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4 November 2015

Do This, Not That - Holiday Edition

Do This, Not That - Holiday Edition

Tis’ the season! Although families relish in annual holiday festivities, it’s time to become a smarter consumer. Why spend more when you can spend less? We’ve compiled a list challenging customary holiday traditions with their more economically and environmentally friendly alternatives.



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Fall in love with LED

You probably spend less than 30 seconds a year determining what type of light bulbs to purchase for holiday decorating. While many opt to purchase the least expensive lights on the shelf, make an effort to only use LED Christmas lights. Why? They have extremely low wattage – about 80-90% less than their incandescent counterparts. This means more energy savings for you! LED lights also have a much longer shelf life. The argument against LED blubs due to their high price points is dated. Within the last few years, LEDs have become insanely more affordable and have even begun to phase out older incandescent bulbs due to their popularity. Chances are most stores will have a wide selection of LED bulbs in all shapes and sizes! Frontier Utilities customers may even be eligible to receive discounted bulbs. See if you qualify, here.


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Get creative with travel 

In the digital age, it's easier than ever to find alternatives to traditional travel arrangements. Taking advantage of lodging alternatives like Airbnb and HomeAway - especially when traveling with a group of 4 or more - saves hundreds in comparison to traditional hotel rooms. Also - if you’re flexible - avoid purchasing flights on Friday's and Sunday's, the most expensive days to fly. Round trip flights arriving and departing Tuesday's have the lowest fares. Check out our blog on traveling on a budget for more tips.


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Stop buying decorations 

We’re not suggesting you give up your love for holiday décor, but we are suggesting fine tuning your DIY skills. Holiday decorations can be expensive and impersonal. Luckily, sites like Pinterest offer thousands of decorating ideas for inspiration. Don’t be intimidated by creating your own décor, most projects can be completed under 5 steps. We’ve even compiled a list of fun holiday decorating projects under $20. Read more, here.




 

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Buy your tree...at the right time

If you’re like the 80% of Americans who opt for artificial trees, you probably set your sites on purchasing your tree around Black Friday. While deals can seem tempting, according to USA Today, the best time to save big bucks on purchasing artificial Christmas trees is actually the first two weeks of December. Historically, retailers like Home Depot and Sears have offered up to 56% in savings. Control your impulsive Black Friday shopping habits and wait an extra week to purchase your tree!

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