When it comes to decorating for the holidays, every family has its own tradition—whether it’s cutting down a fresh tree or picking one up from the store.

It might be assumed that most families use real trees, especially since many grew up seeing them in classic Christmas movies like “The Grinch” or “Christmas Vacation”. However, as consumer prices have risen over the years, many families have turned to artificial trees, which they can reuse year after year.

To put into perspective, the average cost of a live tree is around $80, where the cost of a fake one is around $100. Although more expensive, fake trees last far longer, where real trees are disposed of after one use.

“With us being in the Christmas season, a lot of consumers are trying to find ways to cut costs or to spend less money,” economics teacher Angela Spence said. “One way they do that is by buying fake trees, because fake trees are something you can use over and over and over again.”

In an Instagram poll, 80% of Texas High students said they use fake trees, where only 20% said they use real trees. 

“[Fake trees] are easier to decorate,” sophomore Jillian Brim said. “And not as much of a mess.” 

Aside from prices, fake trees can have more potential in terms of their versatility, where they can handle heavy ornaments and decorations without risk of damage. 

“My mom’s really big on decorating, so we like to change it up,” sophomore Lily Turner said. “She really likes gold this year and puts bows on and wraps it up real nice.” 

Despite the popularity of artificial trees, many families still stick with real ones, believing them to encapsulate the more traditional aspects of Christmas.

“My family really likes the authenticity of real trees,” sophomore Kastle Irving said. “[They give off a nice] smell and Christmas vibes.”