SPOKANE VALLEY-- Across the Inland Northwest, people are trying to find economical ways to decorate their homes for the holiday.
This is the second year people are finding themselves cutting corners when it comes to holiday decorations.
For those who love the holidays, it has been a tough decision to give up decorating.
Jeff Skeen says he still has the drive to want to decorate. He says he’s 26 and he’ll decorate until he’s 90.
Skeen helped his friend set up a huge holiday display in Spokane Valley years ago.
It rubbed off on him, and now he created similar lawn decorations at his house in Newman Lake, but not this year.
He says this year he can’t afford to run such an elaborate display, and he isn’t alone.
Neighbors admit they cut back this year to save money.
Other homeowners say in order to do the same amount of lights and decorations they slimmed spending elsewhere.
Susan Prindiville from Spokane Valley says her family cut back with gifts because everything is so expensive, but she’s not cutting back on the decorations.
KREM 2 News checked in with Senske Lawn and Tree Care, a professional holiday lighting company.
One employee says business is better than what they expected this year, but still down from the number of customers three or four years ago.
But the employee says people still want to get into the holiday spirit. He says he’s happy to share the lights with community.
People like Skeen are glad to see others can carry on the tradition until the economy bounces back. Skeen says it costs him up to $250 more a month to run his Christmas lights.
