We’re well into the holiday season, and if you haven’t already bought your pre-lit Christmas tree, now is the time to do so.
If you want to save money on the purchase, here are some ways to go about it.
Buy only what you need
If you have a large family or lots of visitors during the holidays, buy a tall tree that needs lots of lights. But if it’s just your immediate family coming over for holiday parties, get a smaller tree that uses fewer lights. That way, you won’t be wasting electricity on lights that aren’t being used much — and you can spend less money on the tree itself too.
Look for sales at local stores
Big box stores like Target and Walmart often offer great deals on pre-lit Christmas trees around this time of year. You may need to hurry in order to get one before they sell out though. Find out when these stores usually put up their Christmas decorations and plan your trip accordingly so that you don’t miss out on any deals.
Buy a smaller tree
If you’re buying from a retailer, check the dimensions of the tree before you buy it. If it’s too big for your house or apartment, you’ll have to spend more time pruning and shaping it after you get it home. You can also trim off some branches yourself at home if possible, but be careful — this can be dangerous.
Join a club
The National Christmas Tree Association has a program called the National Christmas Tree Association Buyer’s Club, which offers discounts on pre-lit trees and other products. The association also offers a variety of educational materials, including how-to videos, pamphlets and other information that help educate consumers about the importance of buying locally grown trees and helping the environment.
Consider alternatives to real trees
Artificial ones are more affordable than ever before, but they don’t smell like pine or shed needles all over your living room when you’re trying to relax with your family on Christmas Eve night. Some people even use live plants as alternatives if they don’t want the mess or hassle of cleaning up after decorations come down at the end of the season.
Shop online
Another way that many people save money on pre-lit Christmas trees is by shopping online instead of at brick-and-mortar stores such as Lowe’s or Home Depot. This allows them to comparison shop more easily, since they can view multiple options at once without having to drive around town looking for them.
They can also compare prices between different vendors easily by using price comparison websites like Google Shopping.
Buy during the right season
You should buy your tree during the right season. Pre-lit trees are usually cheaper in early November than they are later in December — especially after Thanksgiving weekend. Don’t wait too long though; some retailers may start selling out of certain sizes by mid-December.
Buy an unlit tree and decorate it yourself
If you have time and energy, there’s no shame in this approach! Just be sure to keep your decorations simple so they’re easy to take down after Christmas without damaging the tree’s branches or needles.
