The holiday season is well underway, so now is the time to get your pre-lit Christmas tree.
Here are a few suggestions for reducing your outlay on the acquisition.
Spend only on necessities.
Consider purchasing a tall tree that requires many lights if you expect a large number of guests throughout the holiday season. You can get away with a smaller tree and fewer lights if you’re only inviting close relatives to your holiday celebrations. Therefore, you may save money on both the tree and the electricity used to light it by turning off the lights when they are not in use.
Find Store discounts.
Pre-lit Christmas trees are frequently on sale at major retailers like Target and Walmart at this time of year. If you want one, you better act fast before they all sell out. Learn when these retailers typically put up their holiday displays so that you can time your visit to catch the best sales.
Do yourself a favor and get a smaller tree.
Before purchasing a tree from a store, make sure to verify its size. If it’s going to be too huge for your home or apartment, you should plan on spending additional time trimming and shaping it once you get it there. If you’re up for it and have the necessary equipment, you can also remove some branches from your tree at home, but proceed with caution.
Get involved with a group.
The National Christmas Tree Association operates a program called the National Christmas Tree Association Buyer’s Club, which gives savings on pre-lit trees and other merchandise. The group also provides a number of educational resources, such as how-to films, leaflets, and other information, to assist spread the word about the benefits of purchasing locally grown trees and the need to protect the environment.
Don’t settle for real trees; think outside the forest.
To avoid having pine needles litter your living room on Christmas Eve while you and your family are trying to relax, artificial trees are now more affordable than ever. When they don’t want to deal with the clutter and difficulty of cleaning up after seasonal decorations, some people even use actual plants as a substitute.
Shop online
At addition to purchasing pre-lit Christmas trees from online vendors, many consumers are saving money by avoiding the higher prices found in local hardware and home improvement stores. They can see many different choices at once, saving them time and effort from having to drive all across town.
With the help of services like Google Shopping, they can quickly and simply compare costs from various retailers.
Seasonal shopping has its advantages.
At the correct time of year is when you should go out and purchase your tree. Most pre-lit trees are on sale after Thanksgiving weekend, but the best deals may be found in early November. Keep in mind that by mid-December, some stores may have already sold out of specific sizes, so you may want to hurry.
Get a tree without lights and put up your own decorations.
There’s no shame in taking this route if you’re able to. Simple decorations are easier to take down after Christmas and won’t leave the tree’s limbs or needles damaged.