Most places celebrate the holidays just once a year, but there are a few cheerful communities where Christmas is built into the very fabric of town life. Be it North Pole, Alaska, where locals live on Snowman Lane, or Santa Claus, Indiana, with it’s Holiday World theme park, residents in these festive towns ensure that they live up to their merry monikers. If you’re crazy about Christmas, consider moving to a place where the holidays never end.

Santa Claus, Indiana

After several spirited town meetings in 1856, residents changed this community’s name from Santa Fe to Santa Claus. Today, it embodies its title, brimming with fairy tale-inspired buildings and a Santa Claus Museum. It even hosts the country’s only post office bearing Santa’s name—a responsibility it takes seriously. So seriously, in fact, each year, a volunteer group of Santa’s Elves replies to thousands of Dear Santa letters sent to the post office.

Interested? If you’re keen to join the pointy-eared crew, hang your stocking at this 3-bed, 3.5-bath lakefront barn home, listed for $269,900. From the screened porch, you’ll enjoy close-ups of Christmas Lake, one of three festively-named lakes in this wooded town.

Check out more homes in Santa Claus, Indiana.

Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

This college town was named after Jesus’ birthplace, following its settlement by Moravians on Christmas Eve in 1741. To celebrate the area’s heritage, more than 800 trees are illuminated in the town square each December.  And if that doesn’t put you in the holiday spirit, the Christmas walking tour led by a jolly costumed guide certainly will.

Interested? This 4-bed, 3-bath colonial home sits on a half-acre lot and is surrounded by a patch of evergreen trees, making it Christmas card-perfect—and a steal at $269,900.

Check out more homes in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.

North Pole, Alaska

Can’t find the fabled home of Saint Nicholas on a map? Just look in eastern Alaska, one of the best places to view the Northern Lights. Here, you’ll find North Pole, a fitting home for the world’s largest fiberglass Santa, an annual Christmas ice-carving competition, and a network of holiday-named streets like Kris Kringle Drive.

Interested? Those seeking a festive lifestyle can find it here, at this 3-bed, 2-bath log cabin, on the market for $399,900, where the indoor wood stove and the outdoor firepit are fit for Father Christmas himself.

Check out more homes in North Pole, Alaska.

Christmas Valley, Oregon

Photo credit: Hannah Steinkopf

Coined after historical figure Peter Christman, whose surname locals often mistook for “Christmas,” this Oregon town was dubbed Christmas Valley. These days, it has wholeheartedly embraced the holiday it shares a name with. There’s a cheerful Christmas parade and plenty of holiday streets, like Mistletoe Lane, bringing a celebratory feel all year round. But the community is best known by all-terrain vehicle enthusiasts worldwide who ride the famed Christmas Valley sand dunes.

Interested? This 3-bed, 2-bath custom-built home, recently reduced to $349,900, is a prime hub for holiday entertaining, thanks to its multiple decks with views of Christmas Valley’s deer-filled landscape.

Check out more homes in Christmas Valley, Oregon.

Rudolph, Ohio

Photo credit: Scott Amus

Holiday greetings mailed to this tree-lined, 458-person town get postmarked with a reindeer stamp in honor of the town’s namesake. But truth be told, the northeastern Ohio community didn’t nab its name from Santa’s red-nosed crew member; instead, it was borrowed from a local merchant named H.J. Rudolph. Strangely enough, birds—as much as deer—are abundant in Rudolph, as evidenced by the annual Rudolph Christmas Count, where area bird lovers flock to town to count winter fowl while donning Santa hats and faux reindeer antlers.

Interested? If you count yourself a wildlife enthusiast, consider making this 4-bed, 3-bath home, available for $215,000, in Arlington Woods your nest.

Check out more homes in Rudolph, Ohio.

Know of a town that hosts a unique Christmas celebration? Tell us about it in the comments below!

Decorating a new apartment can quickly go from exciting to overwhelming, especially if you’re on a tight budget. As a renter moving into a new apartment, you want to make your place feel like your own home, but without spending a ton of money every time you move. Herein lies the eternal rental decorating dilemma: Which items should be higher quality, and where can you get away with more frugal options? If you follow this set of savvy furnishing guidelines, your temporary digs can look great without breaking the bank.

Here are some rules to decorate by.

Shop at thrift stores to score deals on your decor.

Choose quality when it affects your quality of life.

While it’s tempting to buy items at the lowest prices possible, you also want your purchases to add value to your life. So it’s worthwhile to invest money into certain furnishings while being more thrifty with others.

Save on: Decor

All home decor has to do to make your life better is look good. It doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg to do it. You can find just about any style of wall hanging, throw pillow, or faux plant at discount retailers like Target or Ikea. Or find something truly original at consignment and thrift stores. “Go to a second-hand shop, choose pieces you like, refinish them yourself, and update the hardware on it,” says Debra Duneier, New York City interior designer and owner of EcoChi. “It’s good for the earth and your budget.”

Splurge on: Your mattress set

Great sleep is vital for a healthy body and mind, and purchasing a great mattress makes that possible. Buy one that’s new and high-quality, and it will last at least a decade. Though mattresses can be pretty costly, you can still find ways to get a good one at a decent price.

“Find name-brand mattresses at outlet stores, and look for sales at certain times of the year,” Duneier suggests. You can also test drive a mattress in a store and then bargain shop online.

Invest in quality furniture you use every day.

Accent pieces are optional, good furniture is not.

