Anyone NOT put tree up ?

doelani

I used to love Christmas but for a number of reasons we have got out of the habit of putting tree and decorations up since 2005.

We still give children ( all grown up ) christmas presents. My husband and myself do not do presents, if we need something throughout the year and we have the money we get it. Instead of sending cards we make a donation to charity.

My stepdaughter today said my husband and I are like Scrooge because we hate Christmas. It is hard to explain but it just is such a depressing time for me if I could go to bed on 24th and waken up on 26th it would be great. We both feel Christmas as most people see it is such a big strain financially on people and refuse to get back into that again.

Like I said we still do gifts for children , I have been budgeting for it since January. We will still have a turkey dinner but thats it. We may go to Church on Christmas morning but I just cannot be bother with the whole , buy a tree ( threw ours out a few years ago ) buy decorations, get dressed up Christmas day and then a few days later take the tree down and put it in attic.

I told SD that there is not point doing the whole tree thing for her dad and me as we have no kids in house and she replied , well my granny does and she has no kids in house lol Just can't win.

Another reason is we cannot afford to waste money on it all, like I said have budgeted all year and I would rather spend the money on something useful like ..............well anything lol

Anyone one else not bother?

searching_me

while i understand why you dont .. i couldnt imagine my christmas without one ... the image of christmas to me is when that tree is up and glowing i cant describe its like not matter what as long as this tree is glowing then it'll be alright ... as you say your children are grown up and by the sounds of it you see it as a big strain on your money and too much time and effort ..... but dont you miss that child like feeling when you popped that angel on top of the tree .. even just alittle ... as i say i do see your side and it does drive me mad how people go crazy and spend £1000's they dont have .. but seems like christmas is the new marmite you either love it or hate it ...

hope you enjoy this christmas xxx

penny1973

Have had several years without Christmas tree - 9 months pregnant, Christmas spent in Wales whilst in living in London etc
I love the time spent with family ( immediate only.) I have chips and leftovers for xmas dinner (never have turkey !!! as I am the only one who likes it!!):j
Will have tree this year because of the children have reignited my love of Xmas trees but dream of spending the day in PJ's with OH!!
You have explained your reasons to SD and she needs to be less judgmental
We all celebrate in different ways and I hope you enjoy Christmas your way:A

Lower_North

We didnt have a Christmas tree last year, but for a different reason. We had a kitten in November and he spent all his time climbing the tree and knocking it over. We would re-dress, he would knock over and so on.

We are talking of not having one this year, so may be joining you.

A tree doesnt make Christmas

mrs_baggins

I must admit to being a bit of a bah humbug too!! when the kids wee little I used to do all the deccies and things but now there is just me I just dont bother. I didnt even put most of the cards up last year. I dint invite anyone for lunch last year as there are various reasons I didnt want to invite someone who is not family but feel too guilty not to invite -then I just dont enjoy it as he is the most difficult old man in the world. So I lied and told him i was going to a friends! Still felt guilty though.

Sounds like I am right mean but I buy everyone presents and send cards to family and try to have a good time at work but the christmas spirit just defeats me!

do what you want to do and dont feel bad is how I look at it. Or minimise it anyway!

midnightraven3

when the children were young
i went the whole hog
white footprints on the carpet, tree, decorations, everything
i was more excited than they were:rotfl:

now they are teens
we dont bother
i asked, and they said it didnt bother them

we have a lovely holiday period
relaxed, and totally "us"
what we want to do as a family

i have to admit i hate the clutter & dust collecting tree & stuff that is supposed to come with christmas

we are not christians
and we celebrate yule, in the traditional way, as that means more to us than christmas
so when christmas day comes, its much more informal & relaxed

yes we do presents, but no one likes turkey/christmas pudding etc
so we plan & cook the meal together of what we want

a tree doesnt signify christmas
(the tree came from yule)

do what makes you happy
if we cant do our own thing, with peace, at christmas, when can we?

i hope you have a lovely & relaxed time OP

lilac_lady

Thers are small artificial trees complete with lights that could sit on a sideboard or small table. I have one and put out a FEW Christmas things on my mantlepiece. IF I didn't have grandchildren I probably wouldn't bother. I give presents but have cut back on them and the cards, donating a bit extra to charity instead because I feel that this time of year is just over-hyped hoo ha.

johnmarsh

yes nice one thanks for sharing

Bitsy_Beans

doelani wrote: »

I used to love Christmas but for a number of reasons we have got out of the habit of putting tree and decorations up since 2005.

We still give children ( all grown up ) christmas presents. My husband and myself do not do presents, if we need something throughout the year and we have the money we get it. Instead of sending cards we make a donation to charity.

My stepdaughter today said my husband and I are like Scrooge because we hate Christmas. It is hard to explain but it just is such a depressing time for me if I could go to bed on 24th and waken up on 26th it would be great. We both feel Christmas as most people see it is such a big strain financially on people and refuse to get back into that again.

Like I said we still do gifts for children , I have been budgeting for it since January. We will still have a turkey dinner but thats it. We may go to Church on Christmas morning but I just cannot be bother with the whole , buy a tree ( threw ours out a few years ago ) buy decorations, get dressed up Christmas day and then a few days later take the tree down and put it in attic.

I told SD that there is not point doing the whole tree thing for her dad and me as we have no kids in house and she replied , well my granny does and she has no kids in house lol Just can't win.

Another reason is we cannot afford to waste money on it all, like I said have budgeted all year and I would rather spend the money on something useful like ..............well anything lol

Anyone one else not bother?

Well I put my decs up 1st December, I like to get my money's worth and then come New Years day thats it, all comes down.

For me I love the Christmas tree, sitting with the lights turned off with the fairy lights on in the dark (sad I know) and even if we didn't have presents or anything else I'd always put the tree up.
However I don't find Christmas depressing, I have nothing but good memories to associate with it and if you don't then I can understand why you don't bother.
I wouldn't stop celebrating Christmas though on the basis that some people find it a financial strain.......not everyone is like that. It is possible to have a lovely Christmas without having to remortgage.

If you can't afford to buy a new tree then try freecycle, especially after Xmas as lots of people give away some of their old decorations thereby saving you money.

doelani

Thanks for replies everyone

I do sound like a real mean person but not really lol

funkymonkey849

Aaahhhh I LOVE putting up the Christmas decorations, the house always looks so much nicer with tinsel and twinkly lights!

This year I am SO excited as we bought a house so it wll be our first Christmas in our lovely new house.

I also put decorations up on the first of December, and leave them up for as long as possible!

My dad and mum still get out the decorations me and my brother made when we were kiddies, there are some toilet rolls covered with cotton wool that are still going strong 20 years later :rotfl:

I don't really spend any money as we have a fake tree. Apart from each year I buy a new decoration, this is a tradition I've inherited from my mum who used to let us choose a new tree decoration every year when we went xmas shopping. Ah lovely memories