Decorating for the holidays can empty your wallet. And after spending all that money on Black Friday and Cyber Monday, you may feel like you're just hanging dollar bills on the tree.
But you don't have to.
Buy a few new ornaments
Jill Cowman, who is also known as "Jingle Jill," runs a Christmas shop, SBK Gifts. She says people worry that sets of blown glass ornaments are pricey but says they remain a great value even today and can give your tree that extra "pop."
"You can find them usually for between $15 and $45," she said.
Cowman says you don't have to overspend on decorations, such as on $200 Santas for outside your front door. She suggests getting creative and converting a dining room hutch into a full Christmas display for just a few bucks.
She puts some small figurines and trees on the shelves and says, "All that's in the back of the hutch is wrapping paper."
The history of Black Friday as record-breaking spending continues
U.S. online spending hit a record $9.8 billion on Black Friday. Cyber Monday is expected to top the year with an estimated $12 billion in spending.
Consider DIY decor
Michelle Madhok is an author and shopping expert. She says there are many ways to make your home feel festive without emptying your wallet.
"We can get carried away in the holiday season," she said.
She says DIY decorations can look as good as any expensive store-bought decorations.
"There's lots of things in nature," she said. "You can grab pine cones and greenery and make your own."
Swap ornaments, decorations
Madhok recommends considering swapping decor with friends and family to get something new to you. That way, both of you get new decorations, but you don't spend a dime.
If you go to the store, Madhok says to be smart and use a comparison-shopping tool.
"Make the computer gods do the work for you," she said,
If you can wait, she says you'll find the best deals in January that you can then use next year. But Madhok cautions not to go overboard.
"It's not a deal if you didn't need it," she said.
Quality time and memories more important than decor
Paying for services and hiring someone to hang your outdoor lights can seem like a pricey extravagance, but Madhok says to remember your time has value as well.
"It depends on if it's a fun thing for you to do or not," she says.
At SBK Gifts, "Jingle Jill" says one or two inexpensive ornaments may be all you need to buy each year to freshen up your decor.
"Glass ornaments are all about memories," she said.
That's because spending time with family is priceless.
"It's the time spent together," Madhok said," that really everybody loves about the holidays, not so much the expensive stuff."
