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Make the Season Bright by Cutting the Cost of Christmas Decorations

By Nadine Cheung Posted 10:00AM 11/20/12 Holiday Shopping, Savings Experiment |
Savings Experiment: Big Box Holiday Challenge

Do you expect to buy new holiday decorations this year?

Did you find our video on seasonal decorations helpful?

Christmas decorations should evoke holiday cheer, but with the high cost of trees, ornaments, lights and more, their price tags may just bring out holiday tears. Here's how to lower the cost of decorations, while making the season bright.

Our experts headed to three big box retailers with a holiday shopping list that included: a tree, lights, ornaments, tinsel/garland, a tree-top star, stockings, stocking hangers and a wreath. The cost of all these items came to a total of $182.99 at Target and $172.86 at Kmart, while Walmart offered the biggest savings. The entire shopping list cost just $150.74 there.

If you're looking to cash in on even more savings, rethink your wreath. Although Walmart was the least expensive place to buy all of the decorations, its wreath was priced at $40.07. Meanwhile, Target's cost $25, and a pre-decorated version at Kmart was on sale for only $18. That's less than half of Walmart's wreath!

Christmas wreathSo, if you want the best bargain on Christmas decorations, head to Walmart for the majority of your shopping list, and buy your wreath at Kmart. You'll get the most bang for your buck, while celebrating the most wonderful time of the year in style.
Tagged: cheap christmas decorations, cheap ornaments, cheap wreaths, christmas decorations, holiday decorations, holidays, savings experiment, SavingsExperiment, xmas decorations

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arenadood

If I buy any new decorations it is usually a few days after Christmas. You can get some major discounts.

December 19 2012 at 11:33 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
ED

Wal Mart....the best Bang for your Junk.

December 19 2012 at 10:42 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
upnawaytrack

One savings may be life and limb as well as time in hanging exterior lights. Check out holidaylightsliders.com

December 13 2012 at 5:57 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
mesager42

Both A.C. Moore and Michael's craft stores offer bigger discounts on holiday decorations than Walmart, Kmart, and Target, because they have to move out that merchandise faster in order to get the stuff in for the next holiday season of Valentine's Day, Easter, and Spring. They also have weekly coupons.

Joanne Fabrics and Crafts offers discounts on entire purchases to seniors and mlitary members - so grab grandma or your miltary family member and go do some shopping for decorations. Hand them over the money, and the two of you do the decorating.

Some of the craft and fabric stores also offer discounts to members of AARP. Grab any family member over 50 who has an AARP membership and go shopping.

Other cheaper places for holiday decorations are grocery stores, drug stores, dollar stores, and thrift stores. They sometimes offer better deals, because they want to bring in the customers to move out their seasonal merchandise faster.

One year I saw that Walmart was still charging normal seasonal prices for the same items that were 50 percent off at lower prices at Michael's craft stores.

Last place to ever consider shopping for holiday decorations is the big box stores with the exception of home improvement stores like Lowes and Home Depot. They try to clear out merchandise as quickly as possible at reduced prices too.

December 13 2012 at 1:13 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Gail Fallaw

Make your own

December 06 2012 at 5:30 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Narnia☆Nitro

"...head to Walmart for the majority of your shopping list, and buy your wreath at Kmart." This is the conclusion of these "experts" that were sent out? I would expect a bit more profundity from a site called "Daily Finance".

December 02 2012 at 9:27 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
regina

wait, wait, wait .... 75% off in no time. load up for NEXT year.

November 29 2012 at 9:57 AM Report abuse +2 rate up rate down Reply
Bobbi

I'm really disappointed in this article. This is about getting the most cheap junk for your dollar. We've been purchasing higher end stuff lately, and paying less over the long run. Christmas doesn't end up in the trash at the end of the year.

November 23 2012 at 9:56 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Bobbi's comment
ED

Lights are so cheap, you can use them for a year or two, then trash them and get new ones.

December 19 2012 at 10:43 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
plygrl66

Big Lots had a lot of Christmas decorations and very reasonable

November 22 2012 at 8:43 PM Report abuse +3 rate up rate down Reply
hustlersii

How much did this ad cost?

November 22 2012 at 7:31 PM Report abuse -1 rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to hustlersii's comment
ED

This was another free promo for Wal Junk.

December 19 2012 at 10:44 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply

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