By Sarah Kaufman, Manilla.com

Looking to create a magical holiday experience in your home without breaking the bank? Try these easy ways to not only save big on Thanksgiving and holiday decor, but spend time with the little ones, too!

1. Set a budget.

First things first: give yourself a limit. There’s no need to overspend on holiday decor (that’s what gifts are for, right?), so think about how many decorations you need and where you’ll need them. For example, are you having a big holiday party for all of your friends and family or just a small gathering with your nieces and nephews? Are you hosting the big meals this year and looking to liven up your space? Determine how elaborate you want your decor to be and give yourself a number.

2. Take inventory.

There’s no need to reinvent the wheel if you got it right last year. Take a look at the Thanksgiving and holiday decor you already have and determine whether or not it’s still in good shape. If so, put it on a “Do Not Need” list so you don’t have duplicate decorations, which is not only unnecessary decor-wise but also a waste of money.

3. Do it yourself.

Why not turn Thanksgiving and holiday decor into craft time with the kiddos? Invite the little ones over for some holiday baking and fun, easy DIY projects. Start with turkey and hand drawings, where the kids trace their hands and turn them into Thanksgiving turkeys. Hang them on your refrigerator, or use string and clothespins to create your very own turkey-drawing art gallery.

Next up, create your own holiday countdown pyramid. Compile several different types of containers, such as jars or cans, and paint them your favorite holiday colors. Fill them with holiday candy and label them with number stickers. You should have as many numbers as there are days until the holiday you celebrate. Stack them into a pyramid with the highest number at the top. For every day that goes by, your little nieces and nephews get the treats.

Make your own holiday garlands by using paper in the colors of the holiday you celebrate. Cut the paper into strips. Curl one into a loop, and use tape to secure it into the shape of a circle. Each time you curl a piece, link it to the last loop and secure it into the shape of a circle. Eventually, you’ll have a garland of paper in your favorite colors that you can hang around your home.

Create snowflake cutouts with the kids. Take white paper and fold it multiple times. Use scissors to cut out all different shapes. Open the paper back up and you have your very own homemade snowflake. Have the little ones make several and hang them around the house. It’s a great way for you to spend time with your nieces and nephews and save money on decor!

Sarah Kaufman is the editor-in-chief of The Manilla Folder at Manilla.com, the leading, free and secure service that helps consumers simplify and organize their daily lives. Using just one password, Manilla lets you manage your finances, utilities, daily deals, travel and rewards programs, Netflix and magazine subscriptions, OpenTable reservations, and more—all through Manilla.com or the top-rated iOS and Andriod mobile apps. Sarah is also a regular contributor to Yahoo! Finance, Good Housekeeping, Woman’s Day, Redbook and various other sites. For more tips on how to live on a budget, visit Manilla.com.

Published: November 6, 2013