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DECEMBER 2017 HOME 3 (StatePoint) — Whether you're hosting or just trying to get into the holiday spirit, preparing your home doesn't have to be daunting or expensive. Check out these five tips for getting your home in tip-top holiday shape on any budg- et from the experts at Dollar General: Deck the dining table Get your dining table holiday-ready by purchasing staple décor pieces that can be rotated throughout the year. Fill glass vases with seasonal items such as ornaments, holly, faux snow or pine cones. Add extra light and warmth to the table with a flame- less LED pillar candle. Place tea lights in small vases filled with cranberries, holly and water for an inexpensive and festive way to decorate the table. Decorate the tree If you're looking for a fun way to get kids involved in holiday decorating, purchase plain ornaments for them to design with paint or pens. Clear ornaments can be filled with glitter or tinsel to create a unique look for your tree. Decorated ornaments also make great and thoughtful gifts. Embellish your tree by adding red or burlap ribbon from the top of each side and adding a topper. Then, consider coordinat- ing the color scheme of your tree with gifts, using those that were wrapped early as decor throughout your house. Deck the front door Make a DIY wreath by gluing bows or pin- ning ornaments to a foam wreath. Design- ing your own door décor doesn't have to be expensive, and it will allow you to add your own personal touch to your home's entry- way. Complete the look with festive outdoor lighting. Affordable options are available at such variety stores as Dollar General. Design a festive mantel Decorate your fireplace mantel for the holidays without spending much time or money. Wrap a garland in mini string lights and hang leftover ornaments to continue the theme from your tree. Create handmade bows to place at each end of the mantel using your choice of ribbon. If you don't have a mantel, you can create a fireplace- like space with a cluster of string lights or LED candles in a nook of your home. Then, remember to hang the stockings! Create a cleaning game plan The holidays can be fun, festive and messy. Create a day-by-day cleaning game plan, focusing on one area of your house at a time. This will save you stress and allow you more time to get organized. Be sure you're stocked up on all your holiday prep cleaning supplies, including sponges, microfiber cloths and wet mop refills. For holiday savings, you can sign up for Dollar General digital coupons; it offers a $1 off coupon when you sign up. Create an account by visiting www. dollargeneral.com/coupons or through the DG mobile app. Remember, getting into the holiday spirit doesn't have to break the bank. Save time and money decorating your home, so you can spend more stress-free moments with friends and family. Five ways to get your home holiday-ready Impact Photography/stock.Adobe.com When decorating the tree, get the whole family involved.