Picking out and decorating a Christmas tree can be one of the best aspects of the holiday season. Kids and adults alike love partaking in this crafty holiday tradition each and every year. The only problem is a lot of the time coming up with money for a holiday tree can be too far out of reach. From picking out the perfect tree to adding decorations and lighting, the holiday tree can be one of the priciest aspects of the season if you’re not careful. There are a good number of ways you can avoid spending a lot of money on your tree this year though. With these ten tips you’ll find you and your family having a fantastic time as you trim the tree without worrying about the money that went into it.
1. Don’t Shop Too Early
In recent years, a lot of people want to set up for Christmas as soon as Thanksgiving is over. Some will even set up for the next holiday on Thanksgiving night. While this is good fun for the family, it’s not so great for the tree you pick. Yes, it’s tempting to head over to a tree display the moment you see them out. With all of the best trees flying off the market it’s hard to just walk away. However, doing this will end up saving you a lot of money. The longer your real tree sits in your home the drier it’s going to get before the holiday even arrives. Thus, in order to make the holiday festive you may end up going to get another tree or settling for a fake one which will only double your tree expenditures for the year. Waiting will ensure a fresher tree, but it’ll also allow you to get a better deal as trees won’t be in as high of demand. You may even get a deal on decorations and lighting closer to the holiday, so hold out for the better prices if you can.
2. Follow Care Instructions
One of the key factors to keeping a tree looking great is following instructions. When you buy your tree you should also get a receipt telling you how to set it up, water it and feed it. Some tree salesmen will even provide you with a special food for your tree. Keeping up with the tree will help preserve it through the holidays. This means you can enjoy the rich green colors without having to step on pine needles all day long. The most important thing is keeping up with the water. A dried out tree isn’t just not pretty to look at, but it can be a huge fire hazard, which is expensive and dangerous. It’s also important to know what kind of tree you’re getting. Ask your salesmen before you take it home. With this knowledge you can look up special techniques to help keep your tree thriving for much longer.
3. Go Eco-Friendly
If you’re feeling the spirit of giving taking over your holiday then you may want to give back to planet Earth and your wallet. One easy way to do this is to buy an artificial holiday tree. There’s a lot of different brands, styles and materials of trees on the market now so choose what suits your family best. With a fake tree you only pay once for something you will use year after year. This may not save you money this year, but as time passes you’ll be grateful you won’t have to go tree shopping each year. You also won’t have to waste a real tree each year which is better for the environment. Another thing you can do is invest in solar or battery operated lights. These lights will help take money away from the power bill while allowing you to enjoy good quality festive lighting on your tree. You can also make decorations out of your recyclables so you won’t have to waste the products. There’s lots of tutorials and ideas online, so take a look and enjoy saving the environment.
4. DIY Decorations
Decorations for the tree can be one of the priciest things you can buy during the holiday season. From themed pieces to bulbs with simple holiday tidings on them, there’s a lot to choose from and it can certainly be hard to say no. This is especially true when your kids see ornaments with their favorite characters. Rather than spend a small fortune on items that go on the tree you can easily get together with the family and make your own. One great way to start out with your decorations is to use playdough. You can use cookie cutters or shape the pieces by hand. When you’re finished cut a hole in the top of the ornament for a ribbon and then put them in the oven. Once they’ve cooled you can add string and place them on the tree. Another fun idea is to take cheap bulbs and customize them. You can easily make a snowman by dipping the kids’ hands in white paint and having them hold a bulb. You can also buy clear bulbs and fill them with pictures and tinsel for a cute memorial ornament. Paper snowflakes, strung up popcorn and other simple crafts also make a great look for your tree and won’t cost you much at all! If you can’t think of any ideas make sure to look online, there’ll be more than you can imagine to choose from.
