Turn Holiday Decorating Into Inexpensive Family Fun

Decorating our homes for the holidays should be something we all look forward to, but when the world is in a recession, it can be difficult to get into the Christmas spirit. At such times, it can be tempting to forgo the decorations this year, because we "just can't afford it."

I would ask that if you are having a difficult time getting into the holiday spirit, especially because of financial problems, that you turn your thinking around and do exactly the opposite. Rather than not decorating this year, decorate more than ever before! But do it wisely, and you'll find that this year's decorations will be better, more fun, and will your family's spirits - and yours!.

The key, of course, is the "do it wisely" part. Let's delve into some ways you can combine wisdom with fun, ok?

With any luck, you already own a pre-lit artificial Christmas tree. These are great because they can be used year after year, and they really do look great. If you don't have one, check at your local discount stores, but try to find the ones that are in the $50 range. Some of these trees can be priced at several hundred dollars, and when you're decorating "wisely", this isn't the wise choice. I usually find deals at places like Walmart, Kmart and Target, but you might also find some online. I dug around for a while online, and found this listing of Christmas trees under $100. If you look hard enough, you'll probably find others.

Now here's where the fun begins. Because these types of trees are pre-lit, you don't have to worry about getting lights, or stringing them through the tree. You can concentrate just on the decorations, and I recommend a tree full of home-made ornaments. You can find a list of ideas at our article, Christmas Tree Ornaments Your Kids Can Make, or you can get creative on your own. The point is to make this a day-long family fun affair.

Once you've gathered together all the materials you need (cardboard, material, etc.), ask each family member what project they'd like to work on. Give each one the items they need, and let them use their imagination to create awesome ornaments. And when I say awesome, that might mean not-so-beautiful. And that's ok! In fact, that in itself is awesome. The point is that you're going to have a tree that is decorated by each of you, with your own two hands. If some (or all) of the ornaments are a little odd-looking, or not what you'd expect to find in a high-end Christmas store, that's perfect. Once your tree is filled with the ornaments your family created themselves, it will take on a special beauty all its own.

It will be impossible to not be in the holiday spirit when the tree is fully decorated. At that point, sit back, relax, and admire your work. I promise that year after year, the memories of that day will help you find the Christmas spirit easily.