Third Time is a Charm...

I’m sure you’ve heard the saying… “Third time is a charm” That is exactly what I’m hoping!

Let me explain:  Up until we moved into the home we currently are living, we always had a real tree for Christmas.  We decided that with the kids grown and us getting older we’d get an artificial tree to use in our new home. So about 2 months before Christmas I started searching for a good quality artificial tree with the lights already on it. I wanted the lights already on it because putting the lights on was something my husband and I both disliked doing (abhorred is probably a better description!).  I purchased a very expensive tree from a very good brand named company that had reviews of 4 – 5 stars wherever I looked. I hate to admit how much I paid for it but in 2006 I paid $349.00 plus tax and shipping. Ouch! My reasoning for paying such an exorbitant price was that it would last for the rest of our lives. My parents had the same tree for over 25 years!  WRONG!  The lights stopped working the fourth year we put it up (2009), causing great stress on my husband who after spending countless hours trying to find the problem, took me to K Mart and we purchased a lovely tree for under $85.00.

Which brings us to 2013… we put the tree up and half of the lights won’t work!  He replaced the fuses; he checked all the blubs, the wires, etc. Nope, can’t find the problem!

                 Now some of you might be thinking just replace the strand of lights… if that is your thought then you have never looked at how the wires are attached to the tree. They are wired or connected so tightly and close to the branches that we’d have to literally cut the wire strand off the tree. Every bulb is attached to the tree (if there are 1000 lights on the tree you’ll have 1000 cuts to make). I tried to do this but ended up also cutting some the branches off the tree! Forget it; I put the tree back in the basement! 

                But my wonderful husband came to my rescue and took me to Walmart where we purchased our third Christmas tree in 8 years.  It’s a beautiful tree and it’s flocked with acorns attached to some of the branches (I always wanted a flocked tree but were too expensive).  It was $129.00 a good price considering the price of a gallon of gas in 2008 was less than $1.90 and today we’re lucky to find it $3.29!

 I’ve been trying to justify the fact that I have repurchased a Christmas tree every three to four years by comparing what it would cost if I had bought a real tree every year…  You can purchase a real tree for around $30.00 at Walmart or go to a lot that sells trees and find one anywhere from $45.00 to $90.00, or you can cut your own. My daughter took me last year to cut her own tree and it was $5.00 a foot!  I called her today to tell her about my newest tree and she said the cost this year was $6.00 a foot! She spent $40.00. 

                Does this justify buying another tree this year?  I don’t know, I haven’t actually convinced myself yet, but I’m trying! Let me know what you think…