binges months after the festivities are over.
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So, how do you jazz up your home or office for the holidays without sending yourself into a financial nosedive in the process? Actually, it is easier than you think with these 5 Ways to Save Money on Holiday Decorations.
1. Head to Goodwill, the Salvation Army Thrift Store, or other local secondhand stores in your area. These stores often offer holiday items in good condition. Ornaments, figurines, snow globes, stockings, ribbons, candles, candle holders, candy dishes, flatware, napkin rings, bread baskets, bakeware, mason jars, serving dishes, plates, cups, artificial greenery, Christmas music CDs, greeting cards, and much more are available.
According to Virginia of LiveLoveDIY, it is a great idea to check with your local stores’ employees to see which days of the week newly processed merchandise is put on the floor. Also, she recommends checking TheThriftShopper.com if you need recommendations on secondhand stores near you.
2. Visit some handpicked garage sales. Look for multi family sales, moving sales, and estate sales. Check your local newspaper classifieds and other listings of local garage sales.
3. Go natural. Check out your yard and those of friends and family’s (always asking permission first, of course) for natural decorative pieces. Pine cones, pine boughs, magnolia/rhododendron foliage, dried leaves, holly berries, and nuts can make for cheerful decorations with little fuss. Just remember to keep them out of reach of children and pets.
4. Put your sense of smell to work. Decorating for the holidays does not just have to be about what you see. You can charm people’s senses of smell at a low cost, as well. Fresh pine boughs placed near your front door are sure to provide a seasonal welcome. Also, check out these Homemade Simmering Thanksgiving and Christmas Stovetop Potpourris at Whole Lifestyle Nutrition. And these easy, inexpensive Cinnamon Stick Candles from Craftaholics Anonymous and Orange and Clove Pomanders are sure to be a hit.
5. Aim for the LED and Solar lights to help tame your electric bill. All sorts of these holiday lights are on the market now that run circles around the old school lights in terms of energy efficiency. From Holiday Time LED Lite Lock Christmas Icicle Lights Cool White, 225 Count to the Exhart Solar Large Christmas Bulb Garden Stake
, some really neat choices are available.
For plug in lights, be sure and put them on a timer or unplug them in the late evening.
Fair warning for you. Using these holiday decorating saving tips above may lead others to think that you are a big spender on seasonal decor. Your savings secrets are safe with me.
For more cost-saving holiday tips:
7 Sites for Finding Best Online Deals
Super Handy, Budget-Friendly Gift Guide
Great tips! I love going natural and thrifting. But really anything that doesn’t break the bank but still adds some cheer is great!
Natural decorations are so eye pleasing for some reason. I guess Mother Nature really knows what she is doing.
YES! THRIFT STORES!!! I decided not to buy anything new for Christmas this year (decorations, at least 🙂 ) and I was able to get 100 Christmas cards for under $3!!! 🙂
https://tangerinewallpaper.wordpress.com/2015/09/09/how-i-got-100-christmas-cards-for-under-3-in-less-than-an-hour/
Now that is the type of bargain I am talking about. Way to go!
I love decorating for the holidays. These are great tips, I find a lot of things that can be redone at a thirft store.
Definitely. I have seen some stunning makeovers of thrift store decorations.
Great post! I love number 3! Nothing better than nature! I would like to invite you to my DIY Crush Craft Party which starts at 7pm EST. and is new every Thursday. I’ll pin every post!! 😉
http://www.diy-crush.com/blog/category/link-party/
Mother Nature sure does make some of the best decorations, doesn’t she. Sending some Pinterest love back your way.
Great tips! I’m so excited that it’s almost time to start pulling out my Christmas decorations! Thanks so much for linking up with us…I always love your posts!
xoxo
Lisa
The thrift store idea is a great tip! I bet I can find lots of great décor there. Thanks so much for sharing this over at Let’s Get Real. I have a house and an office to decorate and a rather small budget. These tips are certainly going to help.
Yes, thrift stores often have such neat items that can easily be repurposed or transformed into updated décor.
Thanks for sharing with the Let’s Get Real party. This is my featured post at this week’s party.
What great ideas besides the second hand shopping. This year if you find Christmas cards you like and on sale buy them for next year . So come Nov you can get them fill out early and they get send well before the day before Christmas or late . I have been thinking less is better then over decorating!
I have really gone to a less is better decorating scheme the last few years. Makes cleaning up after the holiday so much easier and cuts down on my storage space needed.