Week of 12/5/2007

Christmas Tree Care

Did you know that a typical 7-foot Christmas tree needs a gallon of water every day to keep it fresh? Use warm water mixed with 2 ounces of antibacterial mouthwash the first time you water the tree. The warm water helps open the tree's circulatory system and the mouthwash kills bacteria. After the first watering, use water at room temperature.

To make needles last longer, every third day add one ounce of maple syrup to the water. The syrup's sugar feeds the tree and helps keep the needles green.

If you want to avoid all the fuss with live trees and save money over the long run, you might consider an artificial tree. With the cost of a 7-foot tree upwards of $40, it won't take long for an artificial tree to pay for itself. Great trees are available at our saving partner, Christmas Trees Galore.

Week of 12/12/2007

Save On Christmas Tree Decorations

If you don't have any tree decorations yet, or you have had enough years to acquire a ton of decorations, there are ways you can trim your tree that will literally cost pennies per item.

Buy styrofoam coffee cups. Wrap them with tin foil. Cut a small hole in the bottom of each cup. Cut a length of ribbon about 10" long and tie the ends together with a knot that will not slip through the hole in the bottom of the cup. Thread the ribbon through the hole. You now have a silver bell that can be hung on the tree.

Buy inexpensive gift tags with pretty designs on them to use as ornaments.

String popcorn and cranberries together in long strands and drape on the tree limbs.

Gather up pine cones. Decorate with artificial snow or glue on glitter. Hang on the tree.

Buy a bag of cheap, pre-made bows - the kind that you stick on packages. Put two of them together to form a ball and hang.

Those cheap candy canes for sale at all grocery stores also make cheap ornaments.

If you're a real "crafty" type, check this Web site out for dozens of more inexpensive ideas for ornaments and holiday decorations.

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