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7 Mistakes You Are Making With Your Christmas Tree

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In this video Dave talks you through 7 Horrible Mistakes You Are Making With Your Christmas Tree and how to avoid them. Easy advice to make your Christmas tree last longer this Christmas.

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Average amount of money is spent on  Christmas gifts 

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Average amount of money is spent on  Christmas gifts 

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The average American will spend $700 on holiday gifts and goodies this year, totaling more than $465 billion, the National Retail Federation estimates. If that money was spent entirely on US made products it would create 4.6 million jobs. But it doesn't even have to be that big.

Made in America Christmas: Are You In? - ABC News

How much money do you spend on each child for Christmas?

Moms reported they plan to spend an average of $271 per child this holiday, with one in 10 saying they'll shell out upwards of $500 on gifts for each child. Despite the struggling economy, only 1 in 4 moms say they plan to spend less on presents this year.Dec 12, 2011

Yes, we spoil our kids: 6,000 moms come clean - TODAY.com

https://www.today.com/parents/yes-we-spoil-our-kids-6-000-moms-come-clean-t75131

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Most parents are torn between two conflicting impulses during the holidays. We want to make the holidays magical for our children and give them everything their little hearts desire.

But, we don't want them to get spoiled.

Getty Images Stock

It's a tough line, and in the safety of an anonymous survey, most of us admit we go overboard. Our TODAY Moms and Parenting.com online survey of 6,000 parents found that three-quarters of us think our children are a little or a lot spoiled. Almost 60 percent of us think our children are more spoiled than we were as kids. ("When I was your age, I would get socks for Christmas, and I liked it! Then I would walk to school uphill both ways in the snow.")

Who's to blame? Sometimes we can point the finger at grandparents and other relatives who turn every holiday into a spending spree.

More from Parenting.com: Are your children spoiled?

But more often, we know exactly who the spoiler is - us. Moms reported they plan to spend an average of $271 per child this holiday, with one in 10 saying they'll shell out upwards of $500 on gifts for each child. Despite the struggling economy, only 1 in 4 moms say they plan to spend less on presents this year.

"I have spoiled my children. I have always been under the belief that if I don't give them everything, no one will," one mom confessed in our survey. But, she's trying to fix things: "I have started to change that mentality. I have asked them to start working for their gifts. The funny thing is, they don't mind at all."

Click here to read more spoiled-kid confessions from our survey

Of course, parents are caught in a guilt trap. If they give their children too much, they feel bad for spoiling them. But if, like many families this year, they can't afford to buy what they want for your kids -- well, that feels even worse. Three-quarters of moms say they feel guilty saying no to things on their children's wish lists.

"I am a single mom who just tells my son I will do what I can, and if I can get what he wants then I try my best," one mom wrote. "But he knows the true meaning of Christmas, and being with family is the most important thing to us.'

Even parents who can't afford it will often try to splurge at the holidays. One mom wrote of a disastrous Christmas: "I spent about $1,000 on two kids and wasn't working at the time. On Christmas morning they opened them as fast as possible. They had at least 20 items apiece and they actually said, 'Is that all?' I was hurt and actually cried and cut back the next year (some)."

As for teaching the true holiday spirit, 70 percent say they donate to charity - but 20 percent say they don't do much of anything to teach kids to give back. And one-quarter of moms say they never make their kids write thank-you notes.

We do have some standards, though. If a kid pitches a fit when Grandma gives him socks instead of a Wii, 98 percent of parents say they'll take some corrective action, whether it's making the child apologize (68 percent), reprimanding the child (19 percent), or giving them a talking-to later (8 percent).

When it comes to keeping kids in line, the best strategy, of course, is to model gratitude and good manners. But if that fails, there's always the good old "Santa's watching" threat - 57 percent of parents say they use this one.

How do you raise grateful kids? And if you fear your kids are already spoiled, how to you reverse the damage? Join TODAY Moms contributor and parenting expert Amy McCready, author of "If I Have To Tell You One More Time...," for a chat on the TODAY Moms Facebook page at 1 p.m. ET on Tuesday.

Let us spoil you with more great stories from TODAY Moms:

Your cute kids: Scared silly by Santa

The most popular baby names of 2011

How to teach smart money habits over the holidays

Full Survey Results: TODAY Moms and Parenting.com's online, non-scientific survey of 6,000 moms

Do you think your kids are spoiled during the holidays?

Do you ever feel guilty for saying no to something on your child's wish list?

