My little-known hack makes sure you get the best fake Xmas tree for cheap – it’s all about a special detail on the box
WITH the festive season now officially here, it’s time to find the perfect Christmas tree to place the presents under.
But with so many options on the high street, it can feel overwhelming to know which one will be bigger or the best value for money.
Luckily, one money-smart shopper, only known as Bobbie (@bobbiejochristmas), has taken to TikTok to share a game-changer of a tip her mum taught her.
To make sure you walk home with the best tree, the savvy Christmas fan said to look at the tip count on the box.
The logic here, she revealed in the video, is pretty self-explanatory – the more tips the artificial tree has, the bigger and fuller the Christmas essential will be.
Whilst checking out the locals home goods store, Bobbie stumbled across a Christmas tree that had 1,237 branch tips.
Just a little further down the shop she saw a tree that had a staggering 3,856 tips – meaning it would be significantly fuller.
The larger tree, measuring at 7ft, had been reduced to £79.99 – and although it was £10 more expensive than the smaller version, it also had more than twice as many tips.
”So most definitely go for something like this cause it will be a lot fuller cause of more tips.
”That’s your little tip of the day for looking at Christmas tips.”
With the holiday season here in full force, the useful tip has come in handy for many, as the video has since racked up close to a whopping 2million views.
As 165k people gave it a like, hundreds raced to comments to thank Jackie for the information.
One joked: ”Never knew this one. It’s a very good tip.”
Another was gobsmacked, writing: ”Never even knew there were tip counts on the boxes.”
Someone else chimed in: ”Thankyou for the tip! Got to buy my first Christmas tree this year!!”
”As a Christmas designer & have a family Owned Christmas store !!! She is absolutely correct !!” a pro added.
How to look after your real Christmas tree
HERE'S what you need to know if you're buying a real Christmas tree:
First thing’s first: buy a pot (if it doesn’t come in one already).
You’ll need to treat your tree just like a houseplant and give it water and attention.
Make sure the container has good drainage – and it’s a good idea to put something underneath to catch the excess water.
Check the soil everyday to make sure it’s not drying out.
If it feels dry, give it some water. If it still feels moist, leave it alone as too much water can also kill a tree.
Also check the LED bulbs on your tree lights aren’t too hot as they could burn it, and keep your tree away from radiators.
When Christmas is over, try planting it in the garden so you can dig it up and use it again next year.
It’s a good idea to take it out of its pot when you do re-plant it though, as large trees don’t survive well in pots as their roots need space to grow.
Things to consider when choosing where to put your Christmas tree
Before you head out to find the perfect tree for the season, there are some things to consider, the experts at Christmas Tree World reminded.
- Visibility: The tree should be placed where it can be enjoyed, whether from the sofa in the living room or while hosting dinner. Think about the room’s layout and how much of the tree will be visible from various angles.
- Foot traffic: Consider people’s movement. Make sure your tree isn’t blocking doorways, hallways, or areas with high foot traffic.
- Heat sources: Avoid placing your Christmas tree near heat sources like radiators or fireplaces. Not only can this pose a safety hazard, but it can also dry out the tree, affecting both real and artificial Christmas trees over time.
- Furniture: Consider the layout of your furniture. You don’t want to overcrowd the room, so ensure there’s still enough space to move around once the tree is up.
- Power source: If you’re going to hang lights on your tree, or you’ve chosen a pre-lit Christmas tree, with its own lights built in, make sure it’s near an outlet to avoid unsightly extension cords or tripping hazards.