DECORATING
Use what nature offers. There is no need to buy fake pinecones for your centerpiece when you have the real thing right outside. Gather pine branches, acorns, and pinecones and you can save yourself a trip to the craft store.
Get crafty. A quick online search will provide many sites dedicated to cute holiday crafts. There are plenty for adults as well as children. Many allow you to use items already on hand. Spending a few evenings making your own holiday crafts can decorate your home in no time and with very little (if any) expense.
Check out dollar stores. These discount stores always have holiday decorations on hand. Why spend a fortune on decorations when you can get them for drastically less. Since they are only in use a few weeks out of the year they should hold up okay.
Wait until the last minute. The closer you get to the holidays the more decorations are marked down. Although not ideal, it is okay to wait until the week before the holidays to decorate. There are other things you can do to get into the holiday spirit. Plus if you're busy studying for exams you probably won't have time to decorate until you're done anyhow.
Let your children provide the decorations. If you have young children they are likely to be bringing home many cute holiday crafts and artwork they made in school. Instead of just hanging them on the frig, display them around the house. Your children will feel a sense of pride and your house will be all decked out.
Do it the old-fashioned way. Stringing popcorn and cranberries was fine way back when and it'll work by today's standards as well. There is no need for fancy glittery decorations and ornaments. Anything homemade will save you money and add a nice touch.