by Leah A.
Member since:
October 4, 2007

A Real Or Artificial Tree?

December 13, 2007 12:10 PM EST
views: 78 | comments: 37

When I was growing up, we always had an artificial tree, and I never minded it. When my oldest daughter was about two years old, though, we got our first real tree, and I've never looked back.

Since we have the new baby, we were thinking of getting an artificial tree this year. We thought that it would be safer, and a good investment in the long-run. When we went and priced the artificial trees, though, we got quite a shock. We wanted a tree that at least somewhat resembled a real one and that could hold our ornaments without breaking the branches. The least expensive one we found was $170! We can get a real tree for $20, so it would take nine years of buying real trees to equal the price of an artificial one! We are not sure what we are going to do at this point.

What kind of a tree do you put up, and why do you like that kind better than the other kind? I would like to hear from everybody, but I'm especially interested in responses from people that have or had little ones and animals.

link to this page
Bookmark this post:
Facebook
Twitter
Delicious
Buzz
More

Comments: 37

vickie f. Dec 13, 2007, 12:16pm EST
I ususlly put up a plastic one, saves the mess, I hate cutting trees down for a few days,just to throw it away as if it was of no value at all.
Now that my kids are gone I do not even do that.
Deeanna M. Dec 13, 2007, 12:18pm EST
we always had a real tree when i was growing up, but my husband and i got a small fake one this year. we have a 9 mos old daughter and we figured we'll get a real on when she's old enough to help pick it out
Leah A. Dec 13, 2007, 12:22pm EST
Thanks Vickie and Deeanna.
Jessica Austin Dec 13, 2007, 12:35pm EST
I have both at the moment. The fake one is only 3 feet tall though. But that is because I didn't have space for a full sized. I have always had real ones growing up and currently have one in my living room that the cats aren't trying to climb!
Leah A. Dec 13, 2007, 12:48pm EST
Thanks Jessica.
Leah A. Dec 13, 2007, 1:01pm EST
Thanks K Anne M.
Christopher K. Dec 13, 2007, 1:04pm EST
we have an artifical one but i myself always preferred a real one..makes it more Christmas-y i think...

Sweet Comments at DazzleJunction.com
Good Morning Comments - DazzleJunction.com
Leah A. Dec 13, 2007, 1:11pm EST
Christopher, I agree that real trees make it more Christmas-y, which is why we wanted an artificial one that looked like a real one.
Leah A. Dec 13, 2007, 1:21pm EST
Thanks Don.
J W. Dec 13, 2007, 1:35pm EST
artifical
Moh H. Dec 13, 2007, 1:43pm EST
I only have one spot for a tree, and it isn't very big. But the ceiling in my ancient house are quite high, so a small "real" tree looks pretty wimpy. About a year or so after I moved into this place (8 years ago), I found 7' tree that has only about a 3' diameter at the widest. Perfect fit. Yah, it's "fake", but once all the decorations are on it (those that aren't being regularly removed again by the cats. They leave me presents on the kitchen rug every morning. Today it was a shiny gold bow), I defy anyone to tell the difference. It also saves the headache of dragging a real one up the front stairwell (it'd be pretty beat up by the time it made its way up my winding stair case, as would those trying to drag it up there), and worse, dragging the shedding carcus down again in January. My artificial one works...just...fine.
Leah A. Dec 13, 2007, 1:57pm EST
Thanks J.

