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Decorating for the Holidays... On the Cheap

Monday, December 14, 2015 - 00:00

I know you have heard the saying: "do the best with what you have." When it comes to holiday decorations you can actually do the best with what you have right in, or near, your own home. Here are 3 easy steps to creating a beautiful home for the holiday season with a lot of fun and little to no cost.

Step 1. Gather your materials 

This is my favorite part! Sometimes just walking out your door can give you all the holiday décor must haves. So grab a pair of good hiking shoes, find a nice wooded area and start your treasure hunt. Here are some things to look out for:

  • Pine cones
  • Burch branches
  • Pine bows
  • Dog wood branches
  • Acorns
  • Pebbles

Inside your home or garage can be another place to find all kinds of goodies that will bring a little holiday magic to your home inside and out. Even if you don’t have them on hand, you can find them at a local grocery, thrift, hardware, or dollar store for really cheap!

  • Mason jars
  • Wine bottles
  • Glue
  • Glitter
  • Kosher/Epsom salt
  • Wine glasses
  • Wood scraps
  • Paints/spray paints
  • Sharpie Markers
  • Plain white mugs or plates
  • Burlap
  • Colored paper
  • Yarn scraps
  • buttons
  • Old ribbon/wrapping paper
  • Old Christmas cards
  • Old Christmas tree bulbs
  • Christmas lights
  • Frames
  • Vases
  • And more glitter

Step 2. Find your inspiration

Just having these items may give you some ideas, but if you are looking for more guidance hop on your computer and start your search!  You can use sites like Pinterest or simply google “DIY holiday decorations.” You will find more ideas that you could possibly do in your lifetime.  The hard part will be narrowing it down.  If you don’t have the internet handy, take a closer look at the holiday catalogs that will start filling your mailbox they often have holiday décor ideas that are easy to replicate. The second picture in this post is what I did to decorate my front porch using many materials I found in or near my home.

Step 3. Have fun

Whether you have a DIY décor party with friends, have a family project day, or just want to enjoy some quiet art therapy, enjoy making your home holiday ready...and save money doing it yourself! 

Author Ashley Hagelin is a Certified Financial Counselor with LSS Financial Counseling and she specializes in Foreclosure Prevention and Reverse Mortgage Counseling.