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Create A Beautiful Christmas Setting While Saving Money With These Ideas

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Christmas decorating
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Have you been scrolling through Instagram looking with envy at everyone’s gorgeous Christmas settings? While you may think that this kind of decorating is simply out of your budget, it doesn’t have to be. Creating a beautiful Christmas setting doesn’t have to cost you a fortune. With a little creativity and deal hunting, you can create the Christmas setting of your dreams. Here we’ll discuss seven cheap Christmas decorating ideas to utilize this season.

1. Look to Nature

DIY Christmas wreath
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The best part about finding decorations in nature is that it’s free! You can collect birch branches, pine for centerpiece fillers or wreaths, holly branches, and pinecones. All of these items make stunning natural additions to your Christmas setting and cost you nothing. If you live in a coastal area, driftwood makes lovely decor, and oyster shells when polished and painted make elegant ornaments. For cheap Christmas decorating ideas, look at what is available to you first.

2. Swap Decor with a Friend

Decoration swap cheap holiday decorating ideas
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If you’re tired of your Christmas decorations, why not host a decorations swap with your friends? This is one of the best cheap Christmas decorating ideas to implement this year. We often hear about clothing swaps, but a decoration swap could be a fun way to ring in the holidays with friends or family. You could find the perfect decor to elevate the decorations you already have. To make the event extra fun, have everyone bring Christmas cookies and have a cookie exchange too!

3. Use Non-Christmas Items

Non-traditional Christmas items for decorations
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Sometimes Christmas settings are a little too on-the-nose. If your goal is to create elegant and timeless decor, add some non-traditional items. Items like baskets, cozy throws, sleds, ice skates, and milk jugs can often be found at thrift stores or garage sales. Because they aren’t traditional Christmas decorations, you probably won’t see the price markup that is typical with decorations before the holidays.

4. Decorate with Printable Art

Cheap Christmas Decorating Ideas Printable Art
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Have you thought about changing out your artwork for the holidays? This is a great affordable way to create a Christmas setting. If you aren’t artsy, digital downloads are very affordable. You can find themed digital prints on Etsy or Zazzle. Then, with a thrifted frame, you can have a one-of-a-kind piece of holiday art. If you have kids or are artistic, you can create your own holiday art with watercolors.

5. Focus on Cozy Lighting

Sometimes creating the perfect holiday setting isn’t about decorations at all. Just making your lighting warm and cozy can change the whole mood of your space. Simple twinkle lights are a good addition. Adding in winter-scented candles is always a nice touch as well. You can even repurpose candles you already have with some DIY hacks. Take a look at this video for some ideas.

6. Wrap Gifts and Use Them as Decor

If you are already wrapping presents, why not use extra boxes as decorations? Wrapped presents don’t just look beautiful under the tree. Use them to fill baskets and sleighs, or add them to your tablescape. The same is true for any extra ornaments. Add them to a glass cylinder and you have a sophisticated centerpiece.

7. Utilize Sales

The best sales on Christmas decorations are usually after the holiday. However, you still can find incredible deals leading up to Christmas. Stores like Lowes, Target, and Michael’s usually have Christmas clearance sales as the holiday gets closer. Make sure to utilize coupons too for added discounts. There’s no need to pay full price to create beautiful Christmas decor.

Cheap Christmas Decorating Ideas That Look Expensive

Hopefully, with these cheap Christmas decorating ideas, you are inspired to create a beautiful Christmas setting that looks anything but cheap. From DIY hacks to shopping tips, decorating for the holidays doesn’t have to break your budget.

What are your favorite inexpensive holiday decorations? How do you stay on budget during the holidays?

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Having A Hard Time Saving? Use These 7 Strategies to Build Your Emergency Fund

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building an emergency fund and using a savings tracker
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You may know the importance of an emergency fund to help you weather life’s challenges. From job loss to unexpected expenses, an emergency fund is essential when you face financial hardships. However, creating an emergency find is not an easy task. According to Bankrate, 27% of Americans have no emergency savings at all, and 59% are uncomfortable with their level of emergency savings. Additionally, only 39% of Americans have a separate emergency savings account. If you have a hard time saving, you’re not alone, but you can change your behavior to ensure your future financial health. Here are seven ways to build your emergency fund.

