To think it's a little sad to pay someone to decorate your Christmas tree

[DuckyMcDuck]

and house for Christmas?

A colleague of DH's was telling everyone how they pay a company to 'Christmas' their house including buying and decorating the tree and buying and wrapping all the presents. The kids come home from school to find it's all done.

I know everyone does things differently but that would take all the fun out of it for me.

I wouldn't like it. But I'm quite creative and love craft so it's my thing! But if you hate it or are rich and have a huge house then whatever. But not for me. I'd think it would be a bit generic looking.

Do they hoover pine needles and move furniture for the Christmas tree to go in a certain place?

If they do please can I have the number for next year? 😂

I don’t care what other people do

I'd pay someone to take my decorations down, that's a pain in the arse. Also for the wrapping, it takes me ages and I put it off for as long as possible.

Where do I sign up?!

Nah that takes some of the joy of Xmas away. Part of the fun is putting the tree up to some Xmas music and wrapping presents with a sherry and a mince pie or two

Hmm. I can easily see having someone do things like outside lights.

Inside , I don't know. It sounds to me like it would end up looking kind of generic. I'd likely just do less decorating. I'm not a fan of over-decorating anyway.

No way. It's my favourite part of Christmas. No way would they do it better than me anyway. I rule at Christmas decorating. 🎄

I'm with you op, my DS loves decorating the tree. It marks the beginning of Xmas in our house. Also, because he's been doing it since he was about 6, hopefully he won't outsource it to his wife in the future.

He's already better than his dad at wrapping presents

My friend always does hers when her kids are at school. I think that's hugely mean and controlling. She hates mess....but kids love decorating so I think you just suck it up.

I live in quite a "naice" area and there are usually (but not this year) pleas from people too busy to wrap presents and people offering that service.
I LOVE decorating the tree (we dont really have any other xmas decorations) but not so keen on writing cards and wrapping presents. However my thought is, by the time you've
-selected items to wrap
-taken to said wrapping service

• explained which present is for which person

-selected paper or tags -collected wrapped presents ....you could probably have wrapped half of them yourself --and I havent got a spare £50 or however much it costs!

I can’t see how this differs from ordering your shopping for delivery, ordering a takeaway, having a cleaner, or hiring someone to hang wallpaper.

I’m a firm believer in outsourcing as much as you can to make your life easier.

@EggnogAndAMincepie

Nah that takes some of the joy of Xmas away. Part of the fun is putting the tree up to some Xmas music and wrapping presents with a sherry and a mince pie or two

Part of the fun for you maybe but people are different, I don't see t as different to any other outsourced job. Some people like cleaning and would never hire a cleaner even if money wasn't an issue, this is no different imo

I love decorating for Christmas but I have chronic health problems and often the busyness and hectic nature of the Christmas period and the commitments it entails leaves me quite poorly by the time it comes. I’m single so there’s no one else that could decorate for me, but putting up the tree etc can be painful and I do struggle so if I had the money, I’d happily pay someone else to help me out.

I'd love it!!

Margo Ledbetter from the Good life had Christmas delivered in a van.

She did. They came decorated and left

I would love Christmas in a van sounds fab,

I wouldn't personally, but not everyone enjoys doing the same things. If you find it stressful, but like the finished result, and can afford it, then why not. I would only find it a bit "sad" if they are paying someone else as more of a status thing, to have the best, showiest decorations.

My daughter who is back from uni is offering a gift wrapping service this year to earn a bit of money. She is getting a few takers from local families who hadn't thought about it before but are finding it helpful. And people don't have to "explain which present is for which person" as it tends to be people who have a pile of presents for each family member and they just put each pile in one box/bag.

@PoppyOppy

It's only what a lot of menfolk do anyway, outsource it all to their wife...

Ifangyu

This year i have outsourced my christmas cards and the christmas decorations to DH.

I told him it was time he pulled his weight on it. He agreed.

I'd pay a compnay though in a heartbeat if I had thought of it in time.

A lot of outsourcing is the preserve of those with plenty of disposable income.
Dog walkers, cleaners, gardeners, handyman, decorators, oven cleaners, car valets etc
A person working 40 hours a week on NMW might have no more available hours for chores than someone working 40 hours a week on 80k, they just have less money.

This is literally what my partner does. He just can't be bothered. It winds me up as he makes no effort.

I wouldn’t like this, because I enjoy putting the decorations up with the kids every year. I’d happily pay someone to take it all down and put it away after Christmas though!

Ifangyu

I thought I had figured out MN acronyms but this one has me stumped 🤔.

Supply and demand. I assume they do similar for birthday parties etc rest of year not just a 2 month business. I’ve seen people advertising to do outdoor lights which also seems a sensible service - correct ladder and electricals done safely.

My decorating is pretty naff. If I won the lottery I'd have a company come in and make my house look like a Christmas movie set!
Presents wrapping is my husband's and my job though. We enjoy it. We get together and have a drink and spend hours wrapping everything.