If you're looking for ways to decorate your home in a glorious holiday fashion this season--without breaking the bank and losing your sanity in the process--here are ten terrific ideas to get you started.

1. You don't need to climb ladders and hang millions of lights all over your house to make a happy holiday statement. You can create an enticing "Welcome Home" atmosphere by simply placing a special emphasis on your front door, surrounding it with colorful lights and garlands of greenery.

2. You don't have to use all your decorations every year, especially if you own quite a few. Alternating decorations makes it easier on you, and when you don't see the same decorations year after year, they tend to have more meaning.

3. You don't need to add anything to your Christmas trees water. According to the National Christmas Tree Association, plain tap water is the best source of moisture for your tree. In fact, the NCTA says that some commercial additives and home concoctions can actually be detrimental to a trees moisture retention and increase needle loss. So keep your Christmas tree stand filled with plain water and use the savings to buy a few extra stocking stuffers.

4. You can save money when buying Christmas tree decorations by choosing your tree carefully. A fuller tree uses fewer decorations, because there are fewer holes to fill.

5. You can also save money by buying silk flower boughs and cutting the flowers apart. That way, you get many more decorations for one price. You can use the flowers on your tree, in garlands, and as enhancements to your gift wrapping.

6. You can make your holidays more meaningful, while reducing cost, by considering your personal family heritage when choosing a decorating theme. This includes making homemade decorations, using styles and techniques according to your familys traditions. Combining ancestral cultures and honoring ancestors by creating handmade ornaments will make the season more meaningful and will help your children develop stronger ties with your familys unique heritage.

7. You can further personalize the season by bringing your familys interests into play when selecting a decoration theme. Take a photo of your family involved in a favorite activity, or something used during that activity, and surround it in a bed of greenery. For instance, if you love reading, display special books, bound together with a colorful ribbon. Its a great way to create a totally unique decoration.

8. Since its irritating to have to look through or around large centerpieces while trying to talk to dinner guests, use either low or tall, skinny centerpieces when entertaining, so everyone can see each others faces.

9. Don't forget that you have five senses--and make sure to fill them all with delight at holiday time. Use cheerful warm-colored ribbons to highlight chandeliers and to wrap around vases, play your favorite seasonal music, add cinnamon, cloves, and essential oils to fill the air with holiday smells, share your favorite recipe with friends, and add sumptuous silky fabrics to table cloths, tree skirts, and pillows.

10. And finally, theres no need to completely redecorate for your New Years Eve celebration. When Christmas has past, you can recycle your holiday wreaths and garlands for use in your New Years festivities simply by spray painting them silver or gold.

Christmas doesn't have to be a time of financial and emotional burden. You'll save money--and possibly your sanity--by using these simple suggestions. Happy holidays!

(c) Copyright 2004 Jeanette J. Fisher All rights reserved.