I am considering not decorating for the holidays at all

I am unemployed anyway, so I can't afford a tree. I do have single blue "candles" I could put up in each front window, but somehow I am not in a festive mood with the economy being as poor as it is.

But my daughter and I have a pre-wired tree we bought last year. She may insist on putting it up.

My cat had climbed it a good many times and had really bent one of the branches. It would be find until she found it each year.
I had anticipated moving to Maryland, but that never materialized and now the prices have outstripped my meager ability to afford homes there.
The new Christmas trees look so cheap (made in China most likely) and I won't pay what they are asking for such shoddy crap. I don't like the prelit variety as I like to change the colors year to year.
I have looked for used on craigslist, but they go fast.
My only regret is how my daughter will feel when she sees I don't have a tree. That is bothering me.

A bucket of water and some bricks will hold it up. Like you, it's not for me.

and whatever makes that happen I would do. I've been there - I've been through bad times at this time of year myself, financial and otherwise.

I keep an artificial tree and I find that most convenient. In fact, I have a extra one I would be willing to give you if you live close by. I bought a bigger one last year and still have the small one. It is quite a pretty tree. PM me if you live in the DC area and we'll think of a way of getting it to you. I could also give you some multicolored lights as I decided I liked the clear ones better this year. Hope this helps.

I am a native of DC, having moved down here as the second of my biggest mistakes on record. I miss Arlington and being surrounded by democrats. I would come home, but can't afford the area anymore.
If you are still willing to donate the tree, I can ask my daughter if she really wants a tree and is willing to stop by. I have plenty of lights left over and all my old decorations. She would need to be here to decorate it anyway as I can't do ladders anymore since I need a total knee replacement.
I thank you for your generousity. Things are so bad here that I am thinking of applying for a job making $8.00 per hour and I am 54 frigging years old. I would probably make more at Walmart, but I refuse to work there. And to think I was a Realtor working in the DC area and I am reduced to this.

The tree isn't that large (it was actually bought at Arlington Hardware for my apartment when I lived in Arlington.) PM me and I'll give you more details I'm easy to find about 30 miles south of D.C. off of I-95 so she could stop by on her way home and pick up the tree. PM me for a time and directions.

year. The economy (the one we are living in) sucks. One of us is still employed - thank God - but money is very tight. More than the money thing though, I don't feel Christmas inside...just like last year. Things are too bad here in the United States to "celebrate" anything.

Its disturbing my fat republican ass while I sit here stuffing my face with war profits!

I gave up putting up a Christmas tree. They're such a waste of money, dirty, dangerous, and I don't need to kill a tree to decorate at Christmas. I got enough plastic trees inside my house and I just put lights on them, and they look beautiful. I light candles, and for real aroma, I boil cinnamon sticks and cloves and the aroma fills the house with holiday cheer.

I worry a lot about that happening to me as well, especially since I'm a middle-aged doctoral student who is going to be finished with school by August and has to start NOW begging for a job or I'll be homeless. . .ah...the residues of broken relationships that put one party into the poorhouse for awhile...

I actually got rid of my tree - I have a small pre-lit one, but I live in a small apartment alone and haven't put it up for the last two years - it just seems too much trouble. However, I did decorate a tall artificial ficus tree I have in my living room with these lights that look like gaslight - they are very pretty.

I think your candles sound beautiful - I've always loved blue lights anyway, and perhaps you could find a very inexpensive price on one of those small planted trees. I know they aren't the same at all, but they stay alive and are cute on a table and aren't any trouble at all.

I know the first couple of years that I didn't decorate were a bit depressing, but actually I'm over that now - I'm glad I don't have to spend lots of money on so many gifts, or prepare a big dinner. . .of course I'm alone anyway, so I just get a friend and we go out to dinner and enjoy having a peaceful day without work to do.

In fact, I talked with my elderly parents about gifts (I had planned to send them gift cards which are practical during the year) but when I told them I was sending things to the troops with anysoldier.com, they insisted that we do that as a project this year. And that really has put me into a holiday spirit. . .

You sound like a very kind, giving person. And that is what the holidays are supposed to be about anyway, you just demonstrate it all year. I'm in Illinois - I'd be happy to send you some lights for a window or a plant or something like that. . .and you could just be creatiev with the holiday this year - it could be fun! And just tell your daughter that you became so distraught over the religiously correct way to call a "tree" this year that you just decided not to do it...I also have this nice tall figurine of an old-fashioned Santa...somewhere in the closet that I'd be happy to send you as well if you like.

