The closeout sales are ridiculously cheap. This is for sure the way to go. That or cruise around looking for open garages and get the boxes that say Christmas :Lights. But be clever, sometimes they call them X-Mas. You are welcome.
I haven't, but splurged on LEDs last year anyway. I like them a lot, if for no other reason than the lack of heat from the bulbs. It just makes me feel better when the tree is old, dry, and crackly.