Are you getting set to trim the tree and deck the halls? It seems that Christmas comes earlier and earlier every year, with some stores now putting out their holiday decorations the day after Halloween. Thanksgiving is fast approaching, Black Friday is a week away, and the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree will be decked out in 30,000 lights and lit November 30th, so yes, it's about time to dust off your holiday decorations. If you're in the market for a few new ornaments or even a new artificial Christmas tree, here are some tips to help make your home festive on the cheap.
Shop the Black Friday Sales.
We've been scouring the Black Friday ads and discovered that you can find good deals on an artificial Christmas tree and decorations in the Black Friday sales. The best deals we saw include:
Artificial Christmas Trees:
Target is selling a 6.5-foot Christmas tree pre-lit with clear or multi-colored lights (the ad doesn't specify the exact light count) for $30, a 50 percent savings, while Kohl's has a 7-foot artificial Christmas tree pre-lit with 800 white lights for $79.99. If you want something a bit larger, a 7.5-foot pre-lit Christmas tree with clear lights (no specific number stated) will be available on Black Friday at Macy's for $99.99, a discount of 33 percent.Lights:
Come Black Friday, Walmart will have C7 LED 25-count light sets in clear or multi-colors for $5.98. Lowe's will discount 100-count clear or multi-colored lights to $1.99 from $2.69 per set, and clear icicle lights with 300 per strand will cost $8.98 per set. Finally, Kmart with have 140 clear or multi-colored chasing lights for $8, a 50 percent savings.Yard Inflatables:
If you plan to adorn your yard with giant holiday characters, Walmart has you covered with 8-foot Santa or snowman inflatables for just $20. Don't want to go that big? Lowe's will feature a 3- to 4-foot Santa, snowman, elf, and bear for $19.98 each.
Wreaths:
You can't beat the intoxicating smell of a fresh wreath or garland. For $5 you can get 22-inch fresh Fraser Fir wreaths and 15-foot fresh Fraser Fir garlands at Lowe's. If artificial works for you, try the 26-inch wreaths pre-lit with 50 clear or multi-colored lights for just $9.99 at Ace Hardware, or the 5-foot garlands decked out with 50 clear or multi-colored lights for the same price.
Visit the Dollar Store.
The dollar store can be a goldmine for cheap Christmas and holiday decorations. Although the quality of dollar-store items is sometimes questionable, it's a good place to stock up on certain things. Unlike many household items, holiday decorations are used just once a year for a month or so, which means quality isn't as important as appearance. Christmas tree ornaments, for example, are extremely cheap -- often two for a dollar or a sleeve of five or six for a dollar. These baubles look nice and sometimes last years. You can also find holiday bows, table placemats and runners, cookie and candy tins, and much more for really cheap prices.
Make Your Own.
If you aren't in the mood to shop for Christmas decorations, try making your own. According to History.com, as Christmas trees grew in popularity during the early 20th century, it was common for Americans to make their own ornaments and decorations. Some of those ideas, like stringing popcorn for the tree, still resonate today. If you have children, making Christmas tree ornaments and other holiday decorations can be a wonderful way to spend quality family time while creating a festive home for the holidays.
