Money Smarts Blog

Whether home is where the haunt is, or you’re decking the halls with stockings and more, there are tons of ways to enjoy a stylishly low-cost holiday season.

For example, have you ever considered decorating with fake presents? They can really make a statement, and no one will know they’re empty. How about upcycling or repurposing? An old sweater can become an adorable stocking or throw pillow. The possibilities are endless with a little creativity.

We caught up with some friends and IHMVCU team members for their easy and on-the-cheap ideas that’ll elevate your holiday vibe on a budget.

Shop around

“Growing up, my mom used to make centerpieces and wreaths all the time. To keep me busy (and so I didn’t drive her crazy), she taught me. As an adult, I’ve honed my crafting skills and am always on the hunt for a bargain. I’ve learned Hobby Lobby can be downright dangerous (have you seen all the cute stuff, in any color scheme you could possibly imagine?). The holiday look you’re going for can often be found for less by shopping around.

Need decorative mesh for a wreath? Check out Dollar Tree — but don’t wait too long because it disappears pretty quickly. You can also score some funky finds at your local thrift store. Just be sure to have a plan so you know what you’re looking for (and don’t end up with the whole store in your cart).

Kristin Simpson, Compliance Specialist

Shop your home first

I can’t help myself — I love all the end-of-year holiday seasons, but my husband doesn’t love when I buy all new decorations. So, we compromise. First things first: I always go through the holiday boxes in storage to check out my decorating arsenal. I maximize my decorations (and our budget) by reusing certain key pieces season after season, and even attempt to DIY some projects (like the wood cutout shown above that I painted with the Hocus Pocus witches).

One of my favorite things to do during the holiday season is have my kids make some sort of craft. In the past, we’ve made salt dough handprints (that serve as a sweet reminder of how small their little hands used to be) that doubled as ornaments for our own tree and gifts for the grandparents. Those same hand and footprints have also made an appearance in our Halloween décor as teeny-tootsie Frankenstein monsters, bats and candy corn. It’s amazing what a little paint and a semi-cooperative kid can create — and it won’t break the bank.

Amy Martens, IHMVCU Member

Shop after-season sales

My #1 tip is to shop items the day after Christmas. I was able to score my artificial pre-lit Christmas tree for a whopping 75% off. Spending just $60 of my $200 budget left a lot of wiggle room for other fabulous finds.

If you have the Target app, you can set it up to receive notifications for deals on items you might be interested in. Plus, their Dollar Spot is always stocked with cute, affordable items like kitchen towels and throw pillows for under $5.

Hobby Lobby tends to run 40-50% off sales on their seasonal items as well, so I keep an eye out for seasonal specials as opposed to purchasing at full price.

Rakuten is one of my favorite cash-back apps that literally pays me to shop at my favorite stores — and I can use that free money to help lower the price of whatever I’m shopping for even more!

Steph Carmichael, Digital Marketing Strategist