Brighten Your Holidays with these Economic Decorating Tips

At Ross Mortgage we are all about saving the homeowner money, that is why we compiled a list of helpful holiday tips to keep unnecessary costs down this Yuletide.

It is the most wonderful time of the year, and just like the year before your home is a blank canvas ready to be decorated in a way that expresses your holiday cheer. Decorating is an exciting excuse to reimagine a fresh dwelling space, but if you aren’t careful, the energy strain from all those brightly colored lights, plug in decorations and inflatable lawn characters can do some serious damage to your energy saving agenda. If you are in the spirit of saving, give these tricks a try.

 LED Lights for Interior and Exterior Decorating

There are a few reasons that LED lighting is more than just a bright idea. They not only shine longer and brighter, but they are safer and more cost effective. LED lighting can be cased in flexible plastic because they don’t get nearly as hot, as opposed to brittle glass that can be dangerous if broken. Additional benefits to LEDS are the savings on energy, as LEDS use up 70% less energy according to the U.S. Department of Energy. That is more money in your wallet for presents, decorations or to stash in the cookie jar.

Set Some Time Aside for Saving

Even if you deck your halls and outdoor winter wonderland with the most cost-effective lighting solutions, it won’t make much of a difference if they are constantly left-on to consume energy. Using timers is an excellent way to keep your house sparkling during the most important moments; and save you money by keeping the lights off when lights don’t need to be on. And if the winter chill is a reason to not unplug the outside, there are some handy timers that can remotely activate and deactivate your lights from the warmth of indoors. Timers are also a good way to protect your home if you are traveling for the holidays, as keeping your house lit at certain times during the night is a good way to deter any Wet Bandits lurking in the neighborhood.

Think Green

While lights, snow machines and plugin diorama’s make your home bright and beautiful, there are also some natural ways to spruce up your home that don’t require energy consumption. Christmas is about new life, and there is no better way to express that theme than with fresh green vegetation. Some carefully placed garlands and wreaths are excellent methods to liven up the interior and exterior of your home. And if you are still in the market for that warm holiday glow, scented Christmas can candles give you the desired shine with the added scents of the season. 

Make Every Day Ugly Sweater Day

If Jack Frost is nipping at your nose, toes and everywhere else, it can be tempting to crank the heat during the cold winter months. Luckily ugly sweaters are in season. Instead of spending money on heat to fight the cold, have some blankets, sweaters and a good pair of slippers on hand. Additionally, if your home has an energy-efficient fireplace or even a fireplace insert, it can be good sense to use it at a means to supplement your heater. Just make sure you’re are closing it off when not in use to avoid cold air from leaking in, or to deter a certain jolly man in a red suite from sneaking-in and eating all the cookies.