Cancel

How To Decorate Your Christmas Tree with Frugality This Holiday Season

Once the Thanksgiving leftovers make it to the fridge and you manage to somehow hide all of your Black Friday shopping from the kids, it may be time to consider this season’s holiday tree. Although every family has their own special tradition for the tree, just about everyone loves to save money on the tree itself as well as decorations. Luckily, there’s many ways you can transform your tree into a beautiful and festive decoration without having to spend a small fortune on it. These ten tips will have you create the tree of your dreams, which is sure to boost the holiday spirit in your home and bring good tidings to all of your guests.
xmas-tree-decor-tips-2015
1. Go Plastic
If you’re planning on buying a holiday tree this season then you might want to stray away from the real trees, if you plan on saving some money. Plastic trees are a great option if you don’t want to have to keep sinking money into a tree year after year. Generally, plastic trees can cost a bit, if you can’t find a sale. But, there’s usually lots of sales to choose from. If you have to buy a tree prior to the holiday then you may want to shop around to find a deal on last season’s trees. Usually, these won’t vary in style much, so you should be able to find something you adore. Although it may be hard to do this in stores, you shouldn’t have a problem finding a sale online. Of course, many stores will offer great deals on plastic trees throughout the season, so shop around but don’t settle if you want to get more for your money. If you have a tree for this year, but you want a replacement then hold out. You can easily find a fantastic deal on a tree at a great price after the holiday season. You may also want to consider buying a pre-lit tree, so you won’t have to spend money on lights too. Plastic trees will last for years, so remember you’re making an investment, so you don’t have to stress about the price tag as much. Plus, you won’t have to worry about the fee to haul the tree away. Not to mention, plastic trees are better for the environment!

2. Shop Later
A lot of families simply prefer the beauty of a real tree during the holiday season and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. However, if you want to save money, then the key is to shop at the right time. It’s very tempting to make your way out to the tree lot as soon as it opens, but this isn’t a great idea if you want your tree to remain beautiful on Christmas Day. Depending on your climate and the type of tree you get, you could end up with a fire hazard before the holiday even arrives. The best thing you can do is try to push your shopping a little later. The selection may not be as good, but you’ll find a tree that will last a little longer. Also, when you do buy your tree, make sure to give it plant food and water to ensure it will keep up as long as possible. If you’re paying to cut your own tree down then drying out shouldn’t be a problem. Go a week or two before the holiday and your tree should look amazing for the big day.

3. DIY Tree
If you want to save even more money on a tree then don’t buy one at all. You can easily make one that suits your personality and your budget. For instance, one fun way to create an amazing tree is to use tomato cages. Simply arrange them into the shape of a classic tree and then wrap pine garland or even colorful garland around the cages. You can then decorate it to suit your family’s interests. If you have a very small amount of space or you’re just looking for a very cheap way to make a tree then create yours out of colored paper and pin it on the wall. You can do this with all sorts of paper too to ensure the tree suits your style. Some students have even made their trees out of Post-It notes. Other students and bookworms enjoy making trees out of books. It’s very easy to do and looks cute too. Of course, a natural and easy idea is to bring in a tree branch and decorate it. It’s simple and beautiful!

4. Paper Ornaments
When it comes to actually decorating the tree, one of the best and cheapest ways to have a little fun is by using paper ornaments. This is a very vague concept because it allows you to reach for the stars. For instance, you can easily print out portraits of the family and hang them on the tree using ribbons. Another crafty idea it to have the kids draw and cut out ornaments to put on the tree. This will really make the kids feel like they helped out too, which is always great. The adults in the family can write small messages about their year, good tidings and anything else that comes to mind. Of course, paper snowflakes are always a classic option that will bring fun to the entire family. You may also consider making paper chains to add to the charm.

