Budget Christmas Decorating For Your Home

Adding Christmas atmosphere to every part of your home need not be expensive. In fact, you could use items already found at home; add some accents and personal style then you have your homemade Christmas décor. Here are some budget friendly Christmas decorating ideas.

Read more:  Christmas Home Decorating On a Budget           

Buying and Decorating The Christmas Tree Alone

When it concerns Christmas traditions, you don't need to decorate the Christmas tree until about twelve days ahead of Christmas, and if it's a real tree, the closer to Christmas the better so there will be less pine needle dropping incidents. The crucial thing is that you take down the tree by twelfth night, which is the Epiphany, 6 January.

Almost like padded bras and fake tans, plastic Christmas trees are also good, but not as good as the true thing. If going traditional, don't be tacky. There is one rule you must not break: trees are always green. Blue, white, red, gold, or silver trees are not good options.

When you purchase a real fir tree, pick the freshest one obtainable. To test this, grasp a twig towards you; a small number of needles, if any, should drop. If you could lightly shake or bounce it, and it leaves a pool of pine needles or leaves, pick another one. If you are not decorating immediately, store the Christmas tree in an inch-deep of water, the most ideal place woud be in a garage out of the wind or sun. You should set up the Christmas tree in a corner. Keep it far from radiators, because this will cause it to dry up and die.

Sweep or clean the area under the tree daily to avoid leaf build-up.

An undecorated tree is a distressing sight. The first embellishment must be the star on top, mainly as you may want to bend the tree to place it. The star is going to inspire you on how the tree is filled. Then place the lights. These will certainly fuse but its needs to be added at this moment so you can guarantee that they are evenly distributed. Wind the lights from top to bottom, in the direction of the plug socket. Candles are fancy but opt for the electrical sort, as real flames on trees are fire hazards. Then set out decorating over the tree your themed embellishments. Do you have a color theme? Is it traditional or outlandish? Minimalist or packed full? Is it child-friendly or just for you? If it has goodies, be careful not to place them next to the lights as these could melt.

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How to Shop For The Right Christmas Tree For Your Home

© Athena Goodlight

Save on Cooking Time During The Christmas Season

Spend time to note the baking and food items that you intend to make for your family's use and as gifts this year.  Use a planning sheet with separate columns for amount, food item, purpose, recipe reference, preparation time, and when this will be given.

Note every food item and the amount you intend to make on this planning sheet. Also list the purpose. Is it for your family's consumption or to be given as gifts? Note where the recipe file is found or the specific page number in a cook­book. These recipe references will really come in handy later on when it's time bake and cook. Note down a time period for the completion of every item. Some treats need to be served freshly cooked; others can be made ahead of schedule and frozen until needed. Fruitcake, for instance, needs to be baked about six to eight weeks ahead because the flavor gets better as it ages. Include on this planning sheet the items for your Christmas dinner or for any entertaining that can be cooked ahead. The "Time Period" column in the planning sheet indicates the day or days at which you have scheduled the item into your calendar. At this point you'll be able to see whether this part of Christmas preparation is viable in relation to your available time. You might need to remove some items if time gets too short.

Review your recipes and make a shopping list of ingredients as you plan your Christmas baking and entertain­ing activities. Buy the ingredients early while supplies are still ample or on sale, perhaps a few items with each shopping trip to avoid too much strain on your December finances. If possible, shop during the times when the stores are less crowded. If only weekends are your available times, shop as soon as the stores open so you have more fresh produce to choose from and you don't have to endure the crowds that come out later in the day. Do an inventory of the contents of your freezer, refrigerator, and pantry just to know what you have available and save money by avoiding duplicate buys. You may want to have enough quick-meal food stuff on hand for at least two meals. Unanticipated guests may come by or you may even find your own family caught short one day when you are held up. Canned ham, canned chicken, canned vegetables, biscuit mix, and a frozen dessert make good emergency supplies.

