With Thanksgiving over and the winter holiday season fully
underway, your next big task is probably to decorate your home to reflect the
festivity of the season. If you prefer to go all-out with decking the halls in
December, then check out the following tips to avoid breaking the bank on holiday
decorations this winter.

Bulk Purchases

Costco, Sam’s Club, and other major warehouse sellers offer
a plethora of decorations for any holiday throughout the year, but this is
especially prevalent during the winter season. If you approach holiday
decorating with a “go big or go home” mentality, then buying your decorations
in bulk is the best way to save money. Even if you don’t need 1,000+ Christmas
lights, consider going with a friend or neighbor and buying your decorations in
bulk while splitting the costs at checkout.

Coupon Clipping

Even with holiday decorations in high demand during the
months of November and December, retailers are still generous with their coupon
offerings. You can generally find coupons for everything from tinsel to ornaments
and toys. Your local newspaper ads or SumoCoupon
are great resources for getting the coupons you need for your holiday shopping.
 

Craigslist

Craigslist, amongst other sites where used items are sold,
is a great place to start looking for affordable holiday decorations. Around
this time of year, you can find everything from tree stands to nutcrackers for
sale, usually at much lower prices than what you’d pay in a store. Even if
prices for the item you’re looking for are lower online, the added benefit of
Craigslist is that you’re buying from someone in your area and won’t have to
pay for shipping, either.

Buy a Fake Tree

Artificial trees are cheaper and easier to maintain, plain
and simple. All that’s required is a small, upfront investment and you won’t
have to buy another tree for several years thereafter. Artificial trees are
also less messy (pine needles, anyone?) and packing them up after the holidays
is easier than hauling a real tree out to the sidewalk and leaving it for someone
to come up. The debate rages on about the environmental pros and cons of
artificial trees. Some argue that the pollution side effects of manufacturing and
the non-recyclable materials used in fake trees make the real trees a better
option. If saving money is your top priority, however, then investing in a fake
tree to use for several years to come is obviously a more frugal option than
spending the same amount on a real tree that will only survive a few weeks.

For Next Year: Buy
After the Holidays

Holiday decorations are always on clearance immediately
after the festivities have concluded. Stores need to make room for new
inventory and stockpiling holiday décor that won’t be in demand for another
eleven months is something storeowners want to avoid at all costs. So, if you
don’t mind storing your newly bought decorations in your attic or basement for
the next several months, buying these items right after the holidays are over is
an excellent way to save money. 

Kelly Kehoe is a staff writer for Money Street Smart and works with SumoCoupon.com, a site full coupons and coupon codes.