Last week, I received an email from a national bath shop with the news that Halloween-themed goods are now available. As much as I would like love hand soap dispensed from a ghost or a haunted house fragrance dispenser I deleted the message.
It’s not just Halloween. I don’t want to bite and start down that road of decorating for Thanksgiving, Valentine’s Day, Easter, Memorial Day, Fourth of July or any other holiday (with one exception).
Any longing to channel Martha Stewart is quickly vanquished for several reasons.
Cost
Decorations can range from a seasonal outdoor banner to full china sets depending on your personal stopping point. Retailers love to create demand for products we don’t need. Multiply the price of these holiday nick knacks by the number of holidays and it can add up to a pretty penny.
Christmas-themed china is something that catches my eye every year. We have a general set of china that is used only a handful of times a year at the most. It’s not worth the price (even at 50% off afterward) to have yet another set of barely used dishes.
Storage
Which brings me to where would I store the holiday china anyway? My china cabinet only has room for one set, and that spot is taken.
I have five tubs of holiday decor to store for Christmas (the exception) already which are filled with linens, ornaments, candles and more. It seems silly to move or rent storage space just so I can have more things that are used once a year.
Time
As much as I enjoy Christmas decorations the time it takes to get them out, sorted, put up and then reverse the process is quite a chore. If we are traveling at the holidays, I don’t even bother!
Can you imagine doing this every 4-6 weeks for each seasonal event?
Simplicity
One of my personal goals is try to live a simpler life. For me, this means cutting down on stuff as well as unnecessary obligations. I’m not ready to pare my belongings down to 100 items like some but am mindful when buying something new.
Some year, I’ll give up the Christmas decorating, and pass my treasure ornaments down the family tree. Until then, I’ll limit myself to this one annual exercise.
Do you decorate your home for more than one holiday? Have you changed your habits over time?
photo credit: kevindooley
Red says
I’m with you, Kay! It is SUCH A CHORE to decorate for every single holiday. I realized I was going nowhere fast with all of the holiday decorations I had accumulated (and I’m 23!), so I donated all of my Halloween and Valentine’s Day decorations. I now have one wreath that I hang on the door through the fall/Thanksgiving. I have a small tub of Christmas tree ornaments, an artificial tree, and a giant Christmas wreath that my mother and I made together. I never want to become a person who needs a storage shed for holiday decorations.
Kay Lynn Akers says
Red, I’m impressed that you donated those decorations. The reason I have so many tubs is from years of accumulating them. Instead of bulky keepsakes from vacation we buy one ornament that will trigger memories.
When my kids are ready, they each will get many that are sentimental favorites of theirs.
Heather Sokol says
This one really hit home for me. I have a garage full of holiday decorations – close to 10 tubs for Christmas, a few for Halloween, 1 for Valentine’s Day, 2 for Thanksgiving and I’m sure there’s more!
I’ve been talking to the hubby about this since I read Kay Lynn’s post. He’s been after me to eliminate some for awhile. I’m not ready to chuck them all but I did decide to cut it down to Christmas, 1 for Halloween (it’s my favorite!) and 1 for *everything* else.
Kay Lynn Akers says
Heather, I’m humbled that this article made such an impact. I know kids love decorations but I used to just put up their school artwork for most holidays.
CorrinRenee says
My mom decorated for all the holidays, so it’s a tradition I’d like to keep alive. I’ve bought all my decorations for 75%+ off after each holiday and my bins are easy to stack and store. It brings some excitement and enjoyment into our house, which I think is priceless.
Kay Lynn Akers says
CorrinRenee, I bought most of my Christmas decorations at 75% off sales as well. The exception is those vacation ornaments.
I’m glad you enjoy decorating; for me it’s one more “have to”.
Heather Sokol says
I buy all of mine at 75% off too, but our bins are not easily stored and it creates chaos & stress in our house each time I want to switch them. If I were peaceful and happy about it, still, I’d keep it up.
My Christmas decor, however, brings me much joy and I won’t be paring down the many, many totes we have in the garage! But, I do think long and hard about each (discount) purchase.
Kay Lynn Akers says
I’m no longer tempted by after holiday sales for seasonal items. Now, shoe sales are another story! I have to think long and hard before being another pair of shoes in the house.
Khaleef @ KNS Financial says
It can be extremely expensive to decorate for each holiday. And that’s not even considering the people who REALLY get into it! I always wonder where people store all of those decorations when they are out of season – I guess that’s why they park on the street in a blizzard, even with a 2 car garage – the decorations have taken over!
Kay Lynn Akers says
Khaleef, it is amazing how many people can’t park one car in their 2 or 3 car garage due to stuff. I really try to be careful about collecting stuff we can’t or don’t use often.
SimplyForties says
I sold all my holiday decorations when I hit the road. Strangely, it’s not Christmas I miss, it’s Halloween. That’s one holiday that’s big fun to decorate for!
Kay Lynn Akers says
You’re not alone from my observations. My company usually has a costume contest and I’ve learned to buy my costume early before the good ones are gone and I’m stuck with wearing a sheet (ghost) again!
Jersey Mom says
I agree with not spending too much on decorating for holidays. However, we still do for Halloween and Xmas because the children really enjoy it; desides, we don’t spend much money on decorating. For Halloween, we buy those $1 spider webs to put on the trees outside & go to a farm to buy a few pumpkins to carve. For Xmas, we buy a tree and decorate it with lights, candy canes and some ornaments we use over and over year after year. In all, we have 1 plastic bin in the basement with all of our decorating stuff.
Kay Lynn Akers says
That’s great that you have all your decorations in one tub. I agree that kids enjoy the decoration and think it’s great how you engage them with the pumpkin farm.
Condo Blues says
I like to decorate during the holidays but I also try to buy things that will last and are memorable, for example many of our Christmas tree ornaments were purchased as vacation souvenirs or made/given as gifts. I have limited storage too so I try to go with things I can use for more than one season/holiday. For example I mix harvest stuff in with my Halloween that I can keep around until Christmas. My Christmas decor has snowmen sprinkled in that I leave up until spring.
Kay Lynn Akers says
I like the idea of using the decorations for more than one holiday or for a longer season.