During the holidays it seems like there is no way to save money. That is why TVACCU’s Christmas Club is such a helpful plan for anyone. Christmas Club lets you put money aside all year for the holidays. Christmas Club accounts earn the same dividend as regular shares, but help you budget for holiday expenses.

But if you approach lighting in a smart way you can save money that can go towards repaying those bills.

Use Energy Efficient LED Lights

Perhaps the biggest way to save money is by using more energy efficient lighting. LED lights use a fraction of the energy used by incandescent lights, and in general, they have a longer lifespan. You may pay a little more for them up front, but the longer lifespan and reduced energy requirements mean they will generally pay for themselves within a year or two. LED lights also produce less heat, which is usually better when they are used indoors.

Another benefit of using LED lighting is the ability to daisy chain more strings of lights together, since they generally draw less power than traditional incandescent lights. Be sure to check the manufacturer’s recommendations to determine how many strings you can place on each outlet and in each chain.

Using only LED lights in Christmas light displays, including outdoor displays, pre-lit Christmas trees, and other seasonal lighting will lead to savings. You should also swapped out interior lights with LEDs. Some stores do discounts for those who bring in older strands, too.

Use Timers for Your Lights

One big change to make to save was installing an outdoor outlet with a built-in photo sensor and timer on our outdoor electric outlets. You can schedule lights to go on and off at special ways. i.e. This turns on lights on at dusk, then turn them off after 6 hours. This can even turn lights on or off. The timer can be set for 4, 6, 8, or 12 hours, or set the sensor to automatically turn the lights on at dusk, and off at dawn.

The convenience and cost savings of this device far outweighs the cost, which is usually very reasonable, at less than $10. You can often find these on clearance after the holidays, but if you opt to buy one early in the season, so you can enjoy the convenience and energy savings throughout the season.

Note: Be sure to buy extension cords and outlets designed for outdoor use, as using one designed for indoor use may cause serious problems if it gets wet!

Buy Your Christmas Lights & Supplies at the End of the Season

Usually you save a lot of money if you buy your lights closer to Christmas, or after the holiday. The only downside is trying to time everything, as the best deals are usually limited to product on hand. There can be slim pickings if you wait too long in the season. So buy when you find the right product at a price you can live with – otherwise you might just miss out!