Page 6 | To think it's a little sad to pay someone to decorate your Christmas tree

DuckyMcDuck · 2020-12-19T13:41:53+00:00

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.

readingismycardio · 20/12/2020 04:59

I'd love to do that! I mean be the one who offers this type of services. My Christmas tree & decor is well liked by people, I'm creative and I love it! How do I change jobs? ❄️

HeronLanyon · 20/12/2020 05:10

I agree op. For me personally it would take some of the fun out of things - tree particularly is kind of special full of memories etc.
However for someone else there may be really valid reasons - whether just complete lack of time, disability, mental health issues etc which would make this a useful service ?

TheRealBoswell · 20/12/2020 05:19

I think outsourcing is a great idea and if it also helps support local businesses then why not?

Pret50 · 20/12/2020 05:37

@Zenithbear

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

I loved that episode,need to watch it now 😂

HeronLanyon · 20/12/2020 05:39

Oh great reminder of the good life ! Felt good just to think of it ! Laugh out loud so often.

PandemicAtTheDisco · 20/12/2020 05:49

It would be a nice idea for a charity to go and decorate and then put away 'Christmas' for those unable to themselves. I can think of several elderly people that would love this.

Fizbosshoes · 20/12/2020 08:10

*15:02irregularegular

A lot of outsourcing is the preserve of those with plenty of disposableincome.Dogwalkers, 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

Well, obviously!*

Possibly not obviously. Theres a lot of MN on here who say they would like it/have done it...but theres also a lot of MN who seem unaware that not everyone can "hunker down for winter, wfh, shop online etc" Lots dont understand that not everyone can afford to "prep" as in buy extra food each week, so just putting it out there that being low paid doesnt always mean less busy, or having more time,it just means less opportunities to outsource things you find boring/tedious!

AlwaysLatte · 20/12/2020 08:24

Our kids would hate that, as would we. Once when I decorated the tree as a surprise when they got home from school they were really disappointed that they weren't involved so I had to strip it and start again!

ivykaty44 · 20/12/2020 09:08

id like a company to come in on the 6th to take it all down and pack it in the attic....happy to decorate myself!

ememem84 · 20/12/2020 09:24

Client of mine does this. She runs a catering/events business. From September onwards she takes orders for trees and decorations. £1000 to do the whole downstairs of a house.

This year she’s gifted me a wreath for my door. Plus some handmade decs for the kids for our tree.

The stuff shes done previously is beautiful.

SaxonWassail · 20/12/2020 09:30

@1forAll74

No I wouldn't pay anyone to decorate a tree,or any rooms. when I was married to my late Husband, we had quite a largish tree each year, and My husband and two children were in charge of the tree. It used to make me laugh,with the way they all put various things on the tree, like any old how, with no complaints from me at all, as it was all their work of art, however it ended up. I just liked to watch them all, while sipping my sherry , and eating some chocs on the sofa.

That;s exactly how I do it. :)

BatleyTownswomensGuild · 20/12/2020 09:35

Omg, can I work for these people, that sounds an awesome job!

Parker231 · 20/12/2020 09:45

Sounds a brilliant idea - do they come and take everything down- that would definitely be worth paying for.

ILoveYoga · 20/12/2020 09:50

My kids are older now and away at uni. My DH was never in to decorating for Xmas so it was always me and the kids. With them away (and prior to uni, busy with their social life) it has been just me doing it so yes, it’s now a chore. I don’t put half as much in the tree as in the past or putting lights around the house and other Xmas things around the house. If I could pay someone to do it now, I would. I don’t think my family would know. They just like to see it but are no longer helping me do it.

awaynboilyurheid · 20/12/2020 09:57

Just saw my American cousins street on zoom, was thinking the houses looked amazing and he said they all get companies in to do it I thought what a great idea! I would def pay somone for inside too!

ememem84 · 20/12/2020 10:05

@Parker231

Sounds a brilliant idea - do they come and take everything down- that would definitely be worth paying for.

Yep. My client does that too. Because then no storage issues. And different themes every year.

She buys in decorations and keeps them in storage. All real trees too again no storage issues.

CatVsChristmasTree · 20/12/2020 10:07

When DH was gardening for a very rich guy (all the money and no taste) he used to get DH to decorate the Christmas trees (there were many!). I'm not sure who decorated the rest of the house. So I'm not surprised that this is a thing.
To be honest, anything can be outsourced and I can imagine if you're busy and have a huge house that you want decorating, before hosting etc, then why not. Gives people jobs!
Wonders what the company does the rest of the year...

Nowaynothappening · 20/12/2020 10:08

I would LOVE to pay someone to wrap my presents. I suck at wrapping and hate doing it. A woman used to charge £10 in my home town’s shopping centre to wrap all of the presents you had bought.

ememem84 · 20/12/2020 10:12

@Nowaynothappening

I would LOVE to pay someone to wrap my presents. I suck at wrapping and hate doing it. A woman used to charge £10 in my home town’s shopping centre to wrap all of the presents you had bought.

Amazing!!!! I’d totally do that!

Ideasplease322 · 20/12/2020 10:36

@Fizbosshoes

*15:02irregularegular

A lot of outsourcing is the preserve of those with plenty of disposableincome.Dogwalkers, 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

Well, obviously!*

Possibly not obviously. Theres a lot of MN on here who say they would like it/have done it...but theres also a lot of MN who seem unaware that not everyone can "hunker down for winter, wfh, shop online etc" Lots dont understand that not everyone can afford to "prep" as in buy extra food each week, so just putting it out there that being low paid doesnt always mean less busy, or having more time,it just means less opportunities to outsource things you find boring/tedious!

What job pays £80k for a 40 hour week??

Seriously I want to know.

Anyone I know who is close to this pay is putting in double that time.

Missing the point I know - but please share the secret😊😊😊😊

Henrysmycat · 20/12/2020 12:03

@Ideasplease322
when I was an chartered engineer in the South East (London was more), that was the average salary of an engineering graduate with 10-15 years experience. Many STEM grad jobs in SE/London pay that after some years of experience.

Ideasplease322 · 20/12/2020 12:06

[quote Henrysmycat]@Ideasplease322
when I was an chartered engineer in the South East (London was more), that was the average salary of an engineering graduate with 10-15 years experience. Many STEM grad jobs in SE/London pay that after some years of experience.[/quote]
And you were able to only work a 40 hour week? That’s awesome.

Even when I earned half this I was probably working 50 hours a week. Reading a bit in the evenings and probably working 8:30 to 6pm most days.

DesMartinsPetCat · 20/12/2020 12:07

What job pays £80k for a 40 hour week??

Mine pays more than that for 35 hours. Sometimes I do more (maybe 40-42) and sometimes I do less. I’d guess that 400+ people in my organisation are in the same boat.

I know it’s not the point of the thread but there are plenty of people with disposable income* who can outsource jobs like this, otherwise companies wouldn’t offer the service.

I was at a talk given recent my a female CEO and her advice was to outsource as much as you could possibly pay for.

*and before anyone points out the obvious, I know there are many MANY people who have no disposable income at all. I acknowledge that, but it doesn’t negate the fact that there are people who can and do pay for services that others could never afford, or would never contemplate spending available money on.

Ideasplease322 · 20/12/2020 12:07

I think I am in the wrong profession! 40 hour weeks are unheard of. Even amount my friends no one has been able to keep to the standard 9-5.

DrizzleandDamp · 20/12/2020 12:10

OMG I have all my presents to wrap and no time, I’m going to pay someone to do them in future!