The Best Places To Buy A Real (& Affordable) Christmas Tree

Every year, families across the country make plans for the upcoming holidays. Whose house are you going to? Are you serving a Christmas ham or prime rib? (In this economy, ham it is.) And the biggest question of all, artificial or a real Christmas tree? If your heart is set on a real tree this year, you might be cringing at the thought of how much it's going to cost, and we don't blame you. The price of real Christmas trees went up 10% last year alone. So, where do you get an amazing, live tree this year that isn't going to cut into the gift-giving budget? If you want the best deal, it's time to think local. Local tree farms are the best bet for a good price, followed closely by the various big-box stores.

It's no wonder so many people are opting to switch to artificial trees, they've gotten so real looking, they pay for themselves after about two years, and there's many options to choose from. But nothing quite replaces that real Christmas tree experience. Thankfully, there are ways to get a real tree without spending the equivalent of a car payment. The wholesale prices of live trees at local farms appear not to have changed hardly at all this year, making them competitive with retailers. You're basically cutting out the middleman when you buy from a farm or U-cut. Depending on the size and type of tree you like, big-box and club stores like Costco also have great deals. This year, real trees are actually a better option due to the increase in the price of artificial trees related to tariffs.

The cost of a real Christmas tree is, of course, going to depend on where you live. But one way you can make sure you're getting a great deal is buying your tree at the right time. You might think the best sales are right around Black Friday, but that's not exactly true. The best deal on a tree is generally the week before Christmas. The problem is, there won't be as many to choose from. The sweet spot for a good deal and great selection is actually the first week in December, with the price steadily decreasing the closer you get to the 25th. Besides going to a tree farm, the stores that tend to have the best deals are Walmart, Home Depot, and Lowe's. It's worth noting that they tend to run out of stock faster than the farm will. If you're unsure how to locate a tree farm or other seller near you, you can always use the National Christmas Tree Association Tree Locator.

After you've gotten your tree, make sure you get the most out of your money by taking steps to prolong the life of your real tree. This involves making sure it's watered well, keeping the room it's in a little cooler, and trimming it properly before putting it up. Once you've done that, it's all about the decorations and enjoying the holidays. No matter what type of tree you buy or how much you spend, it's really about making memories that last a lifetime — and that is truly priceless.