to rip down my scrawny, crappy fake tree and go and get an expensive real one?

[Mammanat222]

We're skint and the tree isnt that bad. But I hate it.

AIBU to bin this one and go spend money we dont really have on a real one?

We've always gone real but last year for some reason we bought a fake one?

Fab post

It's greener to go artificial.

"I can honestly say that tree gave us the most pleasure when we:

a. were thinking about it
b. were choosing it
c. were burning it"

if there was ever a winning argument it's this.

Second what someone else says, if you're desperate for a real tree wait around a bit and you can pick them up cheaply from the DIY stores.

Last year we paid £6 for 2 Christmas trees from B&Q (BOGOF!), in previous years we've got them free from Homebase.

Am I the only one who thinks it is really mean to cut down a tree ? I know I am a potential tree hugger
We have a 6ft fake one that looks realistic and gets thrown back into the attic every January. Real potted ones are ok ,if you can keep them alive !

Buy more tinsel. I let the kids decorate this year and you can't see the bottom of the tree for the tinsel. You can however, see the top as the kids can only reach so far.

Tinsel is the answer.

Out of interest roughly when do they start discounting them?

I wasn't going to bother at all this year but might do if there's a bargain to be had.

22nd or 23rd- call them and ask. Usually free by late on 23rd around here- if any are left.

At Balloonslayer's story - I have had the same fake one now 12 years - love it for the ease and simplicity especially post Xmas when it just goes back in the box. I'd rather spend the money on a longer lasting gift than what is essentially a dead branch for decoration.

Thanks simba I'll keep an eye out definitely.

We moved earlier this year and I got a bit carried away with decluttering - I may need the whole shebang including lights

Fake trees all the way. Bastard needles and tree murder ain't my bag baby.

It seems to depend on where Christmas falls relative to the last weekend, I expect on the 22nd this year they'll start discounting.

I saw an article that says Aldi are doing real trees for £20 if that helps:

cheap aldi trees

But I agree, if you are sling, go with what you have this year, paper chains, stuff from the forest etc can all make it a bit cheerier. It's family and health and happiness that count anyway, right?

I see getting the bargains as like Christmas tree fostering, otherwise they'll spend Christmas all alone :-)

I may have got more than one in previous years for this very reason...

We "haven't a pot to piss in" as one of my more outspoken friends says, so we've had the same little plastic tree for years and years. We love it, it's an old treasure. My dh has just this minute finished putting it up for me, and put the lights on it; I've decorated it with our old silvery acorns and fir cones and dh has stuck the fairy on the top. (He says it's an angel. With a wand??) I do love the smell of a real tree, but we're happy with this one. I gave a donation to the Salvation Army in Norwich yesterday, and I'd rather do that with the limited extra cash we might have than buy yet another 'thing' for Christmas!

It's up to you ,op. It's your money, after all.
Personally I wouldn't, because a) I prefer artificial trees and b) experience has taught me not to spend money I 'don't really have'.
I spent £25 on a decent artificial tree (it was half price, so worth £50) about 5 years ago, it looks as good as new every year and is the last big tree I will ever buy. It feels good not having to buy a new tree every year.

OH has been at the tree and he's fanned it out a bit so it looks a bit less scrawny.

I've been sent up to chill with papers and a cuppa whilst OH and DS decorate the tree... they don't have creative free rein as its only the decorations we've accumulated over the years but OH has promised he'll make it look lovely.

Sadly we've been down to one salary for a few months so we've had to really budget this year

We got a 6ft non-needle dropping one for £30 from the local garden centre, I saw other jot dis-similar ones for £60 so just shop around a bit.