Do you buy new Christmas decorations every year? I haven't bought new in a very long time. Most of my ornaments are from when the kids were little. A few are the ones they made, but most are ones I made over the years. I use almost no bought tree ornaments, but garlands, wreaths and so on, have to be bought every few years because they don't last well. The last garlands I bought are beaded, bought on sale. They were a dollar each, but rather short, so I bought several of them. I'm hoping they'll last longer.

I get excited when I see decorations in the stores and always want to buy some new ones, but I don't have room to put any more than I have!

Sometimes I would buy something new if I liked it but I would force myself to get rid of stuff if I brought in something new. I decided to split the old decorations between the two boys. Its stuff they made in school.

I normally buy one new or a box of new ornaments every year. Most of mine are older then my 20 and 15 year old kids. They came from my or my husband grand parents so they means some thing to us. I will some day spilt some of the ornaments between my kids when they both have homes of there own.

I have had the same main decor items (lights, garland, beads, basic bulbs) since I bought the tree 6 years ago. I usually pick up one or two new ornaments during the year as gifts or for sentimental reasons. Last year we got 3 personalized ones as gifts for our wedding and we picked up a cute lobster ornament on our honeymoon in Maine. This year I bought 3 pet picture frame ornaments for our new puppies and kitty to have their own. When we have kids I think I will need a second tree! I love to pick up cute home holiday decor items at the local thrift stores. for 50 cents or $1 I find awesome items for around the house. The retail prices are ridiculous these days. I only buy wrapping paper after the holidays when it is 75% off or more.

Hi everyone,

I did buy a new stocking holder at Target last weekend. The weighted one that you set on the mantle to hang stockings.  I don't like to put holes in my oak mantel and I have a new granddaughter that needed a place for her stocking to hang.  My DH has an uncle that sends every member of the family stained glass ornaments every year since 1991 with their name and the year on it so we have enough of those to cover our tree and they are so pretty with the lights shining through them. 

 

Other than LED lights, we haven't bought new Christmas ornaments in quite a few years. The first Christmas that DH and I were together we painted a few small ceramic ornaments for the tree - angels, little santas and kittens, puppies and teddy bears in santa hats with candy canes. We loved them so much that after Christmas we bought a whole bunch of them, on sale of course. We still have quite a few unpainted ones so we try to paint a new one every Christmas. I also keep every ornament that anyone has made for us so we don't have much room for traditional glass balls. Our garland is beaded (gold, green and red beads) with a thick gold cord running through it. It was purchased years ago and it still looks great. Our tree doesn't look like the fancy displays in department stores but I don't care because the memories I have from all the homemade ornaments make it very special.

mikasha:

Our tree doesn't look like the fancy displays in department stores but I don't care because the memories I have from all the homemade ornaments make it very special

I wouldn't want mine to look like the fancy displays in the stores! I'd much rather have a more personal, family-history tree than one that some designer dreamed up that everyone is supposed to aim for. But... that's pretty much my philosophy in life.

I forgot to mention that I have picked up a few things at thrift stores. I love Santa Claus figures, so I've been adding to my collection at the rate of one each year for a long time. Some of my most treasured ones came from a thrift store.

 

Pat:

Do you buy new Christmas decorations every year? I

 I can get about two years use out of the garland I hang outside. Dollar store garland makes for a cheap way of decorating outdoors and doesn't cost electricity. I also only get about two years out of the velvet like bows I hang with the garland but these also are bought cheap. 

The indoor garland lasts a couple of years. 

I am still working on replacing all my decorations so I am buying a few things each year to build it up. I stick to frugality and I have a theme and color scheme in mind to keep me from going wild with all the beautiful things out there. I love Christmas and have to keep myself in check.

My theme is red and gold. I like glass balls, gingerbread items, country looking things, wood decorations velvet and the nativity and Christmas village. If it doesn't fit in with all this, I'll admire but pass on it no matter how great the price may be.

 

 

 

I have to admit.  I am a Christmas junkie in need of a 12-step program for my Christmas decoration habit!   We have lots of inexpensive ornaments, but I try to buy one or two nice ones (handmade or collectibles) every year. 

This year, I'm actually being paid to have fun with decorations.  In the first place, there's my usual sale of ormaments that I make.  Then I've been contracted to run a Christmas camp - which means lots of fun with Christmas craft with kids.  Last but not least, my DD's old school has asked to spearhead the school's particpation in a Christmas tree decorating competition for a local mall!    Oooooh!   Nothing makes me happier than being paid to play with glitter, glue and paint!    Today, I had to go to the stores to pick up some craft materials .... I bought what I was supposed to, but it was SOOOO hard not to go crazy buying ornaments for my own home.

Edited to add:

I stick to the traditional Christmas colours (red, green, silver or gold) It's much easier to gradually build a collection over the years when you stick to the basic colours.   I love to gorgeous trees decorated in the colour-du-jour but I wouldn't do that in my own home - too expensive!

I am also a Christmas junkie in need of an intervention for my "habit".  LOL!  I have a LOT of decorations.  I have enough ornaments to decorate several full size trees.  This year I am doing a new color theme, black, gold and some bronze.  I bought some new black ornaments LAST year. And I bought a few more gold ones to go with what I already had.  But everything was bought when they were all maked down after Christmas. I also made a few things to go with my new color theme for this year. 

We buy each of our DS's a new ornament evert year and they will have those to take those with them when they move out.  They will have individual trees in their rooms this year since they have too many ornaments for just one tree.  I also buy a new angel ornament for my white & pink angel tree that I put in my bedroom. But I bought it when it was 1/2 price at Hobby Lobby.  OH and I almost forgot, I bought some black & gold birds to put on my tree this year.  Finally found those at Michael's the other day.

Shellia