Where to buy cheap Christmas decorations without spending a fortune

I love Christmas, but honestly, have you seen how much some Christmas decorations cost these days? By the time you’ve bought a few baubles, some lights and a wreath for the front door, you’ve spent a small fortune.

The thing is, you really don’t need to spend loads to make your house look lovely for Christmas. There are so many places to pick up cheap decorations, and some of the best bargains aren’t even in the shops.

I’ve been having a look at where you can save a few quid this year, and these are the places I’d be checking before paying full price.

B&M Bargains

You can’t really go wrong with a trip to B&M at Christmas, can you? Although I do find it impossible to go in for one thing and come out with just that one thing!

They’ve got loads of Christmas bits, and I’ve spotted fairy lights for £2.69, little hanging Christmas decorations for £2 and festive gonks for around £3.

It’s worth having a good look around because you can usually find something to suit your colour scheme without spending too much.

Just remember that stock varies between stores, so what you see online might not be available in your local B&M.

Poundland

Poundland is another place I’d have a nosey, especially if you just want a few extra decorations rather than a whole new tree.

It’s worth looking for tinsel, baubles, Christmas window stickers and little decorations for the table.

Obviously, not everything costs £1 anymore, so don’t assume you’re getting the cheapest deal just because it’s Poundland. Sometimes a bigger pack from B&M works out better value.

Charity shops

Don’t forget your local charity shops. You’d be surprised what people donate, especially when they’ve decided to change their Christmas colour scheme.

I’ve seen some lovely Christmas decorations in charity shops over the years, and sometimes you can pick up things for pennies compared with buying them new.

It’s worth looking for wreaths, candle holders, baubles and even artificial Christmas trees. And the nice thing is you’re giving something a second home rather than buying everything brand new.

Facebook

Now, if you’re after a Christmas tree, I’d definitely have a look on Facebook Marketplace first.

People are always selling trees (or giving them for free) they’ve only used for a year or two, and sometimes you can find a whole bundle with decorations included.

Try searching for ‘Christmas tree’, ‘Christmas decorations bundle’ or ‘Christmas baubles job lot’.

I’d also have a look at local Facebook selling groups and freebie groups. You never know what someone might be getting rid of.

Just make sure you check everything before buying, especially if you’re picking up a second-hand tree or electrical decorations. You’ll notice Facebook getting more active around autumn as people get new decorations.

eBay

eBay is another good one, particularly if you’re after a certain colour or style of decoration.

Rather than buying individual baubles, I’d look for bundles or job lots. Sometimes people sell all their decorations together because they’ve changed their theme.

But do watch the postage costs! There’s no point finding a bargain for £4 if it’s going to cost another £7 to get it delivered. It’s always worth comparing the total price with what you’d pay in the shops.

Don’t forget to check what you’ve already got!

Before buying anything, I’d get all your old Christmas decorations out and see what you’ve actually got.

I think we’re all guilty of forgetting what’s been shoved in the loft for the last 11 months!

You might find that all you need is a few new baubles or some ribbon to freshen things up.

And if you fancy changing your colour scheme, you could always sell the decorations you no longer want on Marketplace and put that money towards your new ones.

Another little tip is to buy a roll of ribbon and make your own bows for the tree. They can look really lovely, and you don’t need to spend loads buying ready-made ones.

And remember the sales after Christmas

I know nobody wants to think about next Christmas when this one hasn’t even happened yet, but the sales just after Christmas can be brilliant for decorations.

Shops want to clear their seasonal stock, and that’s when you can sometimes pick up things for a fraction of the original price.

If you’ve got somewhere to store them, it’s worth buying a few bits for next year. Personally, I’d much rather get a bargain in the January sales than pay full price the following November.

At the end of the day, Christmas is expensive enough without spending hundreds of pounds decorating the house.

Have a look around, compare prices and don’t be afraid to buy second-hand. You can make your home look lovely without spending a fortune.

And if you spot a really good bargain in B&M, Poundland or anywhere else, let me know!