For bonus points, consider buying a rosemary bush, Harman says. You may be able to find smaller varieties at a nearby garden center or nursery instead of the local tree lot. "If you're trying to have a lower price, get a tabletop tree, decorate it and it still smells good," Lamb says. One of the simplest ways to reduce costs is to buy a smaller tree. If you can support a local farm, even better, experts say. While you can buy a real tree sight unseen from retailers such as Amazon, experts generally recommend buying a tree that you can touch, assess and smell in person instead of having one shipped to your home.
Steer clear if the branches are stiff and dry instead of springy. But if you come away with an entire handful, don't buy the tree. If you find a few needles in your hand, that's OK, Lamb says. As you look to select a tree, run your hand down a branch.
Trees decline in quality after they've been cut for a long time, transported and rolled up, Lamb says. If you're not at a farm, ask the retailer how recently the tree was cut and where it originated. Choosing a healthy Christmas tree increases the chances that it will keep its luster until Dec.
If you're buying a real tree, aim to select one that's thriving. Again, pricing for an artificial tree will vary based on size, quality, style and other factors. If you can't examine the artificial tree in a brick-and-mortar store before you purchase it, aim to buy one from a business you trust, says Thomas Harman, CEO and founder of Balsam Hill, a retailer of high-end artificial Christmas trees and other seasonal decorations. Like real trees, artificial Christmas trees are available from a range of retailers, including online sellers such as Amazon, specialty retailers and brick-and-mortar stores, including Home Depot, Lowe's and Walmart. When it comes to how real trees are priced, retailers may price the trees by foot, charge by quality or assign a flat price.Īrtificial trees. If you're looking for value beyond a Christmas tree, such as a chance to see where the tree is grown, take a hayride, drink hot chocolate and meet Santa Claus, a tree farm may create more of a holiday experience for you and your family, says Elizabeth Lamb, a senior extension associate for Cornell University's New York State Integrated Pest Management program, who works with producers of nursery crops and Christmas trees. "If affordability is the trigger, I think a consumer is smart to say, 'Where do I know I can shop for value?'" He adds, "National retailers who position themselves as a place to shop and get a great value every day, those types of retailers build their Christmas tree offering for exactly that kind of customer." If you're looking for the cheapest rates on real trees, national chains may have the most competitive prices, says Tim O'Connor, executive director of the National Christmas Tree Association. Even Amazon will deliver a real Christmas tree to your door for about $115. Others may travel to nurseries, parking lot stands, churches and big-box retailers such as Home Depot and Lowe's. Consumers can head to choose-and-cut farms, where they select their own tree and chop it down on the spot. There are myriad locations to buy a real Christmas tree, depending on where you live and how far you're willing to travel. Read on for more information on each technique. Pay attention to quality and materials.ĭepending on your tastes and preferences, budget-conscious Christmas celebrants can use a variety of strategies to save money on a Christmas tree this year.