This post is being shared as part of a Bloggin’ Mamas social good campaign. No monetary compensation was received for posting this helpful information below.  

All holidays are pretty amazing in their own right. But none of them have quite the same level of decorating than Christmas. As a kid, seeing those loads of boxes come down out of the attic that were filled with Christmas décor somehow made it official – it was Christmas time. And it seemed like every year the collections got bigger and bigger.

As adults, we are the ones pulling the décor out of the attic and creating those cherished memories with our children, our family, and our friends. But those beautiful Christmas collections can become costly if you’re just buying them from the big box retailer each year.

So, whether you’re just beginning to start your collection or you’re just looking to add and upgrade to what you already have – I have a challenge for you! Can you decorate for the holiday season on a budget of $50 or less? You can if you shop at your local Goodwill stores!

The holiday season is stressful enough without having to think about the hundreds of dollars you might spend when you hit up your local chain retailer for those holiday decorations. Use the Goodwill locater to find the store (or stores, if you’re lucky) that are nearest you.

And not only can you find thrifty bargains on some beautiful and unique items at Goodwill, but you are also helping Goodwill’s mission to put people in your local community to work!

Tip: Be sure and shop the ENTIRE store. I found several Christmas items that were not on the seasonal isle. Had I just browsed that one isle, I would have missed several great items!

Some items that I have found (and purchased) for holiday decorating that you can be on the lookout for:

• Seasonal Serving dishes ($1.00-$3.00)
• Seasonal Cups and plates ($1.00-$3.00)
• Tree ornaments ($1.00-$3.00)
• Holiday Candles ($1.00-$3.00)
• Stockings ($1.00-$3.00)
• Porcelain Santas, Angels and other unique items ($1.00-$10.00)
• Garland and other misc. holiday items ($0.50-$3.00)
• Photos of Santa (that would look beautiful on the mantle) ($1.00-$3.00)
• Christmas Tree shaped wall hangings ($1.00-$3.00)
• Clear glass vases that can be used to put holiday trimmings for display or candles with holiday type trimmings ($1.00-$3.00)
• Baskets that can be used to put things like holly, pinecones, and other holiday type sentiments ($1.00-$3.00)
• Different types of ribbons and material that can be used to accent other pieces ($1.00-$3.00)

Total maximum cost: $43.00

A few cans of paint can be used to spruce up anything that might feel dull or not as vibrant as you’d like or to make everything match a theme.

Collectively, over 313,000 people in the United States and Canada connected with jobs or earned employment using Goodwill organizations’ career services programs this past year. And more than that – tens of millions access the Goodwill education, training, and online learning services that Goodwill offers to strengthen their job training skills. As a non-profit, they are dedicated to helping create jobs and providing on-the-job training for many who would find employment opportunities scarce without Goodwill’s help.

Have you used Goodwill as your go-to store for decorating for any season? If so, share your finds with us on social media using the hashtag #ShopGoodwill!