Real tree or prelit?

I have always loved and wanted a real tree, love the smell, but once when times were very hard couldnt afford a tree but went searching around and eventually found shop where they had a couple of large branches that had come off a tree and made them an offer for them and they actually gave them to me. I messed about at home with a pot etc and managed to get them put up in one pot and weighted them down, then covered them with soil etc and put the baubles on etc. It was worth the effort and the smell was authentic! Do you have a friend who goes mad with a large tree and could give you a branch or do you know someone with a tree that would not miss a branch? Or perhaps you can go to a farm that is selling trees and see if there is a really little one that you could have. If all else fails do your own decorations at home and get round to as many friends as you can who have a real tree and enjoy theirs!! Sometimes there are also quite fun things in churches where they have lots of different societies and charities decorating trees and you can go round and enjoy them.

I found this a pleasant thread as I love Christmas. I was happy to give a opinion. I hope Rose's gets the tree she wants and enjoys it.
It's a shame that a poster refers to things being snobby with one upmanship so she can get it of her chest, it ruined a nice thread.

Our Christmas tree when I was small was always stolen!!!
My uncle worked for the MOD and there was a big Navel underground store which we all referred to as the "Dump". There were underground railways and missiles and labs my grandad had worked there in the Labs.
On the surface, it looked like a deer plantation with fir trees. My uncle used to bring us one with a root from there on a dark night with his pass.
Years later some men were caught stealing lead and were prosecuted under the Secrets Act. I suppose my uncle would have been with his stash of trees.
The farmer opposite us goes and gets one from another farmer's plantation, last year driving home he saw someone doing the same at his plantation.

The farmer opposite us goes and gets one from another farmer's plantation, last year driving home he saw someone doing the same at his plantation.

That made me laugh Bella23 😁😁😁

rafichagran

I found this a pleasant thread as I love Christmas. I was happy to give a opinion. I hope Rose's gets the tree she wants and enjoys it.
It's a shame that a poster refers to things being snobby with one upmanship so she can get it of her chest, it ruined a nice thread.

This is a pleasant thread.

Just nice opinions on trees - and some ridiculousness to ignore!

I thought so too Norah but hope I haven't inadvertently upset anyone!

Or perhaps you can go to a farm that is selling trees and see if there is a really little one that you could have. If all else fails do your own decorations at home and get round to as many friends as you can who have a real tree and enjoy theirs!! Sometimes there are also quite fun things in churches where they have lots of different societies and charities decorating trees and you can go round and enjoy them

Thank you for the thought but can I repeat this is nothing whatsoever to do with whether or not can afford a tree
The prelit ones I like from White Company cost about 6 times the price of their real equivalent!
It's the principle !

I think of my prelit trees on the basis of cost per use, like cost per wear for clothes. Mine have paid for themselves many times over. I’ve had one of them for at least ten years, the others for eight, still going strong.

We have a real tree but don't put it up until about a week before the Day as it won't last otherwise until 12th Night. I like to leave all the festive decorations up until then, or at least News Year's Day because after 25th things can feel a bit flat. Even if we were to give up having a real tree I would have a wreath on the front door with real greenery. This year I am going to make my own as I have booked myself and my DIL in to a workshop near where they live. She is very creative and will enjoy this.

We always had a real tree and used to enjoy our annual a trip with the DC and in recent years the GC to a local forest to choose one. Over the years we had some beautiful trees, sometimes a bit too big once we got them home! I love everything about a real tree, especially the smell but for various reasons we decided to buy a really good artificial one. Now I’m on my own I’m happy to stick with that one. It’s easier for me to put up and I don’t fancy being out in the cold sawing off a big piece of trunk so a real tree fits in the bay window. The one I’ve got always looks lovely and hopefully will last for years.

GSM - this just shows how we are all so different...

Whilst I know a "fake" tree is often cheaper cost per use it's not always the cost per use that makes us choose something. Sometimes we are happy to pay more for something just because we love it! Pleasure and warm feelings are harder to put a price on. If we are talking cost per use, I know I would rather spend more per use and enjoy something more (assuming I could still manage financially).
But then I'd also manage with something not very practical or something ugly than buy something because it is simply "good value". I think I'm more driven than most by details and it's these that often give me joy.

