Cheap Christmas Decorations

Posted on 25. Nov, 2009 by Forest in Saving Money & Finances

Yes it’s here! I get a little grouchy around the holiday’s. It’s not because I hate Christmas… It’s because I hate all the corporations working so hard to make us spend more cash than we should on their items! Christmas is the time of giving, but your not supposed to be giving your hard earned cash to the corporations!

As I write it’s 24 November. A few people have decorated already but for many the decorating starts in the coming few weeks. For many it’s an important part of Christmas but it can burn a hole in the pocket! So no doubt many of you are looking for cheap Christmas decorations.

So hopefully some of these tips can help you save a bit of money:

Reuse as much of last years decorations as you can. That dusty box in the cellar is full of goodies that can be reused and resurrected to their formal glory! Old ball balls can be repainted and ratty tinsel can be cut into smaller pieces.
Buy new decorations from the thrift store. Many people give their decorations away each year to thrift stores. So many of the decorations you find there will be pretty much brand new and much cheaper. Re-use is much better than consuming new.
Make paper chains. Use interesting scraps of colored paper, colored plastic from bags and even old magazines to make really cool paper chains. All you need are some scissors, the paper and paper glue / stapler. Just cut into 1inch wide strips and glue into a loop, thread the next strip through and keep going until you have your desired length.
Make your own ornaments. You can use papier mache to make ballballs and paint them or create cardboard painted designs to hang on the true. Use your imagination!
Less is more. A few larger cool items will stop you from having to litter the entire house with pointless decorations, just make it look nice, not tacky.
This is a weird one but if any of your family or friends will be out of town, ask them if you can borrow their decorations! It may work, whatever saves a little cash!

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6 Responses to “Cheap Christmas Decorations”

Walter

26. Nov, 2009

I have been reusing my decorations for the past few years and I say it’s a big savings, although I spend a little on the Christmas light bulbs the went out, but anyway they’re cheap. I find your last recommendation funny but I will give it a try.

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Forest

26. Nov, 2009

Hey Walter, thanks for your comment.

Sadly the lights going out is inevitable, especially as they are so cheaply made! I probably won’t be decorating this year myself as I am in Egypt… Still not completely sure what to do for xmas itself!

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Deputyheadmistress

29. Nov, 2009

I did not know that there are people who do not save their decorations to use year after year. I am still using some of my great-grandparent’s decorations, and we think part of the fun of Christmas comes from pulling out the boxes and putting out the decorations from years passed. When I do buy ‘new’ decorations, I get them at the thrift shop.

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Forest

29. Nov, 2009

Hey DepHM, I am going to assume you are older than me (please don’t slap me ) but my generation are so ridiculous it kills me! Over consumption has hit critical point and simple acts like saving decorations seems to have become a chore for many.

Also many people who do save decorations just don’t look after them. A little careful packaging can make them last for years longer…. The amount of Christmas decorations that have been produced over the years I can’t believe that’s it’s still a viable industry. If everyone was reusing then it would be a tiny industry by now!

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Deputyheadmistress

29. Nov, 2009

I am probably much older than you.=) My oldest daughter is 26 and our 24 year old daughter (and her husband, he hates to be left out) made us grandparents this fall.

You make a very good point about how many decorations have been produced over the years, so of course if everybody was reusing there wouldn’t be so many decorations. I have been married 27 years and I have far too many decorations, but, as I said, they all have come either from family or from thrift shops and yard sales.

As our ‘children’ are older now, we are starting a new tradition- this Christmas when we get out the decorations the children are to each choose a couple decorations each that they want- those still living at home can write their names on them. Next year we will do the same thing, until all but a couple of my decorations have been passed on.

This way I intend to reduce the number of decorations I have to fiddle with as I grow older, while giving the Progeny a head start on their own decorations, but they will be decorations with meaning, since they will be ones from their childhoods (and sometimes mine, too, and sometimes their grandparents and great-grandparents’).

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Forest

29. Nov, 2009

That is awesome and in the spirit of how things should be at Christmas.

I am 28 .

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