Christmas can be an expensive time of year, so any method of saving money during that time is always welcome. Decking the halls can end up blindsiding you at the end of the check-out line, but there are several ways savvy decorators can trim their houses without trimming their wallets. There are several ways to get discount Christmas decorations, each one having its own benefits and drawbacks.
Prepare for Next Year This Year
Most retailers have steep discounts on their Christmas items starting the day after Christmas, so frugal decorators can make the rounds of the local stores in search of bargains for next year. This method of getting discount Christmas decorations is especially good for buying decorating staples such as lights, ornaments, and ribbon. Two downsides of this approach is that it only takes place once a year and also that it is difficult to locate a specific, hot-ticket Christmas decoration since these normally sell out before Christmas Day.
Take a Ride on the Information Superhighway I: Charge it
The Internet is a great place for finding discount Christmas decorations. Numerous discount and wholesale websites exist on the Internet; some of these are untrustworthy, but a little bit of online research can usually help the savvy shopper discover which sites are trustworthy and which ones will steal money and information. Online auction sites, item list pages, and price-comparison places are all good places to look for that special Christmas decoration.
Take a Ride on the Information Superhighway II: Make it
Many crafty do-it-yourselfers post their projects on their blogs or forums, so searching online for DIY Christmas projects might turn up that one amazing Christmas decoration that will be the envy of the neighborhood. There are also online lists that offer simple DIY Christmas ideas that can turn everyday home items into festive vessels of Christmas cheer. For those who do not want to try to make Christmas decorations from scratch, there are online retailers that sell Christmas decoration kits and packs that come with all the supplies and instructions necessary for making Christmas decorations.
Make the Ordinary Extraordinary
Finding ideas on the Internet is fun and productive, but decorators can generate easy DIY ideas themselves. The creative decorator may look at a throw pillow and see instead a festive present created with a single festive ribbon. That ordinary greenery growing in the backyard can become a festive Christmas wreath that fills the home with an evergreen scent. The porch swing or rocking chair could become a festive resting place for Santa Claus or an elf. The only limit to this kind of decorating is the creativity of the decorator.
Make the Old New Again
Just because a Christmas decoration is old and frayed does not mean that parts of it cannot be used for decorating. Aunt Edna’s Christmas wreath may have seen better days, but perhaps a piece of ribbon or a pine cone is still capable of bringing Christmas cheer. Malfunctioning strands of lights still have perfectly good bulbs on them, and ornaments that are only slightly broken can still be nestled in the boughs of the tree.
Discount Christmas decorations are not hard to find, and numerous simple patterns and ideas abound. DIYers who want a tougher challenge can tackle their own Yuletide projects.
Nana Merriweather is a mother of two, and likes holiday collections and making Christmas decorations.