Just had a thought - I suppose if that were the thinking behind a purchase none of us would ever buy a one-use wedding dress!

I have the prelit trees by choice NS, I prefer them to a real tree. I don’t have them because they work out cheaper, that would be sad.

How I wish this had not deteriorated into anything about affordability or cost!
Perhaps I was not clear enough at the outset, it’s about being on my own now, going to family instead of them coming here, no longer being the linchpin of the Christmas hosting, or welcoming the chicks back to the nest, “handing on the baton.”
I know it’s inevitable but somehow the tree symbolises all that “doing Christmas” has meant in the past. I could not believe it when Mum admitted she was no longer having a tree as it was so central to Christmas for her .
Ah well, “granny in the corner” , here I come.

That's great GSM - I think plenty of people genuinely prefer them. I was just writing in response to your comment above which starts "I think of my prelit trees on the basis of cost per use.."

So, yes I agree, just choosing for cost reasons is not great and in the past I have had to do that. I believe that most of us must buy on cost reasons too though.
I was never going to be able to buy the bathroom tiles I loved at the price I saw them and found an acceptable option that were inexpensive and fine...

(I don't love them though!)

RosiesMaw I didn't read it as about cost - though I admid that I have just now been drawn into the cost discussion to say it's not all about cost...

I think you are at a point where as you are going away you are (quite logically) thinking why? about the tree situation.
I thought you were asking do you get a little real one or not?

I would get a small real one and enjoy it. Others had other thoughts.

I don't suppose you are any the wiser!
Sorry.

Thank you NS - I was indeed asking “which” I suppose as a step towards “whether at all?” 🌲

When our children were small we always had a real tree ( and, incidentally, I have never smelled any pine scent!), and now I have a pre-lit, pre-decorated one, which lifts out of the box in about two minutes. We only bought that as grandchildren were concerned that we didn’t have one, even though we were going away. This year, like last, I’ll be away till January, so it won’t see light of day!

RosiesMaw I confess it's more work having a real one. I don't think I'd manage it without help.

Much of the joy, however, is getting out all the old family baubles to enjoy (again) - though about 10 years ago I divided them up into 4 lots and only kept one. My daughters have the others. My sons said they didn't want any.

RosiesMaw
To Tree or not to Tree
That is the question
Whether 'tis noble fir in the mind
To suffer the pine needles that cost an outrageous fortune

I would get a real tree, like the one you showed us on here. It was small, well formed and lovely.
I think it will make the house feel welcome and Christmassy.
Whatever you decide enjoy it.

AreWeThereYet

^The farmer opposite us goes and gets one from another farmer's plantation, last year driving home he saw someone doing the same at his plantation.^

That made me laugh Bella23 😁😁😁

It's true and he was moaning that the one they had taken was bigger than the one he had.
They do it with stray sheep as well then send them to a certain market where last year one of them. was found to have a herd stolen from farms all over the Pennines he was prosecuted.
.

keepcalmandcavachon

RosiesMaw
To Tree or not to Tree
That is the question
Whether 'tis noble fir in the mind
To suffer the pine needles that cost an outrageous fortune

The world a stage,
And each must play his part,
He knows in his heart,
If with his money he'll part.

Oh dear, I am so sorry I spoiled a perfectly "nice " thread.
It certainly wasn't my intention.
As I said it is horses for courses and nothing to do with cost at all.
I felt that some were saying nothing but a real tree was "proper"
I am 86 and could not get or manhandle a real tree any more.
I am sad if I offended anyone but I did indeed get out there how I felt.

We used to have a real tree- but changed to a compact artificial tree our son fell in love with some years ago. For the last few years we have had real pot grown rooted trees but outside next to the front door- decorated simply with outdoor lights. This leaves us more space inside but the tree lights are visible through the front windows. Having not been inside the trees usually survive when planted on into the end of the garden, gradually forming an evergreen mini forest barrier between us and the motorway. We do put up decorations inside.

Annsixty - I agree its what suits our needs-house size - and circumstances best. My parents found a small artificial twinkling table top tree worked well with small grandchildren - out of crawling range!