5. Barter
When it comes to shopping for a holiday tree bartering can be one of the best ways to cut a pretty amazing deal. Sure, this might not work in your average department store and you probably can’t do this for a fake tree, but if you’re going to a tree lot them put on your best skills and try your hand. A lot of stores will be happy for the change of pace, so you may end up walking off the lot with a great tree at an even better price. As soon as the holiday gets closer you may want to step up your negotiation skills to land a good tree at a price you won’t have to think twice about spending. You may even find this adds a new twist of fun to your holiday that you haven’t had since shopping for a tree with your parents or grandparents.
6. Thrift Stores
When it comes to finding holiday décor for a price that isn’t worth crying over, you should always try your local thrift stores. You might think it’ll be hard to find Christmas items during the season, but this isn’t always the case. In fact, some people decide to go through their holiday items during the season which means they also tend to donate items they’re not going to use then too. So, if you’re looking for an artificial tree or decorations then the thrift store might be your best bet. Generally, you’ll be able to find modern and vintage items here, so keep an eye out because you never know when you’re going to find something worth quite a bit of money. If you do decide to shop for an item like tree lights you might want to try them out before you buy them as spending money on an item that doesn’t work won’t do your budget any favors.
7. Stock Up After Christmas
Although it’s not exactly helpful for this Christmas you can easily stock up on the best products as soon as Christmas is over. On Boxing Day you may want to bundle up in your most comfortable coat and brave the weather and the crowds to get the Christmas tree décor you’ve had your eye on all season. Typically, when the holiday is over everything in the Christmas aisle goes on sale for at least 50% off. This means you snag that beautiful artificial tree you fell in love with that was just beyond your price range a few days prior. It’ll also give you a wide choice of ornaments, garland and lighting for the tree. You may even find the tree topper you’ve been looking to buy for some time. Once you’ve stocked up on the savings leave your purchases in their original packaging and wait for next year. When it’s time to decorate the tree again it will be like a mini Christmas for everyone.
8. Improvise
When it comes to small apartments or dorm rooms, a Christmas tree might not be the wisest choice. It can also be bad if you’re on too tight of a budget. Rather than spending money on a tree that won’t work in your space or isn’t cost efficient you can easily improvise. There’s a lot of ways to do this too, so find what works for your space and go with it. One great way to start is adding a few decorative items to a small house plant. Another great idea is to take to the walls. You can use photos, post it notes, garland, Christmas cards, tissue paper or construction paper to form the shape of a tree. You can even add lights to this to add more of the holiday feel. If you don’t have wall space then you might consider building a small tree. One way to do this is to open up books and stack them on top of one another. Start with larger books on the bottom and work your way up. You can also build a tree using recyclables. Painted green egg crates as well as cereal boxes are some of the more common items to use. There’s lots of other ideas online though so find something to works just for you!
9. Use What You Have
It’s really tempting to go out and buy more decorations every single year. Our interests change as do fashions which makes it a little difficult to stick with the same decorations year after year. However, if you’re on a tight budget this is one of the best things to do. Try to pick decorations that don’t suit a certain theme as you’ll end up getting tired of them before you get your money’s worth. Rather, stick with simple designs that can be altered each year. This will ensure you won’t grow as weary of your Christmas tree goods which will save a lot of money. Most of the time we just want to add something new to the tree, so if you’re feeling sick of your holiday décor then try to add one special new piece a year, rather than keeping all of the decorations you already have in storage.
10. Cut Your Own Tree
A lot of families love to have a real tree and wouldn’t settle for anything less. This is okay if you know just how to save the most money on your holiday experience. Cutting down your own tree is actually a great way to save money, if you know where to shop. A lot of lots will charge a flat fee for your family to go out and pick a tree that will suit the home. With you doing all the work you end up spending less, while also getting to pick a tree that is going to be worth the money. If you choose to use a tree from your own property this could save even more; however, make sure you have the correct permits to do so before you cut down anything. Often you won’t need anything, but some counties to require the proper paperwork.
Shopping for a Christmas tree and decorations should be a lot of fun so don’t let budgets ruin your holiday cheer. With these ten trips you’ll be well on your way to singing carols and enjoying the tradition of hanging up your favorite ornaments and admiring the result of your hard work!