I don't think I'll decorate, either. Maybe I'll put up a couple wreaths, but that's about it. Like readmylips, I don't need to destroy a tree for the holidays. Not my thing. And yes, they can be dangerous (fire) and they make a pine needle mess that I would rather not contend with. I'd rather see them living in the forest, processing all the Co2 the SUVs put out.

Now what I do get into is decorating my computer desktop. I have all kinds of holiday pictures I've saved and I put them up as screensavers.

The worst part about holiday decorations is taking them down. Man, I hate that. I hate getting them out and I hate taking them down. And then there are the people who leave their lights up all year. I hate them everytime I drive by their house. Sort of defeats the meaning of the holiday, all that hate, ya' think? LOL.

Ehh, Christmas. I prefer Valentine's Day and Halloween.




Cher

completely this year . . . I might just send all my friends and relatives a little note that informs them of this fact and asks that anything they might have considered spending on a gift for me instead be donated to one of the following organizations . . . haven't really thought about the list yet, but it will include . . .

- a human rights organization
- an organization helping Katrina survivors
- an environmental organization
- an animal rescue organization
- ReclaimDemocracy.com (working to end corporate personhood)
- an organization working to eliminate e-voting
- an organization working to reopen the 9/11 investigation
- and of course, Democratic Underground . . .

on edit: let's add the ACLU to the list . . .

Too many typos I am going to bed. Nighty night all.

construction paper and drew decorations on it, taped it under a window and we just went with that. He was 16 and didn't want to bring in the tree and so what started as a joke turned into a great idea. We saved it for this year. We found out that instead of not doing anything, we did what made us happy.

out on anything besides the work to get it down and then the work to put it all away.

edit to add "haven't done the Christmas decoration thing"

for the following reasons:

1. The only room in our home to put up a tree is the living room - which we don't use during the winter because it's too cold to sit in there. The living room has cathedral ceilings and to get it warm we have to "kick up" the thermostat - which then turns the rest of the house into a sauna. We had put one up in the past - but what happens is we put up the tree, turn on the lights, say "that's pretty", turn off the lights. So we really don't "enjoy" it at all.

2. We also don't have company during the holiday season. Both our families are out of state, ditto for our close friends.

3. We have 5 cats, and at least 3 of them love to climb things

4. my partner is Jewish - so a "tree", while it's nice, is not an important feature to the holiday season - and since I'm the one who puts up the tree and takes it down (see #1 reason).
We do display a Menorah since this is important to my partner, and it's easy to set up and use.

Regarding greeting cards: We go with a generic Happy Holidays or Season's greetings to avoid having to buy cards with different acknowledgements of the season. We have friends/family that celebrate Christmas, Channuka, Kwannza and the winter solitice.

Overall we feel that however you celebrate - it's what is in your heart all through the year that is important - not what you call a holiday

And maybe a scented candle.
Quick, cheep and easy

Stick them in pails or vases. If you have lights, string them around the room, or tinsel, or something. Anything you do that is out of the ordinary makes a child happy. Cut up magazines and make paper chains Light the candles and play special music. Changing the environment doesn't require any money at all. The real Christmas is about taking some time and thinking and it is about love.

Or go for a ride and look at the lights.

I'm not a Christian, so Christmas isn't anything I celebrate. I did when my son was young, but no more. I do try to live the spirit of Christmas - peace & goodwill to all - every day of the year though.

and even poorer than I am now, a Christmas tree was way way out of our budget. We found a wonderful bare leaf multi-branch dead bush and stuck it in a empty coffee can filled with sand. We strung lights all over it and dangled our meager supply of bulbs from the twiggy branches. I had a glittery shawl that we wrapped around the coffee can and volia! we had a gorgeous unique tree. At least it looked gorgeous to us and in my memory it was. :)

The season is in your heart.Unfortunately when you are unable to celebrate it in the manner that it is advertised....be a super American shopper, it can be depressing. So the real deal is when things are tough at this time of year, it seems to emphasize "our" financial woes and make us feel and think we are inadequate. I am sure there are many many Americans in the same quandary this year, I know I am one.