Lovehound
join:2005-08-18
Northridge, CA
| Getting a deal on Christmas trees?
In another thread I commented that this year for the first time ever I put up Christmas lights on my house. (I'm a bachelor, would have done it long ago if I had kids.)
Well I've been estranged from my sister for years but my mom says she's maybe coming around, getting more reasonable, so I've invited my mom, my step-dad, and my sister over for Christmas eve dinner, and I'm thinking of putting up a Christmas tree, this too for my first time ever.
It's only important for the one night, and I've heard that trees go on sale in the final few days before Christmas, so my question is "is this true?" I want to buy just a very small tree, and I'll put it on a box to make it seem taller (wrap that in a white blanket or towels to simulate snow) but what I would like advice on is where I can get a really inexpensive Christmas tree (a real one, not artificial) and I don't mind waiting until the 22nd or 23rd if the prices are lower then. Specifically this refers to the Los Angeles market.
And heck, on the 26th I can pour gasoline on it and torch it!!!   (Just kidding. But wouldn't that be kewl! )
So if any of youse out there have any economical tips on how I can have a Christmas tree for just Christmas eve and of course Christmas day itself, I'll appreciate your advice.
"Yo ho ho" instead of "Bah humbug" this year. Even Lovehound has a heart.
Greg/Loveound
p.s. We can turn this into a discussion of the economics and consumerism of Christmas trees if anybody has comments on that. |
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CurtesyFlush
Bababooey, fafafooey, tatatoothy.
Premium
join:2002-08-23
Fontana, CA | Let it dry to the point where the needles have assumed a slight pale green and they've just started to drop, you won't need gasoline.
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Life Member, NRA and CRPA. |
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Valkyre
Premium,ExMod 2002
join:2000-12-25
Valhalla
clubs:
| reply to Lovehound
I can get you one for free. You have to wait until June though. That's when I came across this one.
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Certainty of death. Small chance of success. What are we waiting for? - Gimli |
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christmastree1
@rr.com | reply to Lovehound
Got a nice (real) Christmas tree from Home Depot for $24.99, not a bad price for a nice tree without having to wait till the last minute. Good Luck. |
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nightdesigns
Gone missing, back soon
Premium
join:2002-05-31
AZ
 ·Cox HSI
| reply to Lovehound
I picked upa $7' Doug Fir for $30 at Target. They had plenty of lesser expensive ones too. I usually get my tree from Home Depot, however the dry winds last week seem to have dried out their selection. Target was the only place of 4 that had trees that were still moist.
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[[Your signature here]] |
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Phil
Rojo Sol
Premium
join:2001-06-11
Camarillo, CA | reply to Lovehound
We got our 6.5' Douglas Fir at Home Depot for ~$23.99.
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Correcting one "looser" at a time. |
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Lovehound
join:2005-08-18
Northridge, CA
| reply to Lovehound
Thanks all for the advice. I was hoping there might be a bit better deal, particularly say perhaps the day before Christmas eve.
I got a fantastic deal on my house Christmas lights, bought 20 strings of 25' 100 mini-lights for $1.49 each when they were on sale at Rite-Aid, and it only took 12 strings to go all the way around my house and all the ridge lines too! I even got a few all-white strings that I can run along the back of my house this summer for outdoor gatherings.
I'll check out Home Depot since that seems to be the lowest price. At least I've got extra lights to decorate it, and my neighbor offered to loan me some ornaments!
Perhaps in the future I'm becoming a jolly Yo Ho Ho guy instead of a Bah Humbug grinch! Just shows you there's always room for improvement. |
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Lovehound
join:2005-08-18
Northridge, CA
| reply to CurtesyFlush
Oh and BTW Jack, I'm well aware of how hazardous dried out Xmas trees are. Your ex-colleagues provide a PSA every year just after Xmas warning about proper tree disposal. That's a benefit if I get a small tree just before Xmas day. After only a few days I'll chop it up and put the pieces in the yard waste container. That's a bit harder if you have a bigger tree.
I understand that one or two weeks after Christmas that Los Angeles provides free tree pick-up if you set it out at your curb on your normal trash day.
In a way it's kind of sad to kill all those trees even though most are grown on tree farms specifically for Christmas use. Too bad we can't leave the roots on, and then plant them all in some of the burn areas to help restoration. |
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Bloominite
Premium
join:2004-04-17
clubs:
 ·DSL EXTREME
| said by Lovehound  :In a way it's kind of sad to kill all those trees even though most are grown on tree farms specifically for Christmas use. Too bad we can't leave the roots on, and then plant them all in some of the burn areas to help restoration. The reforestation I've seen was done with seedlings just a few inches tall. It would be a major (and expensive) undertaking to lug 6-8 foot trees up a steep slope in the number required to replant a burnt slope.
I'm a big fan of locally produced farm trees. Most in this area are grown in SCE rights-of-way below high tension lines on property that can't really be used for too many purposes anyway. The farms not only provide a small income to the growers, they also brighten up otherwise blighted property, absorb CO2 and produce O2. |
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Jtmo
Premium
join:2001-05-20
Novato, CA | reply to Lovehound
Target, most just got their last load.
10% off right now.
By Monday, 50% off if any are left.
Picked up a nice 7 foot sheered for $25 tonight cs. $50 at the lots. |
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Lovehound
join:2005-08-18
Northridge, CA
| Thanks dude! I think I'll head over to Target (pronounced Tar-jhay "the French store") on Monday and if they got some well priced trees then I'll have my first own Christmas tree since I moved out from mommy and daddy's home! (That was back in the 1800's sometime...)
I was pretty sure you could get a good deal if you buy late. I mean, how much could they sell them for on the 26th? I don't need mine until the 24th although it might be nice to have it a few days sooner. I love that pine smell!
Today it is 10 days before Christmas. It seems so distant but really it's almost here.
I'm glad I switched to giving myself my own presents instead of hoping Santa knew what I wanted. I think it's plasma big screen time here for LH!
Yeah, I see the disparity between shopping for a cheap tree but buying a plasma. Please don't bash me, I'm only human. |
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Joey B
Wee
Premium
join:2001-02-16
Los Angeles, CA
| reply to Lovehound
Laugh all you want, but I noticed the Ralphs on Sherman Way and ... I believe it's Woodman (adjacent to a Rite Aid) as well as those down in my neck of the woods have had specials this week for $10 trees. They weren't ugly. They were about ~5 feet tall.
I would check Ralph's out first and if they're all out, head to Home Depot. |
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Lovehound
join:2005-08-18
Northridge, CA
| I'm within short driving distance of all three. Thank you for the tip! And short and a bit scroungy doesn't bother me at all. It'll still smell nice and look pretty when the lights, ornaments and tinsel are added. I'll hit all three stores on Monday and go with the low ball.
I'll report back. |
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Jtmo
Premium
join:2001-05-20
Novato, CA
·Comcast
| reply to Lovehound
Just be carefull, there are drunks out there on Christmas eve
Dr. Elmo ( a retired vet0 here in Town bought this for $500 years ago. He's made $5M off of it so far.
»www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPaGQEskSKM |
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Valkyre
Premium,ExMod 2002
join:2000-12-25
Valhalla
clubs: | reply to Lovehound
This may be too late. I don't know if all the Lowe's are doing this, but the one in Torrance had all their trees marked down to $5.00 each.
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Certainty of death. Small chance of success. What are we waiting for? - Gimli |
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