1. Automate It

Piggy bank
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If you have a hard time saving, try automating it. When you receive your paycheck, a certain amount goes directly to your savings account. Many people refer to this as paying yourself first. This way, you ensure you are contributing to your savings and you won’t be tempted to spend the money in your checking account. Automating your savings makes it a non-negotiable like paying a bill or your mortgage. The amount you automate doesn’t have to be large. Just starting is what matters most.

2. Hide Your Savings Account

Hide your savings account
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Instead of being tempted to take money out of your savings account, you can hide the account. If you can’t see it on your bank app, chances are you’ll be less likely to move money out of it. Most banking apps allow you to hide your account. For example, on the Bank of America app you can go to your account preferences page, click the account you want to hide, then click visibility. This can reduce your temptation to just transfer money over when you want to spend it.

3. Focus on Needs Not Wants

Only carry cash to build your emergency fund
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One good strategy to help you with savings is to focus solely on your needs. Oftentimes, we wind up overspending if we aren’t only considering what we need to get by. These things include food, housing, transportation, and healthcare. If you can’t resist impulse purchases, leave your cards at home and only use cash. This can help you reduce the amount of money you spend and you’ll be less tempted to spring for something unnecessary.

4. Set a Tangible Goal

Setting a savings goal
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The best way to stay disciplined when building your emergency fund is to set a goal. Put a number to how much you want to save and track your progress. Make sure to create a realistic timeline to reach your goal. For instance, if you want to save up to six months of expenses, you will likely need at least a year to fully fund your emergency savings. Plan for setbacks (they will happen) and be adaptable. This will help you reach your goals.

Celebrate when you reach milestones. For example, you might want to celebrate when you save your first $1,000 or when you hit your halfway point to your long-term goal. You might plan a little dinner out or grab yourself a nice bottle of wine to celebrate your success. Remember not to spend a ton of money celebrating, that negates the purpose altogether.

5. Utilize Budgeting Apps

Building an emergency fund using budgeting apps
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Utilizing budgeting apps like You Need a Budget (YNAB) can help you plan financial decisions and work toward saving goals. Budgeting apps can help you determine how much you can comfortably afford to save each month while still paying down debt and expenses. These tools will also give a snapshot of all of your spending and help you set limits. You can then get alerts when you are close to your spending limits on certain categories.

Check out this list of the best budgeting apps available in 2025. There’s sure to be something that caters to your needs.

6. Set Aside Windfalls

Set aside windfalls
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If you receive a windfall of money no matter how big or small, set that money aside for your emergency fund. Anything from tax refunds, inheritances, bonuses, or investment gains should be added to your savings. If you want to use a portion of it to have fun, you can. But you should plan to put the majority of it aside for savings.

7. Make It Fun

Make building your emergency fund fun
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Creating an emergency fund doesn’t have to be a dreaded task. You can gamify your savings or try a savings challenge with friends or family members. This can create accountability for you as well. There are several challenges to try like no-spend challenges, the 100 envelope challenge, and the 52-week money challenge.

Building an Emergency Fund

If you are working on building your savings, you’ve taken the first step toward securing an emergency fund. Saving money can be hard and it takes discipline. Try not to get discouraged by what experts say about how much you save. The important part is that you are trying to improve your financial situation. With determination, you can and will reach your goals.

Do you have an emergency fund? How do you put money toward savings?

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Planning a Baby Shower? 7 Tips for Hosting on a Budget

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Planning an affordable baby shower
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It seems like baby showers are becoming expensive events. The average baby shower costs anywhere between $200 and $1,000, with some being even more pricey. Influencers are partially to blame for this. They post their perfectly curated showers on social media and many people start comparing their showers. The reality is, you don’t have to hire a party planner or spend thousands of dollars to have a beautiful celebration. If you have been tasked with planning a baby shower for yourself, a family member, or a friend, you may be wondering how to throw a great party on a budget. Here are a few tips to help you pull it off.

1. Choose an Affordable Venue

Baby shower choose an affordable venue
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The best place to host a baby shower, of course, is in someone’s home. However, that isn’t always possible. If you need to search for an affordable baby shower venue, it’s time to get creative. Usually, popular venues like restaurants, hotels, and breweries all have a high price tag. Instead look for unique venues like town-owned buildings, halls, historic homes, parks, or bookstores. Make sure the location allows you to bring in your own food or has a kitchen that you can use. This will save you a considerable amount of money.