Compare how spoiled your kids are to how spoiled you were at their age. Are they:

What do you do to teach kids the importance of giving back during the holiday season?

Do you require your kids to send thank-you notes?

Your child pitches a fit when Grandma gives him an unwanted gift. How do you handle this situation?

Immediately apologize on your child's behalf. 3.5%

Make your child apologize for his behavior. 67.8%

Reprimand/discipline the child. 19.2%

Nothing in the moment, but we'll sure be talking about it later. 7.6%

Laugh it off...kids will be kids. 1.8%

Do you bribe kids into good behavior with the "Santa's watching..." threat?

Do your kids spend their own money on gifts?

Your child is begging you for this year's "must-have" (but impossible to get) gift. What is the most extreme measure you'll take in order to get it?

Stop by the store a few times and hope it's in stock. 43.9%

Visit multiple stores until I track it down. 27.9%

Wrestle it away from another parent in the toy aisle. 0.5%

Wait on abnormally long lines. 12.6%

Research online until I find it. 50.0%

Pay a premium to get it. 7.2%

All of the above - whatever it takes. 3.8%

None of the above. 17.7%

How do you keep holiday spending under control?

Setting and sticking to a strict budget. 38.6%

Bargain shopping at outlet stores, using coupons, etc. 49.7%

Only buying gifts for the kids. 28.5%

Gift exchanges like Yankee Swaps and Secret Santa. 7.7%

Set strict limits on the number of gifts given per person, regardless of age. 16.2%

We don't! This isn't the time of year to hold back. 11.2%

Do you feel pressure to keep up with other families this time of year?

Approximately how much will you spend per child this year?

How will your holiday spending compare to last year's?

Do you have a friend or family member who spoils your kid too much?

Have you ever asked anyone to scale back the number of gifts given to your kid?

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Yes, we spoil our kids: 6,000 moms come clean

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Most parents are torn between two conflicting impulses during the holidays. We want to make the holidays magical for our children and give them everything their little hearts desire. But, we don't want them to get spoiled. It's a tough line, and in the safety of an anonymous survey, most of us admit we go overboard.

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The average amount of Christmas trees cut down by every American family

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The average amount of Christmas trees cut down by every American family

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http://extension.illinois.edu/trees/facts.cfm

Great Moments in Christmas Tree History

The use of evergreen trees to celebrate the winter season occurred before the birth of Christ.

The first decorated Christmas tree was in Riga, Latvia in 1510.

The first printed reference to Christmas trees appeared in Germany in 1531.

Besides evergreens, other types of trees such as cherry and hawthorns were used as Christmas trees in the past.

Using small candles to light a Christmas tree dates back to the middle of the 17th century.

Thomas Edison's assistant, Edward Johnson, came up with the idea of electric lights for Christmas trees in 1882. Christmas tree lights were first mass-produced in 1890.

In 1900, large stores started to erect big illuminated Christmas trees.

The tradition of an official Chicago Christmas tree was initiated in 1913 when one was first lit by Mayor Carter H. Harrison in Grant Park.

The official Christmas tree tradition at Rockefeller Center began in 1933. Since 2004 the tree has been topped with a 550-pound Swarovski Crystal star. And since 2007, the tree has been lit with 30,000 energy-efficient LED's which are powered by solar panels.

Every year since 1947, the people of Oslo, Norway have given a Christmas tree to the city of Westminster, England. The gift is an expression of good will and gratitude for Britain's help to Norway during World War II.

Since 1971, the Province of Nova Scotia has presented the Boston Christmas tree to the people of Boston, in gratitude for the relief supplies received from the citizens of Boston after a ship exploded in 1917 following a collision in the Halifax, Nova Scotia Harbor. Part of the city was leveled, killing and injuring thousands.

Presidential Christmas Trees

In 1856 Franklin Pierce, the 14th President of the United States, was the first President to place a Christmas tree in the White House.

President Coolidge started the National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony on the White House lawn in 1923.

Teddy Roosevelt banned the Christmas tree from the White House for environmental reasons.

From 1948 to 1951, President Truman spent Christmas at his home in Independence, Missouri, and lit the National Community Christmas Tree by remote control. Truman agreed to stay at the White House for Christmas 1952, and personally lit the tree.

In 1963, the National Christmas Tree was not lit until December 22nd, because of a national 30-day period of mourning following the assassination of President Kennedy.

