If you think about getting the house dressed up for Santa’s arrival, there’s a lot that goes into it. The tree, bunting, tinsel, stockings, festive tablecloths, Christmassy linens, crackers – the list goes on! You can make your home feel like a Christmas wonderland without breaking the bank – or looking tacky or cheap. Here’s Fundo’s wonderful guide to Christmas decorating ideas that won’t stretch your budget – which means more money spent on food and prezzies!
Use Colours, Not Prints
What screams “Christmas” to you – is it the colours of forest green, bright red, and white? Maybe a bit of gold or silver trim? Simply using the colours gives off a definite Christmas theme, and you can achieve this with ribbons. Ribbon threads can be picked up in bulk in a variety of sizes and are much cheaper than buying expensive tinsel or printed decorations. Tying a red ribbon around a candle gives off an instant Christmas theme. Gathering some native plants and tying them together with red and gold ribbons into a wreath costs a fraction of buying a real one – or even an artificial one! Likewise with napkins and tablecloths – layering single colours instead of single Santa prints can save you lots.
BONUS TIP: Wrapping metallic string in Christmas colours around cone-shaped objects like old sewing machine spools or triangular icy pole sticks can also make instant trees as decorations, and the kids love it!
Get Tree Creative
The cost of buying a six foot real pine tree is enormous, especially since you only use them once per year for a month at the outset. A plastic tree is way more economical, as you can use it every year. However, you can get even more creative with your tree design. Using some green tinsel, you can pattern it into a tree and stick it on your wall. Add a few lights and ribbons and you have an instant tree! Other ideas are to use native trees, just the top of a pine, or miniature trees. You can “build” your tree out of received Christmas cards and watch it grow over the festive season. A smaller tree means fewer decorations and more money saved.
DIY and Upcycling
Did you know that using dried orange slices can make for a great Christmas decoration? So do paper snowflakes, stars, and baubles. You can upcycle old pieces of wood or even old present boxes and use them as decorations using some homemade stencils and spray paint. It can save a bundle on garlands and pre-printed decor. You can even make ornaments out of baking soda and cornstarch!
Visit Op Shops
Though they may be light on hand-me-down decorations come December, op shops are definitely your friend when it comes to Christmas decorations on the cheap. Throughout the year, hit up your op shop and take something home to keep on standby for when Christmas comes. You’ll have everything ready to go and have saved a tonne!
Find a Dupe
A lot of Christmas decorations or bunting advertised online are usually dropshipped from elsewhere and sold at a ridiculous markup. In most cases (we mean, upwards of 90%) you can find identical decorations at a fraction of the price at AliExpress, Amazon, or Temu. If you order during November amid their 11.11 or Black Friday sales, you could have your entire Christmas decoration haul signed, sealed, and delivered before Santa’s out of bed! Just remember that shipping can be slow – don’t leave things too late or you’ll have to use them next Christmas.
Other Frugal Christmas Decorating Ideas
- Buy some red or green jars (or save them throughout the year) and use them as decorations. Add a few baubles, tealights, or fairy lights and it’s instant Christmas!
- Fill bowls or vases with pine cones or other native greenery. If you can stumble across dried berry branches, all the better!
- Use cotton wool to make snow-themed wreaths or decorations.
- Buy star shaped lamp shades or create paper lanterns to place around your lights and fixtures.
- Tying coloured ribbons around lamps, door handles, and any other exposed household fixtures imparts an instant Christmas feel.
- Growing poinsettia year round means you can have a few pot plants of this gorgeous green and red flower as centrepieces and decorations – and all it costs is a bit of water, sunlight and attention!
Getting a bit creative this Christmas can save you a lot of money – that’s better spent on presents!
Need Funds this Holiday Season? Fundo it!
The unexpected can and will happen during Christmas and new years such as urgent car repairs, medical bills, or unavoidable travel, and coming up with the money can put a real dent in your Christmas finances. If you want to keep Christmas on track without blowing your bank account, Fundo it! Fundo offers small cash loans ranging from $500 to $5,000 in a flash. You could have the funds in your account in under 60 seconds! (If you approve your loan contract and have PayID enabled.) Don’t let Santa pass you by this Christmas – just Fundo it!
FAQs
What can I use the funds for? Does it need to be for an emergency?
You can use our cash loan to cover unexpected expenses or emergencies, such as car repairs, medical bills, or urgent travel.
Can I apply, even if I have bad credit?
Yes you can! Many Australians with less-than-perfect credit have found help through us in securing small loans. Please keep in mind that we review applications individually, so we can’t promise acceptance for every customer.
How do I know if I’m eligible?
To get started, you’ll need to have a general understanding of your income and expenses. Also, make sure you’re over 18, an Australian resident, and earning at least $1,000 every fortnight (Centrelink is accepted). You may need to verify this information if necessary. If that sounds like you, feel free to apply!
What are the repayment terms for these kinds of loans?
The minimum repayment period for small cash loans ranging from $500 to $2,000 is 5 weeks, and the maximum is 20 weeks. For loans ranging from $2,000 to $5,000, the minimum repayment period is 9 weeks, while the maximum is 26 weeks. Feel free to pick from weekly, fortnightly, or monthly repayment options!
