The holiday season comes with pressure to decorate beautifully, cook impressively, host graciously, and spend generously. It’s exhausting before Thanksgiving even arrives.
But what if your Instagram feed could actually reduce that stress instead of amplifying it?
By following creators who share budget-savvy décor hacks, meal prep shortcuts, and ingredient-saving ideas, you can spend less, waste less, and genuinely enjoy the season more.
We’ve rounded up five creative Instagram accounts whose content delivers actionable ideas that save money while creating the festive atmosphere you want.
What Makes These Creative Instagram Accounts Worth Following
The best holiday-saving influencer accounts share certain qualities:
- frequent posts with décor hacks and DIY ideas
- cost-conscious recipes that stretch ingredients
- visual tutorials with before-and-afters that show real transformations
- engaged communities sharing tips in the comments
These five creators check all those boxes.
@boxwoodandspruce Budget-Friendly Home Styling
What They Do: Budget-friendly home styling, upcycled décor, and thrift flips that prove beautiful spaces don’t require unlimited budgets.
Why It’s Useful: Their holiday transformations show how to create festive settings without buying all new décor. A recent thrifted mantelpiece redo turned garage sale finds into magazine-worthy holiday styling for under $30. Their repurposed glassware-as-candle-holders tutorial uses items you probably already own.
How to Use It: Save posts for aesthetic inspiration and note the specific materials used—spray paint colors, ribbon widths, greenery sources. Then, source similar items locally at thrift stores or discount retailers. Their style translates across different home aesthetics, so you can adapt rather than copy exactly.
@livingwithley DIY Home Projects & Seasonal Refreshes
What They Do: DIY home projects and seasonal décor makeovers that work with limited budgets and creative repurposing.
Why It’s Useful: They specialize in minimalist holiday vignettes using everyday items you already own. No specialty store runs required. Their DIY wreath and centerpiece tutorials use natural materials like pine branches, twigs, and foraged greenery that cost nothing if you know where to look.
How to Use It: Follow their step-by-step tutorials and adapt designs for your home’s scale or budget. Can’t find eucalyptus? Use evergreen branches. Don’t have a large dining table? Scale the centerpiece for a coffee table instead.
10 Household DIY Projects That Can Save You Big Time
@emilyscooking_ Fun, Creative & Easy Recipes
What She Does: Easy but incredibly fun meals that wow without complexity—think spider-shaped appetizers perfect for Halloween parties or festive holiday treats that look impressive but use simple ingredients.
Why It’s Useful: Her creative presentation ideas make holiday hosting feel special without requiring culinary school skills. Those make-ahead casseroles that look restaurant-quality? Simple techniques. Her leftover turkey transformation posts turn one meal into three completely different dishes that guests won’t recognize as repeats.
How to Use It: Build your holiday menu from her recipes that balance creativity with practicality. Her fun presentation hacks mean you can serve impressive-looking dishes using pantry staples and basic ingredients—no specialty store runs needed.
@foodie_lilly Quick, Easy & Delicious Everyday Cooking
What They Do: Straightforward recipes geared toward everyday cooks who want flavor without complexity.
Why It’s Useful: When hosting time is tight, their 30-minute holiday desserts and one-pot batch cooking recipes deliver impressive results without the stress. Their recipes scale easily for crowds, and the simple ingredient lists keep grocery costs manageable.
How to Use It: Adapt her recipes as side dishes or desserts for holiday feasts. Her one-pot meals work brilliantly for casual pre-holiday dinners when you’re too busy decorating to spend hours cooking. Scale up portions for guests without complicated multiplication.
@armen_adamjan Life Hacks & Food Storage Tips
What He Does: Practical life hacks, food storage tips, and efficiency ideas that extend the life of ingredients and appliances.
Why It’s Useful: His preservation hacks are essential during cooking season when you’re buying ingredients in bulk. Learn how to store herbs so they last weeks instead of days, or how to keep produce fresh longer so you’re not throwing away money.
How to Use It: Combine his storage tips with the recipe accounts above to dramatically reduce waste. His leftover-stretching hacks mean your holiday meal investments keep paying dividends for days afterward.
Strategic Following Tips
Don’t just follow these accounts. Use them strategically.
Turn on post notifications so you catch seasonal content and flash deals when they’re relevant.
Create Instagram collections labeled “Holiday Decor,” “Sides & Meals,” and “Preservation Hacks” to organize saved posts you’ll actually reference later.
Start following in mid-October to build your inspiration library before the holiday rush. Engage in comments. Creators and community members often share budget alternatives or additional tips there.
Cross-reference these accounts with your own timeline. If you’re hosting Thanksgiving, check their feeds weekly starting in early November for timely ideas.
More Than Pretty Photos
These five creative Instagram accounts offer genuinely actionable content that reduces both spending and stress. They’re not selling you expensive products or unrealistic perfection.
They’re sharing practical ideas that work in real homes with real budgets.
Follow one or two now, spend a few minutes weekly gleaning ideas between now and Thanksgiving, and let them become your “inspiration plus savings” feed this season.
This week, pick one décor project and one recipe from their feeds. Make those your holiday wins. You’ll be surprised how much satisfaction comes from creating something festive and delicious without the financial hangover.