5. Spice Up Plain Decor
Chances are you, you can find a big container of simple, colored ornaments at your favorite department store. Even dollar stores should have these items at a great price. Sure, you may want some of the bulbs on the tree to be simplistic, but you may also want to add a bit of pizzazz too. These ornaments are great to add stuff to though. For instance, you can have the kids draw on them using paint markers. Another option is to roll them in glue and then roll them in feathers or glitter. If you like a little sparkle then put rhinestones on your ornaments. Your imagination is the limit here. Also, you may want to try to find clear bulbs as these are great for customization. Simply take off the top of the bulb and slip in glitter, pictures, tinsel and anything else that comes to mind. Before you know it, your tree will look outstanding with very little money spent on it!

6. Natural Decor
Mother Nature provides us with a lot of items that can be transformed into beautiful decorations throughout the year. The holiday season is no exception and can help your family bond as you decorate the tree. One of the more common things to do for natural decor is have the family seek out pine cones. This is a great way to start up a scavenger hunt that will save you a lot while still allowing the kids to have fun. Once you have the pine cones then paint them, add glitter or whatever else comes to mind. You can even turn them into adorable little characters. There’s lots of other holiday things you can do with natural items too. For instance, you can easily string up popcorn and other food items to create natural garland. Twigs are also easy to come by any time of the year. With a little paint, glitter and imagination they can become gorgeous decorations. You can also add a natural touch to purchased ornaments. For instance, add some pine needles to a clear ornament for a look everyone will love.

7. Recycled Ornaments
In the season of giving, you can use your decorating skills to give back to Mother Nature. You may start by going through your recycling to see what you can use. Scratch paper can be shredded to create craft supplies for all of your ornaments. An old light bulb can be transformed into a penguin or reindeer with just a touch of paint. You can also make your own reindeer using the corks from the wine you had at Thanksgiving. Toilet rolls are great for making wrapped candy ornaments as well as other fun items, like a decorative birdhouse. Also, if you have bottle caps lying around the house then you’ll have a blast transforming them into snowmen, Santas and reindeers. Apart from the craft supplies you use on this project, you shouldn’t spend a penny.

8. Toys
Another great option for the holiday tree is to have kids pick out some of their toys. Then, place them on the tree for a great style that will even impress Santa Claus himself. Items like dinosaurs, Barbies and even cars can be festive and fun for the kids. It will also allow them to show their personality during the season. Of course, when it comes to placing toys on the tree, you may want to make sure they’re toys the kids rarely ever want to play with. Old toys, perhaps from their younger years, are probably going to be your best options because, like clockwork, the moment the toy is on the tree, the child will most likely want to play with it again. Also, if the child insist on putting a favorite toy on the tree then you may keep it towards the bottom, so the child can easily gain access.

9. Thrift Store
If you love vintage Christmas trees or ornaments then the thrift store is the place to go for your holiday shopping. Most stores will have an abundance of items during this time of the year, so you should have an easy time finding a wide assortment of items. Of course, you may not get items that are in the best of states, but a lot of thrift store items are perfect to refurbish or to give your own special touch. When it comes to buying Christmas trees from thrift stores, you may want to ask around to see if you can look in the box and possibly even assemble the tree before you buy it. This will help save you money as you won’t waste your time on a tree that doesn’t actually function. Generally, you should be able to see if ornaments are broken, but you might want to give them a quick glance over before you make the final purchase.

10. Clearance
Of course, if you’re looking forward to buying items for your tree or the tree itself, then the best time to save is right after the holidays. As soon as Box Day arrives, stores will be busy putting their items on clearance. This could mean drops as high as 80%. However, when it comes to these sales you have to be fast and make sure you’re at the store before everything disappears. Stores will continue to discount for days after the holiday too, so as long as you find the sales in time, you should get the best possible deal. You may also want to surf the net for great discount items throughout the off season.

Your Christmas tree doesn’t have to cost you a small fortune. With these ten tips you should be able to decorate your tree with ease without having to take away from your Christmas fund. With a few simple techniques to save you big time, you may find that the holiday tree is one of the most frugal aspects of the season.

Comments are closed.