The holidays are a wonderful time. It’s a period of fun, memories, and family bonding. At the same time, it can be incredibly tiresome to keep up with all of the decorations – much less afford them. While it’s easy to get caught up in the fun of the holidays and go on a shopping spree, your future self will appreciate the extra money kept if you do your research before buying decorations. Without further ado, let’s dive into everything you need to know to buy holiday decorations on a budget!
Check Discount Stores
First up on the list, you should try checking discount stores like Dollar General for cheap decorations. You don’t have to do all of your shopping at these places, but it undoubtedly helps. Some of the bigger and more lavish things won’t be available at discount stores anyway, but you can certainly get some of the more minor – and smaller – items here. For example, you can get tombstone decorations for Halloween and ornaments or stockings for Christmas. You’ll be surprised at what’s available, so do yourself a favor and double-check these stores first when you begin your shopping.
Go Thrifting
Another option, and a potential alternative to discount stores, is thrifting. It can be hard to get everything at thrift shops, as it depends on how much people are giving to the shops and how much competition you have. Your best bet might be to wait until the holidays are done, then see what people get rid of and take advantage of the cheap prices for next year.
Get Creative With Decorations Serving Double-Duty
On occasion, some of your holiday decorations can be used multiple times, or for more than one holiday. In those cases, make sure you get the most out of those decorations you paid good money for!
Use Decorations That Aren’t Holiday Themed
On top of the general reuse of decorations, also make sure you use any decorations you have that aren’t holiday themed but still apply. For example, there are many Christ-oriented decorations people may have in their household, which could certainly still apply for a holiday like Christmas.
Make It Yourself
I’m sure all of us have tried our hand at DIY projects before, especially those who own their own house (or rental properties). While DIY projects aren’t for everyone, they can certainly be useful – and save you a lot of money. Even if you don’t consider yourself good with your hands, many projects require little or no background knowledge. So, for those of you with a frugal mindset, it’s time to roll up your sleeves and try some ideas out! There are tons of good DIY projects for decorations you can get started with, your imagination is the limit.
Make It A Family Endeavor
Many projects can be done as a family, depending on the age of your children. Besides, it’s a nice bonding experience. Beyond that, an added bonus is that it can help them become skilled with their hands, which translates to other skills they’ll want to have in life.
Set A Budget
I’ve talked about budgeting before, especially for beginners. I’ve also written a complete guide that can help you from start to finish. I understand that it can seem like a daunting task at first, but budgeting isn’t that hard – especially if you keep it simple. The main thing you need to focus on is spending less than you make. Once you have that down, everything else will become much easier. So, if you don’t already have a budget, get to it. Make sure you identify an expense category for miscellaneous items like decorations though!
Naturally, the point of the budget is to stick to it. So make a budget that helps you reach your financial goals, but one that is also realistic for you to stick to. A budget is pointless if there is no way for you to adhere to it! As long as you spend less than you make, you can start on the path towards financial success.
Stick To Your List
It’s wise to come up with a specific list of decorations and ideas you want to try. When you do that, you can better understand and estimate how expensive it will be. On top of that, it ensures you can get exactly what you want in terms of decorations. Of course, this only works if you stick to your itemized list. It’s useful to have, but there is no point if you make a complete detour and fall prey to impulse shopping.
Check After The Holiday Is Over
As I said earlier with thrifting, checking others stores just after the holiday ends can be the best time to get decorations for it. Stock will usually be lower, but stores are more likely to put items on sale or clearance to get rid of them faster. In any case, it doesn’t hurt to double-check so that you have what you need for next year.
Don’t Buy More Than You Can Store
This is one that I think a lot of people fail with. You shouldn’t buy more holiday decorations than you can store. It’s one thing if it’s a decoration that can stay around all year – since that doesn’t need to be stored. However, things like Christmas lights, trees, stockings, or inflatables will all need to be stored for most of the year. In that case, make sure you are spending your money wisely and not buying more than you can store. If you do that, then you’ll have to get rid of it – which is probably how the aforementioned thrift stores get a significant amount of their stock!
Conclusion
Hopefully this gave you some helpful ideas and tips for buying holiday decorations on a budget. If you have any thoughts or tips of your own, feel free to share them with all of us in the comments.
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