Moh - lol . . . I can definitely see the benefits of an artificial tree for you!
Melinda ~choosing happiness~ S. Dec 13, 2007, 3:15pm EST
Mine is a fake pre-lit tree. It's all I can manage anymore by myself. But I do love real trees.
Leah A. Dec 13, 2007, 3:39pm EST
Thanks Melinda. I like the idea of a pre-lit tree, but I'm concerned what will happen when one of the lights get blown.
Heather W. Dec 13, 2007, 4:01pm EST
I have a fake tree. I don't want the hassle of pine needles all over the floor, plus real trees make my allergies act up.
Dee - Nature Babe! Dec 13, 2007, 4:24pm EST
artificial, we are allergic to pine and never tried again. Besides we did not like the needles we were finding 8 years later.
Leah A. Dec 13, 2007, 8:18pm EST
Thanks Heather, Dina, Jenn and Debbie. You ladies brought up another good point - my allergies start acting up a couple weeks after we get the real tree. I just found out it is from tree mold, which starts to grow two weeks after the tree is cut no matter what you try to do to prevent it. However, I still like my real tree.
Leah A. Dec 14, 2007, 4:16pm EST
Yeah Day Dreamer, that surprised me, too. There were some for as little as $20, but they were really cheap. The branches were sparse, and they wouldn't hold anything heavier than a feather-light ornament.
Susan Sparkman Dec 15, 2007, 12:07pm EST
If you have a Michael's store anywhere nearby, check them out. That is where I bought mine 8 Christmases ago, when I adopted my daughter. They have weekly sales and discount coupons in the newspaper. If no Michael's how about JoAnne's or Hobby Lobby? My tree was 7-foot and very pretty & easy to assemble, which is important, as I am a single mom.
My tree came with lights, which made it incredibly convenient. My daughter loved our tree. I sold it this summer, before our move to France. Wait until you see the tree we have this year! I'm working on an article that I will publish in the next day or so and it will have a photo of our tree this year.
Before adopting my daughter, my entire adult life I always had a live tree. I enjoyed the live trees, but boy oh boy, I loved the convenience and ease of cleen-up that my 8 years with an artificial tree provided.
Susan Sparkman Dec 15, 2007, 12:11pm EST
P.S. I payed well under $100 for the artificial tree; I looked at a bunch of expensive ones, but as beautiful as they were, they just were not in my budget; Remember, it will look much better after decorations are piled on; Let us know what you end up doing....
leann l. Dec 17, 2007, 12:07am EST
id go fake no pins and needles
leann l. Dec 17, 2007, 12:09am EST
my kittys might get hurt if i got a real one
leann l. Dec 17, 2007, 12:11am EST
i got a six foot for 20$ at a store here in ne
Christina F. Dec 20, 2007, 7:45pm EST
We bought a live tree at Home Depot for a fairly cheap price two years ago and we are using it again this year. We keep it outdoors during the rest of the year. The nice thing about a live tree is that you don't get the pine needles everywhere yet you have the real deal. It's not as large of a tree as we have gotten when buying a cut tree but we put it up on a little table with a tree skirt and white blanket beneath that for a snow look and it works.

My parents invested in an artificial tree after the holidays a few years back (you can get a much better deal after Christmas) and they love it and it looks great year after year.
Jo C. Apr 8, 2008, 10:06am EDT
HAPPY BIRTHDAY! (whistles, bells, virtual cake) Don't you wish you knew how I knew? You have a wonderful daughter :)
debra g. Apr 8, 2008, 1:54pm EDT
HAPPY BIRTHDAY my friend!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I hope that all of your birthday wishes come true!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(sammie) told me it was your birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Have a great gather day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sammie B. Apr 15, 2008, 11:12am EDT
Thanks for sharing.
Leah A. Apr 19, 2008, 6:42pm EDT
Thanks for the comments. We got lucky and were given an artificial tree that almost looked real, so it worked out well.

Jo and Debra - thank you very much for the birthday wishes! I'm so lucky to have such a great daughter!
The Red Headed Witch of Gather G. May 29, 2008, 10:34pm EDT
We have an artificial tree. If you buy one the day after Christmas, you can usually get a really nice one for a reasonable price.
Tabitha M. May 29, 2008, 10:36pm EDT
We have a great artificial tree we got at Wal-mart on sale for less than $90. It looks so real and is easy to assemble.
Sarah (I want points) Jun 4, 2008, 1:17pm EDT
We've always had an artificial one. As long as you shape them well, they are okay.
Sammie B. Jun 6, 2008, 12:41pm EDT
Thanks for sharing.
JoAnn C. Jun 13, 2008, 11:30pm EDT
I have an artificial one
Leah A. Jul 25, 2008, 8:23am EDT
Thanks Melissa, Tabitha, Sarah, Sam and JoAnn.

Join the Conversation
Chime in! Become a Gather member to comment.
Already a member? Sign in
top
 
Gather | Friends | Groups | Share
About Gather | Engagement Marketing | Make New Friends | Gather Points | Advertise on Gather | Gather Press | Privacy | Terms of Service | Community Guidelines
Books | Celebs | Entertainment | Family | Food | Health | Moms | Money | News | Politics | Spirituality | Sports | Travel | Writing
Version 16961, "Pacino"; Copyright © 2009 Gather Inc. All rights reserved.