Tausi Insider

Photo : Bartosz Zakrzewski ( Shutterstock ) ‘Tis the season to dig out the decorations and trim your tree, and any other parts of your home that you think could use some holiday cheer. But if rising energy costs have you hesitant to plug in multiple strings of lights, an inflatable snowman, or your blow mold nativity scene, you may be rethinking your design strategy. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways you can deck your halls for the holidays without running up your electric bill. Here’s what to know. Christmas decorations that don’t require electricity Of course, going out and buying all new holiday decorations isn’t the most cost-effective solution, but if you’ve decorated in previous years, you should at least a few things to work with already. Here are some options: Wooden cutouts If you’ve inherited vintage outdoor Christmas decorations from your parents or a family member, it might include wooden cutouts of various holiday and winter characters—Santa, reindeer, snowmen, ...

Photo : TravnikovStudio ( Shutterstock ) Want to do something with the kids for the holidays, but can’t afford breakfast with Santa or the Polar Express train ride? Or perhaps you’re looking for something festive to do with your friends or on a date, but tickets to the Nutcracker aren’t in the budget. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Here are a few examples of free or cheap events that take place in communities across the country throughout the holiday season. Free or cheap holiday events Check the event listings in your community and surrounding areas for activities like these: City/town tree-lighting ceremonies Though the lighting of the Rockefeller Center tree and National Christmas Tree get all the attention, there are smaller-scale tree-lighting ceremonies in cities, towns, and neighborhoods across the country. Your local government website should have the details on how to attend, but don’t wait to check: Many are happening this week. Holiday open houses Cultural insti...

Photo : Sergey Mikheev ( Shutterstock ) Looking to save money on holiday decorations this year? Along with reusing (or repurposing) pieces you have from previous years, you can freshen up your festive decor with a little help from nature. Here’s what to know. How to decorate for the holidays using pieces from nature First, a few ground rules. If you’re fortunate enough to own a house with your own yard, then by all means, help yourself to what’s there. City-dwellers and others who don’t have access to their own nature shouldn’t trespass on private property, or take things from parks. They can, however, ask friends and family with trees and yards if they could pop over and help tidy up their property (i.e. forage for holiday decorations). Anyway, here are a few ideas: Evergreen branches The most obvious—and most versatile—of the natural decorations, branches from evergreen trees can be used for everything from garland, to tablescapes, to wreaths, to greenery around a nativity scene...

Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas tried to warn us. Home Alone did too. Although winter isn’t peak season for burglaries , it offers would-be breakers and enterers some unique opportunities to scheme. After all, there’s no better time than the frigid months for people to leave their homes for a vacation somewhere warm—and even better if you’ve left a bunch of pricey new gifts under the tree or lying around the house. There are things you can do to better protect your home in the colder season, even when you’re away for an extended period . Th e f irst, of course, is to install a home security system, including cameras ( and install them well ). B ut here are some less obvious tips. No holiday displays in the window What good is a Christmas tree if it’s not visible from the street, broadcasting your holiday cheer and interior decorating skills to passersby? A lot of good, actually, because that ostentatious window tree is a beacon to potential thieves. It says, “There ...

Photo : Tatyana Soares ( Shutterstock ) Real Christmas trees don’t work for everyone. You might have destructive pets, toddlers, a small apartment, or a small budget. You might have allergies to trees or the mold spores they can bring in with them. You might just like to do things differently. Whatever the reason, there are lots of ways to craft your own tree and make it unique to you. Here are some ways to make a Christmas tree out of almost anything. Make a floating ornament tree To make a suspended tree out of ornaments and fishing line, you’ll need those and some removable hooks . If you have textured ceilings or a space that won’t accommodate temporary, stick-on hooks, you can use ceiling hooks and anchors for this project. ( If you go that route, you’ll also need a drill.) Keep in mind that the stick-on hooks are designed to hold about half a pound and the screw-in type will hold up to 20, so if you plan to use heavier ornaments, the screw-in variety will work better. The...

Photo : imging ( Shutterstock ) Whether multicolored or classic white, a few strands of holiday lights can make pretty much anything look festive, both indoors and outdoors. And while the strings of small bulbs have a longstanding reputation of being annoying and difficult to work with—which can sometimes lead to accidents—they also carry other safety risks. Here’s how to enjoy Christmas lights without anyone or anything getting hurt. Christmas light safety tips Christmas lights may look harmless—with their cheerful colors and twinkling modes—but don’t forget that you’re still dealing with glass and electricity, and accidents can happen. Here are a few ways to avoid them: Carefully inspect strands from previous years If you’re reusing holiday lights from previous years—which you should if you have them—be gentle when you take them out of storage. Before putting them up, take the time to do a quick check of each strand, making sure there aren’t any broken bulbs, frayed (or bare) wi...