A Bougie Christmas Tree for A Not So Bougie Budget! Guide to Frugal Christmas Decor.

As most of you know, I am a lover of all things aesthetically pleasing & this year I have been feeling extremely holiday spirited! I took a few of my coins & decided to do some decorating around my apartment for the holiday season, making it a mission of mine to set up & decorate my very first “grown up” Christmas tree in my own home. I’m going to share a few quick pointers that allowed me to decorate my tree to all of my Bougie desires while staying under my $100 budget and only spending SIXTY FIVE DOLLARS. Yep. You read correctly. $65.00. Sooooo, take a look at my gorgeous first Christmas tree & be inspired to start your own Christmas tree traditions in your home!  

Rule #1. The rare occasion that I will say Walmart is your BEST FRIEND for Christmas shopping!

After comparing tree prices between Amazon, Target, Big Lots, & Walmart, it was to my surprise that I found the perfect artificial Christmas tree that came PRE LIT for only $39.00!!! I would say finding a pre lit tree is your best bet and will save you at least 30-40 extra dollars. The trees in Walmart varied from light to dark green, white tree, frosted green trees, non lit and pre lit trees with clear and colored lights. They varied in prices from $25-$200 dollars depending on the size tree. My tree was very simple in the set up department. It took me nearly an hour to set up and shape the tree the way that I wanted but it was so worth it!

Rule #2. Always buy ornaments in bulk and check them before you buy.

I decided my tree theme for this year was going to be Black & Gold (WhoDatNation okkk) and so I definitely needed the perfect black and gold accessories for my tree! Walmart happened to have a large variety pack of gold & another of black ornaments, so I purchased both assortments for a combined total of $20 after tax (they were around $9 per each variety pack). So now I had my tree & my 96 ornaments to decorate with, and I can’t lie I was a bit excited. Too excited, unfortunately, to check my ornaments before buying them. I came home and luckily only found 7 or 8 that were broken from mishandling in the store, but my best advice would be to always inspect your ornaments to ensure you get exactly what you pay for! Also, if you’re interested in having more of a traditional Christmas theme for your tree, TJ maxx, Marshall, and Burlington also have super inexpensive yet intricate and beautiful decor!

Rule 3. Dollar Stores Have Everything.

At this point I am at about $60 in my tree shopping expenses. I came across the dollar store as my new tree decor fav because I had forgotten to purchase ornament hooks and i didn’t want to drive back across town to get them, so I settled for dollar general. I ended up finding golden bows (10 pack for $1), 150 ornament hooks ($1), and golden garland for the tree ($3) all for literally $5.00. I had officially gotten everything needed for my tree essentially (still undecided if I want a star topper or not) and I couldn’t be happier with how beautiful my tree came out to be!

I hope this quick overview helps you in your Christmas tree shopping endeavors...Happy Holidays! ❤️

-Dom