2. Make Your Own Favors

Affordable baby shower favors
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Shower favors can be a huge expense, especially if you shop at candy stores or Etsy. Instead, you can make your own favors with a little creativity. Try dipping Oreos in chocolate or baking sugar cookies in baby-themed shapes. If you aren’t skilled at baking, you can repurpose Rice Krispies Treats by putting them on a stick, wrapping them in plastic, and finishing them with a bow. Depending on your theme, you can also send guests home with coffee, tea, or hot chocolate in decorative containers like mason jars. The key is to think outside the box!

3. Get Food from Costco

Food table
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One of the best hacks for throwing a baby shower is to make your own food and buy it at a store like Costco. Then, you can elevate the food with a few simple steps. Costco in particular has several items that will help you save money. They offer charcuterie platters, large salads, mini pancakes, macaroons, pasta salad, and more. You can look like you had the event catered by focusing on the presentation. Salad or yogurt parfaits in individual cups are cute for the occasion. You can also create grazing boards, a charcuterie spread, a butter board, or baskets of pastries for added elegance. There is plenty of inspiration on TikTok and Pinterest. Remember, light bites or a dessert bar are appropriate for a shower, especially if it’s in the afternoon. You don’t have to go all out.

4. DIY It

DIY baby shower decor
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It may be tempting to hire a balloon artist for your event, but it will set you back hundreds of dollars. Instead, DIY projects will save you. Consider ordering a balloon arch kit on Amazon instead. You can usually find them for less than $30. The dollar store has a lot of baby decor from cute plastic strollers to add to centerpieces, balloons, and vases. With a hot glue gun and some patience, you can create stunning decor for less than half the price of a professional.

Diaper cakes are an affordable and adorable option for DIY decor too. Plus, the parent-to-be can reuse the diapers. All you need is diapers, something for support in the middle like a cardboard paper towel roll, and decorations like fake flowers and ribbon. Most sellers on Etsy charge upwards of $100 for diaper cakes, but you can easily put one together for much less.

Lastly, games are an easy thing to DIY. Instead of paying $20 on Amazon for baby trivia, create a template and print it yourself. Small purchases like games tend to add up, so be mindful and DIY as much as possible.

5. Ask for Help

Affordable baby shower ask for help with cake
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When planning a party of any kind, utilize your resources. Is your friend a great baker? Ask them to make the cake! Did someone work as a florist years ago? Great, they can help with the centerpieces! It takes a village to raise a child, but it also takes one to throw a shower. You can also ask everyone to bring something potluck-style to help cut the cost of the celebration.

6. Find Affordable Flowers

Party flowers
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While you don’t have to use fresh flowers at the event, there are some options for doing so affordably. Many people buy their flowers at Trader Joe’s for savings. The typical bouquet from Trader Joe’s can be as little as $4. You also can order flowers from Sam’s Club or Costco in bulk for a reasonable price. Wood flowers are also a great option if you want to decorate more sustainably. Several online sites sell wood flowers and all the supplies you’ll need such as containers, wire, and Styrofoam. Plus, this is something the mom-to-be can have as a keepsake from the special day or they can double as party favors.

7. Utilize Discount Sites

baby shower decor
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If you need party items like table runners or game prizes, don’t go to a big box party store. Instead, use sites like Oriental Trading or Temu to find what you need. You can also check out your local Dollar General to see what they have available. Another great tip is that many people have leftover decorations from their showers that they sell on Facebook Marketplace. Keep an eye out for items in your area. This option is so much more affordable than buying items at a party store.

Throwing an Affordable Baby Shower

gifts for new mom
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Throwing a baby shower can be costly, but it doesn’t have to be. With these tips in your back pocket, you can plan a shower on a budget. If you find that you’re still overwhelmed with the cost, you might consider alternatives to the traditional get-together. Many moms have hosted nesting parties or virtual showers to eliminate the cost of throwing a baby shower altogether. At the end of the day, your friends and family will be excited to celebrate the new baby.

Do you have any special tips for throwing a baby shower on a budget? Let us know your secrets in the comments.

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