Easy Ways to Save on Christmas Decorations

Christmas time brings memories of the move National Lampoons Christmas where Clark Griswold worked so hard to have the most decorated house on the block. That kind of desire brings with it the need for Easy Ways To Save on Christmas Decorations. Decorating your home to that degree may not be in the works but a few decorations are common but can easily be costly. Here is a list of some simple ways you can help save money on decorations this Christmas.

Get The Kids Involved. Old fashioned paper chains, popcorn garland and clothespin reindeer are not only fun ways to occupy your children but also very budget friendly. Invest in some construction paper, heavy duty needle and thread and sit down for a Saturday afternoon of making homemade decorations with your kids this year.
Replace Bulbs Instead of Strands. This year take the time to go through and replace burst bulbs in your strands of lights rather than throwing old ones away and buying all new. This is time consuming but can save you a significant amount of money in the long run. I check my local dollar and discount stores for the 100 count strands that are inexpensive and put aside a few hours in November to go through all of our strands from last year.
Invest in an Artificial Tree. This is an age old debate that goes round and round but is one worth mentioning. Every year millions of people invest anywhere from $20-$100 on a live Christmas tree that only gets thrown away. This year check sales or even wait for after Christmas discounts and clearance and pick a quality artificial tree to be used for many years to come. 3 years ago I purchased a 6 foot fir variety that was originally $159 for only $17 on clearance. {Shop Amazon for Artificial Tree Deals.}
Use Candles as Decorations. Basic unscented Red, Green and White Candles in all sizes are available inexpensively year round. Pick up a few packs in various sizes, find inexpensive glass jars, saucers or bowls and use pebbles, marbles or other objects to anchor the candles and use as decorations or centerpieces. Cloves are also often used to decorate candles and provide scent during the holidays.
Take a Nature Walk. Cut a few pieces from a Holly Bush, Cedar Tree or even pick up pine cones to dip into essential oils, dry and hang around your home. If you have many trees in your area, you may even have the infamous mistletoe hanging above you in areas you can climb and grab to decorate with. A few wire hangers, some floral tape and a roll of red ribbon and you can quickly create handmade natural wreaths to hang throughout your home for $1-$2 each.

Look to what you already have and adapt using common items around your home. Just because you didn’t buy it out of the Christmas aisle at your local discounts tore doesn’t mean it can’t be used as a Christmas decoration. A little glitter, ribbon and pine scent goes a long way in creating your own inexpensive decorations that will impress even the hardest critic.

Watch this video on how to make your own ornaments!