Since 1966, the National Christmas Tree Association has given a Christmas tree to the President and first family for display in the Blue Room.

In 1979, the National Christmas Tree was not lit except for the top ornament. This was done to honor the American hostages in Iran.

In 1984, the National Christmas tree was lit on December 13thwith temperatures in the 70's, making it one of the warmest tree lightings in history.

A Tree Grows In Brooklyn, and Elsewhere

Nineteenth century Americans cut their trees in nearby forests. Today most real Christmas trees are grown on farms as sustainable crops like corn or pumpkins.

98 percent of all Christmas trees are grown on farms, while only 2% are cut from the wild.

To ensure enough trees for harvest, growers plant one to three seedlings for every tree harvested.

In 2012, 46 million Christmas tree seedlings were planted by U.S. growers.

More than 2,000 trees are usually planted per acre. On average 1,000-1,500 of these trees will survive. In the northern part of the country, perhaps 750 trees will remain.

Almost all trees require shearing to attain the Christmas tree shape. At six to seven feet, trees are ready for harvest.

It takes six to ten years of fighting heavy rain, wind, hail and drought to get a mature tree.

Most Christmas trees are cut weeks before they get to a retail outlet. It is important to keep them watered thoroughly when they reach your home. In the first week, a Christmas tree in your home will consume as much as a quart of water per day.

Is It or Isn't It?

Artificial Christmas trees were developed in Germany during the 19th century and later became popular in the United States. These "trees" were made using goose feathers that were dyed green and attached to wire branches. The wire branches were then wrapped around a central dowel rod that acted as the trunk.

In 1930 the U.S.-based Addis Brush Company created the first artificial Christmas tree made from brush bristles. The company used the same machinery that it used to manufacture toilet brushes, but they were dyed green.

Artificial Christmas trees made largely from aluminum were manufactured in the United States, first in Chicago in 1958.

Today, most artificial Christmas trees are made from PVC plastic. PVC trees are fire-retardant but not fire-resistant. Eighty percent of artificial trees worldwide are manufactured in China.

10.9 million artificial trees were purchased in the United States in 2012.

To Market to Market

Live Christmas trees have been sold commercially in the United States since about 1850.

The first Christmas tree retail lot in the United States was started by Mark Carr in New York, in 1851.

From 1887-1933 a fishing schooner called the "Christmas Ship" would tie up at the Clark Street Bridge in Chicago and sell spruce trees from Michigan to Chicagoans.

In 2012, 35% of real Christmas trees sold were from chain stores or garden centers/nursery, 24% from cut and harvest farms, 15% from retail tree lots, and 15% from non-profit groups.

In 2012, 85% of the Christmas trees purchased were pre-cut, and 14% were cut-your-own.

An estimated 175,000 real Christmas trees are sold via e-commerce or catalogue and shipped mail order.

The most popular Christmas trees are: Scotch pine, Douglas fir, noble fir, Fraser fir, balsam fir, Virginia pine and white pine.

Christmas trees are baled to protect the branches from damage during shipping.

Helicopters help to lift harvested Christmas trees from farms.

The United States of Trees

In the United States, there are more than 15,000 Christmas tree farms.

There are approximately 350 million Christmas trees growing on U.S. farms.

Approximately 100,000 people are employed full or part-time in the Christmas tree industry.

24.5 million farm-grown Christmas trees were purchased in the United States in 2012, with a real market value of $1.01 billion.

The mean average purchase price of a live tree in 2012 was $41.30.

Oregon, North Carolina, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Washington, New York, and Virginia are the top Christmas tree producing states.

350,000 acres of land in the United States are in production for growing Christmas trees.

Christmas trees are grown and harvested in all 50 states.

Michigan ranks third among all states in the production of real Christmas trees, but grows a larger variety of Christmas trees than any other state.

Make Your Christmas Really Green

93% of real Christmas tree consumers recycle their tree in community recycling programs, their garden or backyard.

In the United States, there are more than 4,000 Christmas tree recycling programs.

Recycled real Christmas trees have been used to make sand and soil erosion barriers and been placed in ponds for fish shelter.

Growing Christmas trees provides a habitat for wildlife.

Christmas trees can remove dust and pollen from the air.

Cook County, IL uses old Christmas trees to rebuild housing structures for natural wildlife that has been destroyed through development.

Artificial trees will last for six years in your home, but for centuries in a landfill.

An acre of Christmas trees provides the daily oxygen requirements of 18 people.

