Decorate Your House for Christmas on a Budget

Decorating your home for the holidays can be a pain, but it doesn't have to break the bank. Last year was my first Christmas on my own, and I managed to decorate my tree and mantle for less than a hundred dollars. Many people believe that specialty Christmas stores and designer trees are the way to go; however that is not necessarily the case. Stores such as Big Lots, Wal-Mart, Dollar General, Target, K-Mart, and even some chain grocery stores offer beautiful, well made ornaments at discount prices.

The cheapest way to get a tree decorated is to go to the Christmas Eve and day after Christmas sales. Many stores don't want to waste any effort on dismantling their display trees. Often times you can get a fully decorated tree for only fifty to seventy-five dollars. Unfortunately, there are a couple of downsides to this method. You must buy the tree as is, which means that you must take the tree home fully assembled and decorated. It also doesn't help those who need a tree before the Christmas season is over. However, if you are merely in the market for an upgrade, this is the perfect solution.

Before making any purchases it can be helpful to make a list or a visualization of what you want to do. I had always wanted a white tree with only silver and blue ornaments. Consider how much effort you want to put forth. For example, live trees must be watered and are very messy. Also you must purchase a new one every year. Buying a fake tree can save on your wallet year after year, and the best part is that they now look more real than ever before. Make sure to consider any children and pets. Not only can glass balls be a health hazard of broken, they can also become costly to replace. Once you have decided how you want to decorate, try not to buy any extras. It is very easy to veer off course and spend too much.

The cheapest way to decorate your tree is by making your ornaments. This is always a favorite activity for children. They can invite friends and have a tree trimming party. You can have them string popcorn and cranberries (make sure to buy plenty extra to be eaten). Hang candy canes, pipe cleaners, mini pompoms, and googly eyes make great reindeer ornaments that can later be eaten. Hang pine cones from branches with pretty ribbon. Make paper chains from construction paper. There are many patterns online for making ornaments from blown eggs, felt, yarn, and sequins, and toilette paper rolls, and empty egg cartons.

Tree trimming dosn't have to be a pain in the wallet. With a little creativity and thriftiness, you can have a designer tree without the designer price tag.