We had always had real trees, but we finally broke down about 9 years ago and got an artificial one. If you can get them right after Christmas, the cost is cut by almost half. Maybe get a real one this year, and then buy the artificial one on sale.
I miss the smells of fresh trees, but I don't miss the needle mess, or having to give it water. I don't miss paying a fortune each year, and they do keep going up up up! I can just put my tree up, lights on, tree skirt around it and we're all set to go. We don't have room to store it set up, so we do take it apart, but it's only 3 pieces and goes back in the box quickly and easily. Ours looks real, and even fakes people out. We are happy with ours. Got it at Hobby Lobby.
