Help me decide!

[catnapper]

Oh the drama of my household - the big issue today is whether to put up our artificial tree or buy a real one

Here are the pros and cons of both:

Real Tree:
Pros
~The wonderful smell!
~It will be the perfect size for our livingroom
~The kids have been wanting a real tree for years

Cons
~Cost - even if its just $30, thats $30 I really don't have right now
~Lifespan, drying out, etc.
~Threat of fire from my millions of lights

Artificial Tree:
Pros
~We have it, so no expense involved.
~Been cat tested and stood up to Harry 17 pound climbing up and down it.

Cons
~This thing is HUGE, leaving little to no room for the baby swing, play mat, toys, etc

[Logan]

Normally, I would always say get a live tree, but given your financial issues, right now, I must vote to go with the one you have. Maybe you can get a live tree next year, Kim. The reason I say this is that live trees are so expensive, and I don't think you would get much for $30. Around here, even with so many Christmas tree farms near us, a 6 ft tree is probably $50 or more. I would save the money and splurge on something else. You'd probably have to buy a tree stand, too, which is not cheap, either.

You could go by a tree lot and ask to take some of the branches that they have cut off of the bottom of trees and decorate your home with them, so you'd still get that wonderful smell.

Just my two cents!

Logan

[kittycats_delight]

IMO I would say stick with the artifical. You don't need the extra expense and besides in my books they are too dangerous. I have never liked live trees. It seems like such a waste to chop down a tree just to stick lights and stuff on for one day. I am also allergic to trees believe it or not. And as they start to dry the needles are everywhere. And that can be dangerous for both Cam and the kitties. Just one stray needle is all it takes. Just my opinion though.

[JenBKR]

IMO I would say stick with the artifical. You don't need the extra expense and besides in my books they are too dangerous. I have never liked live trees. It seems like such a waste to chop down a tree just to stick lights and stuff on for one day. I am also allergic to trees believe it or not. And as they start to dry the needles are everywhere. And that can be dangerous for both Cam and the kitties. Just one stray needle is all it takes. Just my opinion though.

Agreed! I would probably stick with the artificial one

[borzoimom]

I have always had a live tree, and love it. However- with tight finances, I would use any resource I already had. SAve the live tree money for other things.
As far as saftey with a live tree, get one as fresh as possible- we soak ours in sugar water after a clean cut at the trunk for overe 24 hours before we even bring it in the house. We also keep water in it, never leaving the lights on over night or when we were not in the area of the house where the tree is. Use only UL listed lights etc. Simple precautions. I also unplug it from the wall 30 minutes before bedtime. Ours are always really fresh- but 30 dollars?? Around here trees are 55 and up.

[Argranade]

REAL TREE OF COURSE!!!

Life is only so long, we better start living to the fullest of it!

[catnapper]

Crud - I forgot all about the cost of a stand!

As for trees, they are pretty cheap around here. $30 is high. We have dozens of tree farms to choose from.

I have tossed a hundred ideas out to Ash as to where to put the tree... and all were vetoed for one reason or another (my favorite is I can't move the family computer into my office because people won't like not being able to watch tv while they play online )

You have to understand the artificial tree we have is HUGE. I'm talking 4' diameter. Space is tight as it is thanks to all the baby stuff. I am so torn about this!

[Donnaj4962]

I voted for the artificial tree. I grew up with live trees, and I do love the smell. But the needles, cost, maintenance, etc. have led me to an artificial tree. (The final straw was the year that I bought a live tree and couldn't get it into the stand properly and had to TIE it to furniture to make it stand as straight as possible!)

It sounds like space is at a minimal at your house (I can understand that with all the baby things), but for me, the lack of space for a month or so would outweigh the thought of all of the hassles and cost of a live tree. Of course, that is just my humble opinion!

Good luck with your decision!

[kuhio98]

I have a live tree fan -- but I voted for the artificial one. Don't spend the money now for a real one. If the kids whine tell them to cough up the $30 bucks themselves.

In fact! Why not make them responsible for all the holiday decorations this year?

Just my 2 cents ~ Quit asking Ashley. It's your house. Not hers. And her decision making skills have not been stellar to this point. But she will learn. With age comes wisdom.

[Craftlady]

I vote for artifical.
Once you've seen a house go up in flames because of a real tree (in our neighborhood when I was in highschool in 1970's), real tree gotta have goes out the window.

[moosmom]

I am a big fan of real trees. However, since my little "room" has no space for any kind of tree, I got 2 Yankee Candles in the scent of Mistletoe and light them whenever I'm home. If I want to see a tree, I just close my eyes, imagine a beautiful tree in the corner with lights and tons of tinsel, then I inhale. It's the best I can do for right now. Besides, my fake tree is packed away in Michigan.

I also think Vela is right, since Ashley isn't paying for it, go with what YOU want.

[krazyaboutkatz]

I also voted for an artificial tree. You don't have the extra money to spend, they're a fire hazard,and they have to be maintained. If your kids want one so bad then make them pay for it and maintain it. If you want the nice pine smell you can buy this in a can and spray it whenever you want the room to smell like a tree.

[Miss Z]

I reckon the artificial one will be fine. My family have had an artificial one for quite a while and I think we'll always have fake trees now, we kept getting too many pierced toes from steping on the fallen needles! I like the idea of removing the back branches, ours is also huge so that could be an idea for me too

[catnapper]

Thanks again everyone! I'm putting up the fake tree t onight and will be removing a lot of lower branches to save room. No idea where the swing will go yet

[Sevaede]

Geez, Kim! If I wire you the money will you ship a tree to me? (jk! ) Here, just the tiny little trees in the grocery stores are a hundred dollars or more.

I would stick with what you have available. I second the febreze pine smell. They also have a couple of other scents available as well!