So you think $1,000 is excessive for a Christmas tree? I have seen trees in the 8-9 foot range, top of the line, going for close to $800 just for the tree. I have also seen flimsy trees that sell for under $20 in the 7-foot range. Bear in mind that you usually get what you pay for in this department.
Hand made ornaments are also good. These can be made from metallic foil paper--snowflakes, Santa cutouts, and paper chains can be fashioned cheaply. They are not very durable, however. If you are already handy at carving or sewing, you might wish to give that a try. Keep in mind that tools are expensive, and it takes time to learn to sew or carve if you don't already do it.
Building up slowly is another good idea. Buy used, or cheap, ornaments in bulk and put the bad ones near the center of the tree where the defects will not show up as well. A few expensive-looking ones can highlight the tree, while filler ornaments can make it look heavily decorated. And buying a few each month will help out while saving for college (to escape the window washing jobs you may still have), and while you are still strapped for cash because you gave too much to the Watchtower Society to help them protect pedophiles within the ranks.
You might not get the dream tree the first year. It may in fact look skimpy, especially if you like them that way or you are trying to slowly build up a collection. Either way, you have to start somewhere. Building the ultimate Christmas tree is best looked at as a multi-year project, and what one person thinks of as perfect, someone else might think of as too heavily decorated or as wimpy. Just keep in mind that, if you truly want your tree to look like those showcases you see in catalogs, it is going to take more than a couple of boxes of ornaments. You might accept that and build toward the goal--and then your ideal will differ from what is in catalogs. This is OK--at least you are working toward the goal.