It would be good, if possible, to set aside the month of November as make-ahead month. As you cook your usual meals during November, make double batches of main dishes and freeze a portion to be used in December when the stress starts building up. Good make-ahead dishes in­clude soups, meatballs, casseroles, cakes, pies, etc. You could try making at least one double batch of something weekly so that for every week in December you can have one instant-preparation meal? Also take a few minutes to plan daily family meals during the month of December. It will be worth your time and effort once you experience the comfort of having something prepared ahead. Next year you could use the same menu, making a few modifications if needed.

Planning Tips for Cooking Christmas Goodies


© Athena Goodlight

Planning Tips for Cooking Christmas Goodies

If your Christmas holiday goals include making your own food, you will have to carefully plan and organize this activity. In your mind, reassess the success of last Christmas's baking. Did you make too much, too little, or just enough? If you baked cookies that didn't get consumed until March, then, don't bake as many this year. On the other hand, did you run short of homemade goodies last year? Did you gain 10 pounds due to oversupply that you were forced to finish the rest of them? 

A good way to measure the success of your homemade Christmas goodies is to ask your family what food items they really enjoyed most during the past Christmases. From the answers you get, you have a guide on planning this year's baking, doing away with the items that were not favorites unless they are something that you truly like. Sometimes we are accustomed to think that it is a necessity to make certain traditional foods, no matter what. Evaluate. Perhaps your family did not ever enjoy these as much as you thought they did. Some people like dark fruitcake and others favor light fruitcake, while some don't like fruitcakes at all. If your family likes a bit of both, then have a friend bake the dark and you bake the light, and do an exchange-cakes activity. You may find that your Christmas baking can be much simpler this year with your family members truly enjoying the food that they like.

Creative Ways to Wrap Food Gifts for Christmas

Recipes to try:

Christmas Cookie Bonanza

Yule Log Cake Recipe

Homemade Christmas Candy Recipes

Traditional Raisin Fruitcake for Christmas



© Athena Goodlight

Gifts that Convey the Spirit of Christmas

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There are gifts that can be bought in stores or online. There are gifts given hand-carried, while others through door to door delivery. But there are gifts that are far more lasting deep within the heart of the receiver. Here are some gift ideas that cannot be bought yet convey the Spirit of Christmas:

Incorporate into your holiday schedule a time for even just one family service activity that will help emphasize the spirit of Christmas. This would involve thinking of others rather than just focusing on getting over all the preparations and concerning yourself about the gifts you will give and receive. The best cure for loneliness is to help someone, especially those in need. Even if you are not lonely and very busy and stressed out with all the holiday rush - compassionate service is still good for your soul. Your acts of kindness and goodwill can bless the lives of others for a long time. Make arrangements to visit a hospital, nursing home, an orphanage, prison, or other institution. Find someone who will be spending Christmas alone and invite him or her to share Christmas dinner with you. Think of someone you know who may be a widow or widower, a housebound or handicapped person, a student who can't go home to his or her family this Christmas, or another family who is financially needy this Christmas. As you look for good deeds to do, try to be sensitive to the feelings of the receiver. There are times when we reach out in a different way, people don't react the way we imaged they would. We may fail in spite of our benevolent efforts and intentions. Some individuals "expect" help, but the reward of giving is of far greater value than the emotional risk it may take. Start being sensitive to observe the good in others, try to put yourself in their shoes and later you'll notice how the spirit of Christmas grows in you.

Making Christmas More Meaningful Without Spending Too Much

© Athena Goodlight

Christmas Traditions For Your Family and Home

• Draw names and for a week become a secret Santa for another immediate family member. Plan special things to do each day without being found out. The days fill with fun, suspense, surprises, and good deeds, helping to create the true spirit of Christmas.
• Feature a different country each week; study its tra­ditions; eat something that is part of that nation's cuisine.
• Write some gifts to Jesus and hang them on the tree -things individuals need to improve on (such as breaking bad habits and forming good ones). Once a week each family member adds a new gift to concen­trate on that coming week.
• Hold a weekly Christmas letter night. Make a list of those to whom you wish to write letters. Create or purchase Christmas stationery, and have each family member add a note to each letter written.

More Ideas for Christmas Traditions:  Ideas for Christmas Eve Family Traditions