It can be difficult to garner holiday spirit in tough economic times. We’re all feeling the pinch, trying to save as much as we can to help us through the uncertain times ahead. It’s easy to spend a lot of money on the holidays, from buying gifts to baking ingredients to holiday decorations, but it’s not necessary. There are many things you can do and try to help cut down on your holiday spending costs without sacrificing any holiday cheer. Even if your budget is too small for these tricks, however, the most important parts of the season are completely free – spending time with our loved ones and taking time to be grateful for the gifts we do have in our lives.
Shop Sales In January
The best trick by far is to buy your holiday decorations in January. Prices are slashed, sometimes by dramatic amounts, as stores try to move the last of the seasonal inventory. Bargains are everywhere, from high-end boutiques to inexpensive discount retailers. Nowadays, even grocery stores stock impressive amounts of holiday decorations; they can be a great source for staples like tinsel, indoor light strings and garlands. With a valued customer card and January price slashing, you can take home a cartful of decorations for a few dollars.
Flea Markets
If your tastes are unique, you might enjoy hunting down one of a kind or otherwise unusual decoration at flea markets or swap meets. Flea markets carry a little bit of everything; I’ve seen several with entire booths devoted to holiday decorations sold year round. Old ornaments, nativity sets, candle holders and holiday dishes can all be found at flea markets – often times you can find very old or collectible decorations at flea markets, at a price that’s much less than the actual value as well.
Discount Stores
Discount stores, like Target, Kmart and Wal*Mart, are also great places to find inexpensive holiday decorations, and not only at the after Christmas sales. During the prime holiday season, these retailers often stock a wide variety of holiday decorations in a range of low prices. Currently, many high-end designers are experimenting with a design-for-all philosophy. This means you can find beautiful pieces created by the same designers who fill the high-end boutiques and trade magazines – but at a price many more of us can actually afford.
Homemade Decorations
If you are crafty, the possibilities for creating your own one-of-a-kind decorations are endless. Even the less crafty among us can tackle simple projects. An abundance of homemade Christmas and holiday craft sites exist online, and many craft stores offer demonstrations or classes in many crafting techniques. These classes will usually be holiday focused in October, November and December. Most craft stores offer a newsletter by email or post that lists all the available learning activities.
If you aren’t the slightest bit crafty, but still enjoy handcrafted decorations, you can find wonderful treasures at craft sales. Many larger towns and cities will have a large craft show in the early fall focusing on holiday decorations and items. Online, try www.etsy .com for unique items from artists and crafters around the world.
Decor Swap
Another option is to gather a few of your friends for a holiday decoration swap. Everyone brings decorations from their own supply, minus personal or heirloom pieces, and you can trade amongst yourselves. This is a great and inexpensive way to keep your holiday decorations fresh and new every year.
Conclusion
Decorating for the holidays does not have to break the bank. With a little planning and common sense, you can make your home a holiday showcase without spending much money at all.
Jessica Ackerman, author and staff designer at WallDecorandHomeAccents.com, specializes in candle sconces and holders and contemporary metal wall sculptures.
Photos credits to Charlie Brown’s Christmas tree and Vector tree.
Tags: budget, color, decorating, design, holiday, home, merry, style, theme, wall art, wall decor
