I shopped at three different Goodwill stores this week and they all have tons of fun holiday/seasonal items that you can use for decorating at a fraction of what they would have cost if bought new. And because these types of items are usually stored for most of the year, they typically don’t have a lot of wear and tear on them. I found all my items at Goodwill but you should be able to find great deals at any thrift store you visit. I like looking at an item that I’m considering buying to see what other purpose it could be used for, besides what it was created for. A lot of these decorative plates and baskets make nice touches for your home but they are also great (and inexpensive) ways to carry food to a party, or cute little teacher gifts (if you do that-I use to make holiday treats for all my son’s teachers when he was little). The most expensive item cost $1.29 but most were under 99 cents. You don’t have to spend a ton of money to add a festive feeling to your house.
I found tons of decorative plates like this priced anywhere from 59 to 99 cents. I paid 79 cents for this pumpkin plate which could be used for holding treats of any kind or simply displayed on a table for easy decor….you could also use it to hold a candle or as an October hostess gift. Sliced pumpkin bread wrapped on this plate would be a fun way to share with a neighbor, friend or co-worker.
This pumpkin candle holder was 79 cents. It will add a spooky touch with a candle in it (I use flameless candles when we have a lot of people over and then I don’t have to worry about any accidents). If you’re having a Halloween party and serving food, this would make a great silverware holder on your buffet table.
I like finding items in colors that represent a season or holiday and using them for multiple purposes. This simple orange pail (79 cents) is a perfect example of that. This would be perfect for holding candy or nuts in the shell. You could also use it as plant holder or fill it up with some pretty fall flowers. Pinecones would look nice in it too or use it as a trick-or-treat goody bag.
This wire ghost basket is cute as is. I’m actually going to fill it up with small cars for our grandson and give it to him instead of candy for Halloween. It’s also the perfect size for holding napkins for a holiday party or fill it up with disposable hand towels for your bathroom (59 cents).
Whenever I find charger plates on sale or at thrift stores, I pick them up. I actually found 6 of these at Goodwill for $1.29. They had the original price stickers on them (on the front so you know they’ve never been used). The original price was $15 each, marked for sale for $4.99 and again, I paid $1.29. Chargers are an easy way to add color to a dinner table or make your plates look different. I also use them for displaying candles or putting them under plants to catch any water drips. This color is perfect for autumn.
This “harvest” plate was another item that was brand new and still had the original price sticker on it (priced at $13 but I paid 99 cents). I’ll just set this on our coffee table in November for a holiday touch.
I always have a basket or bowl of fruit or vegetables (that don’t require being refrigerated) on our kitchen counter. When I saw this basket (for 99 cents), I thought it the perfect size for my October/November fruit/vegetable holder.
I just thought these Halloween bears were cute. They are small, easy to store when not being used and an easy way to add a little Halloween fun to any room in the house (79 cents each).
The Frankenstein candy bucket was 59 cents and the smaller monster basket, 29 cents. Because the small monster basket has material on it, I put it in the freezer overnight to kill any germs it might have. If you’re using the plastic bucket for candy, you can wipe it down with any germ-killing cleaner. If the kids need a trick-or-treat candy holder, why spend more money than you need to? Last year I bought a bunch of the plastic buckets and put them in the yard for decoration. I put some of them next to our yard lights and I put flameless candles in others for a quick and cheap way to add spookiness outside. *I put a couple of rocks in them too so the wind wouldn’t blow them away.
This haunted house candle holder was 99 cents and it too had the original sticker still on it, priced at $14.99. Just another easy and inexpensive way to decorate for the holiday.
All of these items are small and easy to store when you’re not using them. They make easy and quick ways to add a festive feeling to your home or as little ways to share treats with friends and family….just an example of how, no matter what you’re budget or the size of your house…you can get in the “spirit” of things.