This $7 Amazon buy is the easiest way to plug in your outdoor Christmas lights without the need for extension cords

Whether you're a true festive fan or more of a scornful Scrooge, there's no denying that a front yard decorated with Christmas lights increases your home's curb appeal. The reality, though, is easier said than done. Not all of us have outdoor electrical outlets, and even those of us that do often end up relying on reams of extension cables just to string some lights around the porch. If this struggle sounds familiar, then we might have the answer – and it costs less than $10. 

Apart from those aforementioned Scrooges, we all want a picture-postcard house this time of year; we're talking wreath on the door, garland across the porch, and Christmas lighting nestled in your shrubs and hung along the gables. However, achieving that dream usually relies on having a convenient outlet source somewhere in your yard. What you might not realize is, you probably do have one already – it's just being used for a different purpose – and this nifty little Amazon buy is all you need to reassign its function. Here, we explain how.

Where else can you plug your outdoor Christmas lights in?

If you're wondering where this secret electrical outlet is, the answer is right on your doorstep – quite literally. If you have a front porch light (which most of us in a house, rather than an apartment, do), you might be surprised to learn that the outlet that powers your bulb can also be used for your Christmas lights. All you need is a small adapter. 

This clever Christmas hack was shared by Paige Brown on TikTok, and viewers rushed to the comments to praise the idea. Essentially, all you need is a small adapter that fits into your porch light fixture. The device costs just $6.99 on Amazon and it allows you to plug in your Christmas lights without the need for annoying extension cables that get in the way of door seals or cause trip hazards. 

(Image credit: Solar Centre)

The best part is, you can still use your porch light while using the outlet since the adapter comes with a variation that still has a bulb socket. In this case, the two power outlets come off from either side of the adapter. 

If you find that your front porch light fixture or cage is too small to fit the larger variety, you can also buy an adapter that only has two power outlets and no bulb socket, like this one from Amazon. Although this would mean sacrificing your porch light, your outdoor Christmas lighting is probably bright enough as it is. 

So there you have it - a cheap and cheerful Christmas lighting hack that makes decorating your house easier than ever. If you haven't yet festooned your front yard in stings of warm lights, what are you waiting for?

@paigetbrown

♬ original sound - Paigebrown