Since you’re not buying for the long-term as a renter, you don’t want to compromise your savings when putting together your temporary home. But there are some items you don’t want to buy cheap, because cheap usually means flimsy, and you’ll end up having to re-buy them every time they fall apart.

Save on: Curio cabinets, end tables, and window treatments

Furniture that doesn’t do heavy-lifting, like end tables or display cabinets, can be less high-end. This is especially true for items you know you won’t reuse in your next apartment, like curtains or blinds.

“Whatever you buy for your windows, you probably can’t take with you because windows are a different size everywhere you live,” cautions Duneier. “But, you can find knock-offs of the latest styles, which saves you money,” she adds.

Splurge on: High-use furniture

Sturdy furniture made with quality materials is imperative for anything you’re going to sit or lie on every day, such as the bed frame for your master bedroom. If they need to support your weight and abuse day in and day out, be willing to shop for quality materials and construction—and to pay for it.

Painting an accent wall is an affordable way to spruce up your place.

Cater to your unique lifestyle.

Do you have kids or pets? Will you entertain a lot or spend most nights out on the town? Do you travel for work, or are you a work-from-home warrior? The answers can affect which items you should splurge on.

Kids? Splurge on: Fabric-covered furniture

With kids or pets, “make sure you buy darker, durable fabric that’s stain- and spill-proof,” Duneier states. To determine if something will stand the test of time, ask lots of questions in the store, read online reviews, or buy and test something that has a good return policy.

Work from home? Splurge on: Office furniture

If you work from home, spend money on your office chair, Duneier advises. You clock lots of time there, so you should make it comfortable. Ergonomic chairs and computer stands are critical to avoiding injuries.

Never entertain? Save on: A dining set

While an expensive dining set might be the best investment for a frequent entertainer, if you don’t do much hosting, your dining area might not get much use. If you typically eat out or in front of the TV, you can get away with a dining room table that will last you through your next apartment, rather than your next decade. After all, your next apartment might not even have a separate dining area.

Have a decorating tip to add? Share it in the comments below.

Decorating a new apartment can quickly go from exciting to overwhelming, especially if you’re on a tight budget. As a renter moving into a new apartment, you want to make your place feel like your own home, but without spending a ton of money every time you move. Herein lies the eternal rental decorating dilemma: Which items should be higher quality, and where can you get away with more frugal options? If you follow this set of savvy furnishing guidelines, your temporary digs can look great without breaking the bank.

Here are some rules to decorate by.

Shop at thrift stores to score deals on your decor.

Choose quality when it affects your quality of life.

While it’s tempting to buy items at the lowest prices possible, you also want your purchases to add value to your life. So it’s worthwhile to invest money into certain furnishings while being more thrifty with others.

Save on: Decor

All home decor has to do to make your life better is look good. It doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg to do it. You can find just about any style of wall hanging, throw pillow, or faux plant at discount retailers like Target or Ikea. Or find something truly original at consignment and thrift stores. “Go to a second-hand shop, choose pieces you like, refinish them yourself, and update the hardware on it,” says Debra Duneier, New York City interior designer and owner of EcoChi. “It’s good for the earth and your budget.”

Splurge on: Your mattress set

Great sleep is vital for a healthy body and mind, and purchasing a great mattress makes that possible. Buy one that’s new and high-quality, and it will last at least a decade. Though mattresses can be pretty costly, you can still find ways to get a good one at a decent price.

“Find name-brand mattresses at outlet stores, and look for sales at certain times of the year,” Duneier suggests. You can also test drive a mattress in a store and then bargain shop online.

Invest in quality furniture you use every day.

Accent pieces are optional, good furniture is not.

Since you’re not buying for the long-term as a renter, you don’t want to compromise your savings when putting together your temporary home. But there are some items you don’t want to buy cheap, because cheap usually means flimsy, and you’ll end up having to re-buy them every time they fall apart.

Save on: Curio cabinets, end tables, and window treatments

Furniture that doesn’t do heavy-lifting, like end tables or display cabinets, can be less high-end. This is especially true for items you know you won’t reuse in your next apartment, like curtains or blinds.

“Whatever you buy for your windows, you probably can’t take with you because windows are a different size everywhere you live,” cautions Duneier. “But, you can find knock-offs of the latest styles, which saves you money,” she adds.

Splurge on: High-use furniture

Sturdy furniture made with quality materials is imperative for anything you’re going to sit or lie on every day, such as the bed frame for your master bedroom. If they need to support your weight and abuse day in and day out, be willing to shop for quality materials and construction—and to pay for it.

Painting an accent wall is an affordable way to spruce up your place.

Cater to your unique lifestyle.

Do you have kids or pets? Will you entertain a lot or spend most nights out on the town? Do you travel for work, or are you a work-from-home warrior? The answers can affect which items you should splurge on.

Kids? Splurge on: Fabric-covered furniture

With kids or pets, “make sure you buy darker, durable fabric that’s stain- and spill-proof,” Duneier states. To determine if something will stand the test of time, ask lots of questions in the store, read online reviews, or buy and test something that has a good return policy.

Work from home? Splurge on: Office furniture

If you work from home, spend money on your office chair, Duneier advises. You clock lots of time there, so you should make it comfortable. Ergonomic chairs and computer stands are critical to avoiding injuries.

Never entertain? Save on: A dining set

While an expensive dining set might be the best investment for a frequent entertainer, if you don’t do much hosting, your dining area might not get much use. If you typically eat out or in front of the TV, you can get away with a dining room table that will last you through your next apartment, rather than your next decade. After all, your next apartment might not even have a separate dining area.

Have a decorating tip to add? Share it in the comments below.