Guest Post: Christmas Decorating on a Budget

More than likely your situation is similar to many of the people around you when it comes to a budget for Christmas decorating. The economy has affected the way we save money and spend it. My family loves to decorate for Christmas, inside and out! But let’s face it, decorations only last so long. We have mended some decorations over and over to avoid spending money to replace it because the decorations have become increasingly expensive.

Choose a theme for your decorating. A theme makes all the items like plush Santas and snowmen or odd trinkets that were once irresistible now resistible because they do not match your decorating theme. There is an instant money saver! Decide whether you will use multicolored, solid or white lights to decorate. Look at what you have the most of right now and stick with it! Popular themes for decorating are country Christmas, toy land Christmas, Victorian Christmas, Santa Christmas, Snowman Christmas or Nativity Christmas. Again look at what you already have and pick a theme around what you already have.

Now that you have a theme, here are a few tips for adding a little pizazz to the decor you already have at little or no cost.

• Go for a walk and pick up evergreen branches and pine cones. The evergreen can be tied together with festive ribbon and hung on doors, draped along staircases or put on mantles. Drizzle a little glue on the pine cones and sprinkle gold or silver glitter on them. Tie several together with Christmas ribbon and hang on doorknobs.
• If your family uses a live Christmas tree keep all of the trimmings. I make a fresh wreath each year. You can decorate to fit your theme using pine cones, berries from the yard, ornaments that you may not use anymore or anything else you can think of. If you do not use a live tree, sometimes you can get free clippings from home improvement stores who sell Christmas trees.
• Many dollar stores have a good collection of inexpensive decorations and baskets when the shipment is first put out.
• If you have a small budget, many stores slash prices on lights, yard decor, garland and ornaments closer to Christmas as they begin to stock for the next season. If you can’t get what you want right away just wait because chances are it will 75%-85% off.
• Instead of buying expensive potpourri use cinnamon sticks to add a festive fragrance to your home.
• Decorate by putting colored balls in a glass bowl(s) to set around the house or on the mantle.

These are just a few ideas that will help you decorate on a budget. Happy Decorating!

Robin Greene enjoys decorating for Christmas with her family every year. Her children have come to love the tradition and Robin has found many ways to slash the price of decorating. When Robin is not spending time with her family and friends, she enjoys sharing her thoughts and ideas with mybabyclothes.com. Find unique baby clothes, tutus and baby headbands at affordable prices!