TRENTON, NJ – New Jersey is the second most expensive state to decorate your home and power your lights for the Christmas holiday season, second only to Hawaii. That’s according to Ownerly, a professional home value data service that conducted national research into the costs associated with decorating your home for Christmas.
New Jersey is known for its high taxes, high energy costs, high fuel rates and costly labor rates, but did you know it’s now known for its high cost of celebrating Christmas?
Ownerly says those costs don’t have to be as high as they are and there are some things you can do to lower those costs.
“New Jersey residents who plan on using holiday lights this year or are already using them should know that they could save at least $125 if they made a switch to LED lights. Those having lights installed and running traditional incandescent or ceramic lights could see costs of $477.15 this year in relation to running and installing their lights,” said Kerry Sherin a consumer advocate at Ownerly.
According to the Guide to Christmas Light and Installation Costs, the cost of professional Christmas light installation may vary depending on where you live and the size of the project. These costs can include materials as well as labor and installation. Some installers may charge flat rates that include strands, installation and removal, while others may also separately charge for labor.
One thing is certain, those costs are higher in New Jersey than they are in 48 other states.
Keeping your Christmas lights on all season long can certainly drive up your electricity bill , so it makes sense to be mindful of that. According to ENERGY STAR, electricity costs 11.3 cents per kilowatt hour on average.
“While installing your own Christmas lights may save you money, the process is not without disadvantages. You have to be extra careful, especially if installing lights in hard-to-reach places, such as a high roof. Doing it yourself can also take you more time to finish than if you hire a professional,” the report says. “A professional can make your Christmas light job look, well, professional, and they can take other tasks, such as takedown and material storage, off your plate. You might save $120-$500 on labor by doing it yourself, but once you perform that labor yourself, you may decide that paying for installation is a worthwhile future investment.”