Would you consider sending a few items to a thrift shop? Then you would have less trouble with the fitting. I'm so tired of our tree decos that I did not even put them on this year. We just had lights.

I do like the feeling when the Christmas decos are down. Looks so much lighter with less "stuff."

we had lights and cards on our gorgeous tree this year! It will be easier to put away. I have lightened our load of Christmas decorations. I used to have SO MUCH. I just loved having everything decorated. Ah, older and wiser. I still love Chritmas decorating, but have discovered that ONE LARGE statement is just as joyful, and a lot easier than 20 things! lol I still have a lot to shed, probably won't do it now, as I didn't get it all out. Maybe this summer.!

Undecorating this year will be a piece of cake. Our tree is so pretty that I just want to keep it up all winter though! LOL

It's the least favorite chore to do. Although this year, I will be sorting out decorations and lighten the amount of stuff. I have given our grown, married, children their stockings and now they'll get their ornaments! I always kept them and put them on our tree. I don't know if they even want them, but let THEM store them. LOL... finally.
I guess it was just hard to give them up before, but, it's time.

no problem this year becasuse I did very little but in years past it would take me more than one day then I liked to lest the house "rest" for about a week before I decorated for the next season or holiday. I'm so glad I took so many photos over the years now it is nice to just "look" at the photos and not do all the work

I really enjoy the un-decorating. Especially the tree. Decorating I am in a rush to get it done. Un-decorating is something I like to do alone at night taking the time to remember.

Over the years we have collected a lot. As I take down each ornament, dust it, wrap it and put it away memories of when we got it, who gave it to us or what the kids were doing flood back.

I finally did get rid of many of the little boxes and now use ornament chests instead. I bought two more this year so I can get rid of more of the little boxes.

I already took my tree down.Just had a little 3' one sitting in the bay window.Hung up a few of my cross stitch xmas pictures,and strung lights and garland and red bows outside on the picket fence.Hope to take those down this weekend,weather permitting.
Kathi

Well, it's a little early for undecorating, Epiphany is still a week away.

But I don't mind 'undecorating' the tree. We realized years ago, it's just dumb to take everything off and put it back every year. I decorated my trees carefully, and now? We just take the whole tree--lights, topper, ornaments and all to the basement and drop a large trash bag over it. Takes 5 minutes to 'undecorate' and no longer to decorate next year. If you use an artificial tree, and have the space, I heartily recommend just leaving the tree decorated. Saves hours every year.

No problem for me: no decorating/no undecorating

I didn't see anyone mention the bad luck that comes with undecorating until New Years day. My DH says it cannot come down before then. I have taken a few things down since Christmas, but only what he won't notice. :-)

DH believes it needs to stay up until New Year day also...I need all the luck I can get, mine will come down saturday.

I wait until New years day at least. Usally well after

Not that I do alot of decorating these last few years...but ours won't be put away until Jan. 10. We are having all our kids together on the 9th for our family Christmas. =)

I used to undecorate the day the kids returned to school. Took me all day. I did not want them tromping into the middle of delicate tree ornaments I had not wrapped and boxed yet. We have collected some pretty ornaments over the 40 some years we have been married.

Now, I jsut want it all put away by Monday. I am not superstitious, and I never heard of the New Year's day warning.

Not that I do alot of decorating these last few years...but ours won't be put away until Jan. 10. We are having all our kids together on the 9th for our family Christmas. =)

We normally do family Christmas on the 7th but this year it will be the 8th since the 7th is a Thursday.

I don't mind the undecorating; my hubby's is real good about getting the empty boxest out of storage and helping take stuff down. I know which box goes with which item.

Last year and this year I dedicated one single box to the lights that go on the tree first and some basic ornaments that I put on the inner (core) of the tree so I could get at that box first next year. Another rubbermaid container I put a beer bottle seperater (you know, the kind that comes in a case of beer) to seperate some ornaments I bought on clearance a few years ago that didn't have their own boxes. It works perfect. With a little organization and labeling it makes getting ready each year easier.

We usually go to Mexico or Hawaii early each January but I do try to leave the tree up for New Years. I love this time of year. Well, off to Cabo on Thursday for a few weeks!

My decorations all stay up until New Years Day. I'll take them down slowly this week. Mantle and livingroom first and lastly the tree. The outside lights will remain up but not turned on until it is a little more comfortable to work outside!

My Mother in Law used to say the tree should be down before New Year's. I think it is something from when most people decorated with real trees and had live candles on the tree. I will work on mine this coming week. I don't mind at all taking it down and packing it away. Everything except the tree goes into Rubbermaid totes.

Sue

This year I bought a small cut "tabletop" tree. It held one string of small colored lights and about 24 ornaments. I figure it will take about a half hour to "undecorate", which is fine with me. I have a wreath on the front door. That's it this year. I have two big boxes of ornaments in permanent storage in my attic. If my kids ever want them, they are welcome.