Five Ways to Save Money on Your Christmas Decorations

If you're like me and just moved into a new house and need new Christmas decor (or if you just like buying new stuff every year to decorate the house) -- here are some ways to SAVE MONEY ...

1.  Keep it simple.   If you're trying to save money, you don't need a massive Christmas tree.  Go with a smaller or artificial tree, and stick with simple ornaments and lights.

2.  Swap out incandescent lights for LEDs.  The Department of Energy estimates that a six-foot Christmas tree lit 12 hours per day for 40 days with old-fashioned lights uses about $10 worth of electricity; while a tree lit with LED lights for the same amount of time uses only 27 CENTS worth of electricity.

3.  Make your own decorations.  You'll save money, yap into your creative side, AND spend some quality time with your friends/family. If you aren't sure where to begin, sign up for a workshop at a craft store.  Michaels hosts free classes where you can make ornaments, wreaths, and other decorations.

4.  Avoid impulse buying.  It's easy to get caught up and buy too much stuff when you're out shopping.  So make a list of exactly what you need and keep the receipt in case you decide to return anything.

5.  Wait until after Christmas.  This won't help you this year, but a lot of stores put holiday items on sale the day after Christmas.  So hit the stores on December 26th and stock up early for NEXT year.