holiday season—and don’t let a tight holiday decorating budget turn you into a Scrooge. It can be easy and affordable to decorate a lot, without spending a lot. Heeding these hints from the experts may help you save money and have someholiday fun: * Decorate your own wreath: Craft wreaths come in many varieties, from realistic looking PVC to willow. Buy a holiday floral bush and cut the headsoff (they’re all individually wired) and fasten them to the wreath. Add some baby’s breath as snow and you have a beautiful wreath. * Drape a garland: To easily bring a festive look to a room, drape a garland over doors and windows. Makea centerpiece from eandles. Combine several pillar eandles of various heights on a ceramic or other nonflammable dish; surround with inexpensive pine garland stems to hide the dish. Add someglitter or snow. * A mini tree—one to three feet tall—ean add a holiday touch to your desktop or table. Decorate Holidays can be more delightful with budget-stretching decorating ideas. predecorated tree. After the holidays, just place in a plastic bag for storage—noneed to undecorate. If you're tired of stringing Christmaslights on your full-size tree, buy a prelit artificial tree. * Shop smart. You can find many holiday decorations at prices lower than wholesale at popular closeout retailers such as Big Lots, Pie ’N’ Save and Mac Frugal’s. Among the largest seasonal retailers in the country, these stores have a hugeselection of fall and holiday decorating items, decorative pieces you won't find elsewhere. Due to their buying power and sources, these decorating. Imagine buying gift bags for just 69 cents, 6-foot artifi- your own or buy an inexpensive, closeout stores can get custom- made merchandise in large quantities at rock bottom pricing from nut dishes and figurines to ceramic houses and crafts. The savings are passed on to shoppers. * Think theme. Studies show that the average person wraps 35 gifts for Christmas. With unique matching lines of tins, bags and gift bags, including the whimsical “Barnyard Christmas” selection, it’s easy and affordable to coordinate your holiday wrapping and cial trees for only $14.99, and holi- day ecards at “day after Christmas” prices! Decorate from room to room using different themes. Highlight your favorite sport or your passion for teddy bears. Whenprices are this low, there’s no limit to where your holiday imagination can take you. To learn more about closeout shopping, or to find the location of a Big Lots store near you,visit the Web site at www.biglots.com. Big Lots, Ine. (which ineludes Big Lots, Pie ‘N’ Save, and Mace Fru- gal’s) operates more than 1,300 retail stores in 46 states.
