When it comes to Christmas, there are few things that get us as excited as decorating our Christmas tree. Whether you’re a traditionalist and love to stick with the tried-and-true classic holiday colors like red and green, or you’re all about going bold this year with deep hues like burgundy and plum, there’s no denying how much fun it can be to deck out your tree in festive flair.

The only problem? The cost of decorating your Christmas tree can add up quickly. In fact, many people spend upwards of $300 on their decorations every year — and that’s not even including the tree itself! So how do you go about decking out your tree without breaking the bank? Here are some great ideas that won’t leave you broke:

Hang up some fairy lights

Fairy lights don’t have to be expensive and they really add something special to any room in the house! They’re perfect for dressing up your tree or adding sparkle to a mantelpiece or sofa table (or even an entire ceiling!).

Light up your tree with candles

Candles are a great way of adding warmth and atmosphere to any space in the house – especially at Christmas time. They also look lovely when placed on tables or windowsills around the house during the festive period too – just make sure they’re flame-proofed if they’re going anywhere near anything flammable.

Make your own ornaments

If you enjoy crafting or baking, there are lots of ways that you can make ornaments yourself instead of buying them from shops – whether it’s making paper snowflakes or meringues shaped like Santa Claus faces. You could also carve out some wooden stars with your name on them as presents or hang up photos.

Use what nature provides

 Pinecones make great filler items for any type of tree — especially if they are natural and unpainted. They come in all sizes and shapes and can be added to the top of your tree as well as under it where they’re less visible but still fill out the space nicely once they’ve been decorated with lights or other items.

Buy Used Ornaments

This has become our new tradition. Every year we go out and buy one ornament that we love, but it’s usually more than we want to spend. This year, I bought a box of used ornaments at Goodwill for $5. They were all beautiful and some were even new. The best part is that you can buy a whole box of them for not much more than what one would cost in retail stores. If you’re lucky enough to live near an antique store or thrift store, they may have some really nice pieces too. You could also try eBay or Craigslist if you’re looking for something specific (like family heirlooms). Even if you don’t find exactly what you want, this can be a great way to create your own holiday traditions with your family members by finding something meaningful for everyone in your home.

Use pinecones as table centerpieces

Pinecones are one of the most popular natural decorations for holiday celebrations because they’re so versatile and inexpensive. You can use them in wreaths, table centerpieces, garlands and more. Here’s an easy tutorial on how to make pinecone snowflakes using just beads and pinecones.