You should not burn your Christmas tree in the fireplace; it can contribute to creosote buildup.

Live Christmas trees are involved in less than one-tenth of one percent of residential fires, and mostly when ignited by some external ignition sources. The major factors involved in Christmas tree fires are electrical problems, decorative lights, candles, and a heat source too close to the tree.

In 1971 the government concluded that Christmas tree tinsel made of lead was a health risk and convinced manufactures to voluntarily stop producing lead tinsel. It is now made of plastic.

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Not a lot of people have heard this claim. This popular myth is that people already suffering from depression get pushed over the edge by the surrounding jollity that they can’t share in, by boosting feelings of loneliness (because “everyone but they” have family and friends to spend the holiday with), and by seasonal effective disorder due to the long nights and short days of mid-to-late December.  The Christmas suicide peak is, indeed, a myth, and a “long perpetuated” one, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In fact, according to CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics, US suicides (at more than 40,000 per year, the 10th–leading cause of death) are at a nadir in December, and peak in the spring and fall. Health experts are so annoyed at the persistence of the Christmas suicide myth that the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania counts how often journalists assert it — less often in 2015 than in any of the last four years, when about three-quarters of stories mentioning the claim accepted it.

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in 2015 it was 25.9 million real trees over 12.5 million fake trees The total money from all these trees combined would be 1.32 BILLION dollars

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How much money is spent each year for Chrismas

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How much money is spent each year for Chrismas

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The average American will spend $700 on holiday gifts and goodies this year, totaling more than $465 billion, the National Retail Federation estimates.

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People spend to much on Traveling Expenses, Gifts, and Food

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People spend to much on Traveling Expenses, Gifts, and Food

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If every american decided not to spend the average amount that people use every year and they give most of that amount to a charity, most of the homeless people wil find a home

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Money Spent on Traveling for the Holidays

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Money Spent on Traveling for the Holidays

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Around the time of winter seasons most families get together to celebrate the holidays. But how much money is spent on flying or driving to one place to another with gifts and other needed things like clothing. Well according to The American Travel Survey, people collectively spend $58 billion dollars on end-year holiday travel. Holiday traveling expenses also including money spent on hotels, gas, or plane tickets, food, presents, and/or rented vehicles or transportation when already at destination.Not only that but prices of flights go up by 6-8 percents and car rentals prices go up by 4-7 percent higher then the previous season.

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The amount of suicides that happen around christmas time

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The amount of suicides that happen around christmas time

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About 30,000 suicides happen at Christmas time usually also new years as well

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How many animals aren't being picked up on the streets

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How many animals aren't being picked up on the streets

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the amount of raping paper that gets throwaway is a massive amount and almost 35%of it gets thrown in the ocean 

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the amount of raping paper that gets throwaway is a massive amount and almost 35%of it gets thrown in the ocean 

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happy holidays

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in my mind crismis is a time to soind time with frends and familly. it should not mater on gifts of how much muny gets spent on you. it should be showing how much you love havin good frends and family how are alwes by you sied when you need them.

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the amount of crime happening near christmas

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the amount of crime happening near christmas

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The amount of crime around the Christmas is proven to go up. Because of the want of money around of these times. These times hold things such as homicide, and robbery. In the year of 2015, there was a shooting in Columbus, Ohio. In which there where 27 known deaths and 67 people who were injured. And in 2013 around the Christmas season there were 194 reported residential burglaries. When it comes to burglaries the rate goes up because of the number of families that are out with family leaving things like jewelry, televisions, smartphones, and computers.

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During the holiday companies that sell Christmas related things or things that are very popular blow up and make a lot of money, and it makes them rich but what if we used that money to help the poor feed the poor and spend money into researching things and find a cure for cancer

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The amount of energy used by every American  

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The amount of energy used by every American  

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US Christmas lights use more energy than entire countries

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American household Christmas lights, a favorite holiday tradition, use up more electricity than some poorer countries-such as El Salvador or Ethiopia-do in a year.

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The amount of power we use for Christmas lights.

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The amount of power we use for Christmas lights.

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people leftovers thrown away.

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Amount of Christmas Music listened to on average of December

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Amount of Christmas Music listened to on average of December

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If originally a Christmas song lasts about 3 minutes per song, and about 7 songs listened to a day that would be about 21 minutes of Christmas songs a day. So if there are 31 days in December that would be 651 minutes of Christmas music in December. Equal to 27 1/8 days straight of listening to Christmas music.