This year for the Consumerism Holiday - I got an artificial tree.

[KitchenWitch]

Back when we lived in Minnesota, we used to go to the tree farm every year for the Witch Family annual tree massacre (we cut our own). It cost ~$20 and we would have the tree that we actually chose. Usually a balsam fir.

Last Consumerism Holiday, I went to one of the local tree lots and could not find anything for less than $80. They were precut (probably in August) so it defoliated all over my carpet the moment it was in the house. Had to water it twice a day. Between the expense and the hassle, the Witch family decided to look for a used artificial tree (perusing the freecycle and CraigsList ads).

Being the CraigsList commando that I am, I happened upon a 7 1/2 foot prelit tree (a full one, not a skinny one :woohoo: ) for $40.

:woohoo:

So now the Witch family will have a tree that will last into perpetuity, and will never have to spend near a Benjamin in order to have a Consumerism Holiday tree in the house.

:woohoo:

[LeftyMom]

1. Saving Money? Fake tree? Why don't you diddle the baby Jesus while you're at it, Christmas Hater.

;)

[Ellen Forradalom]

2. Nice post, Grinch.

[KitchenWitch]

3. Just because I LIVE in Orange County does not mean I have to spend money like I do!

:P

[CaliforniaPeggy]

4. My dear KitchenWitch!

You go, girl!

That's a very smart thing to do!

We have an artificial one too...

It's the way to go!

:woohoo: :woohoo:

[TommyO]

10. I'm in the artificial tree camp as well

I have a pre-lit tree that I bought from Costco that will last me for many years, looks great, will never need watering, and doesn't attract the attention of my three feline housemates nearly as much as a live/cut tree ever did.

[WCGreen]

20. I'm going to get me one of those next week....

COSTCO Rules....

[TommyO]

23. I got mine last year - they were sold out at the stores

but still had the same ones available online.

[lizziegrace]

5. Always had artificial ones

almost deathly allergic to real pine.

Welcome to my world...

:)

[Deja Q]

6. You're on Craig's List without any underwear on?

Wow. Craig's one happenin' guy! :rofl:

[KitchenWitch]

7. *snerk*

:spray:

[sasquatch]

8. Nice post Hitler I thought this was a pro fun site

:cry:
BTW, check out this Red State update.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sP9OS55b4e8

[KitchenWitch]

9. That is awesome!

:rofl:

[lost-in-nj]

11. After 25 years of real trees

I have an 8 1/2 foot pre-lit xmas tree

what happened was we had a real tree ...
it was beautiful..... but by xmas it was dead.... we were afraid to turn the lights on..... I needed the tree to last till New Years because my sister was getting married on NYE in front of my tree......
so we tore the old one down on CHRISTMAS EVE, bought the fake one, re decorated it and all was well with the world....

NO ONE knew it was fake.....

it really is a beautiful tree


lost

[RetroLounge]

12. But is it silver and aluminum?

now THAT's an artificial tree...

:hi:

RL

[KitchenWitch]

13. No, it is green plastic and prelit.

I do like the silver and aluminum ones though.

[AllegroRondo]

25. Love those pre-lit trees

saves a ton of time and hassle.

[Kajsa]

14. Ya know, Kitchy, I'm almost there myself.

There use to be a few lots in Garden Grove where you could cut your own tree.

No more- they closed down.

One right by Sand Canyon and the 405 is now full of new condos.

So-- I may go that route myself.

It sure would save time,money and hassle.

:hi:

[KitchenWitch]

15. Only bummer about it is the storage aspect.

I see why people have storage lockers here. Since we do not have basements to store things in.

[Kajsa]

21. That's right, we don't.

Strange, when I was growing up in the shadow of the Cold War 50's and 60's,
a basement was a must with a house.

Alas-they are hard to find out here now.

;(

[KitchenWitch]

22. We may end up putting a shed in our back yard

[Kajsa]

26. That's what we have.

It's a small shed on the side patio.

Also, our teeny-tiny, one car garage is used as storage,

[MazeRat7]

16. Had one for years, looks great and I refuse to kill a tree for 30+ days of decoration -nt

[Lyric]

17. Artificial tree here too

This will be the third year we've owned our pre-lit tree. I just didn't see the sense in killing a living pine tree for the sake of decoration.

[bluethruandthru]

18. Fake trees rock!

I haven't killed a tree for Christmas for years. Fake ones look great!

[Critters2]

19. I never had real trees before I came here.

A couple in the church has been buying me real trees as my Christmas gift since I started here. But before that I always had artificial. There are advantages to them--no needles falling all over, no need to water, cats don't mistake the fake ones for scratching posts quite so much, and well, pre-lit means no fumbling with lights.

So, I endorse your decision to go fake this year! :thumbsup:

[Tommy_Carcetti]

24. As long as they told you "Merry Consumerism Holiday" after you bought it, I'm okay

We can't afford another War on Consumerism Holiday again!

[flvegan]

27. I keep reusing the same Festivus Pole

$38. Best investment ever. 100% aluminum, too.

[Parche]

28. Why Do You Hate Christmas

:shrug: :shrug: :rofl: :rofl: :hi:

[KitchenWitch]

31. because I am Pagan!

:P

[Deep13]

29. Tree massacre?

That tree farm would be a strip mall or cluster homes if it was not a farm. Tree farms protect open space. True it is not wilderness, but it is pretty close for a civilized place. My father's tree farm essentially saved that 33 acres from development. My friend from high school runs his family's 300 acre farm and again has saved that land from uglification. The world needs wide open places and tree farms help provide it.

Besides, trees are recyleable and biodegradeable. In 100 years it will be gone, but your oversized, green toilet brush will still be buried in a landfill uneffected by decomposition. Plus the process of making a fake "tree" is energy and petrochemical intensive. Fake ones don't last forever either. They start looking ratty after a few years.

I don't mean to rant, but wanted to put the environmental aspects into perspective.

[KitchenWitch]

33. Yes, in Minnesota, on the outskirts of the suburbs there are tree farms

Here in Orange County...I would likely have to drive 250 miles to get to a tree farm to cut my own...thus the pricing of the real trees at the lots.

Yes, I got an artificial tree. I am not a good progressive...shoot me.

[LSK]

30. my parents had the same fake tree for years and years

And now I have one too. Why do people get real ones every year?

We need trees in the forest alive and breathing, not chopping them down every year.

[Deep13]

32. The only reason that tree farm is not more sprawl...

...is because there is a market for real trees. I hope you don't think trees are just cut down in the wild forest willy-nilly.

See post 29.