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To get different (and free!) decorations every year, organize a Christmas decoration swap party.

You're probably already going to host a Christmas party at your house this year anyway. Mention in the invitations to your party that you are going to swap Christmas decorations this year.

Each person is to bring some pre-determined number of decorations. Anywhere from one to five would be appropriate, but you can set your own rules. At the party, set up a large, empty table and instruct everybody to place their decorations on the table when they arrive.

During the party, the decorations are sure to generate a lot of discussion. Everybody has their own style and sense of what they like in decorations, and you're sure to have virtually every opinion represented.

At the end of the party, everybody selects the same number of decorations that they brought. That's an added bonus; not everybody has to bring the same number of decorations. If they brought one, they leave with one. If they brought five, they leave with five. You might want to have a small sack of cookies or other goodies for the people that forgot to bring their decorations. That way, nobody leaves empty handed.

You can organize the selection of the ornaments as much or as little as you want. It can be as simple as the first person who leaves selects their decorations first. Or you can draw numbers or have some game to determine the order of selection.

Make sure people realize this is not a "white elephant" exchange. They are not to bring the decorations that "nobody" wants. Rather, they should bring the ones that they are tired of, that they have too many of, or that they simply want to exchange. Of course, nobody should bring their favorite antique decorations or the sentimental ones their kids made in school.

After a couple such parties, you will discover that you have completely "turned over" your Christmas decorations and you haven't spent a penny doing it!

Learn more about this author, Joe DeShon.
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