Comments on: Saving Pennies or Dollars? Christmas Lights

By: Kirk Bond

Kirk Bond — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 23:53:50 +0000

I think folks hit on the issue with LEDs. Many are just plain ugly and/or cold looking. Either the lighting companies will adapt their products (which I assume would be too expensive at this point) to look more like traditional Christmas lights or we will adapt. I’m thinking the lights will have to adapt.

Just finished replacing six can lights in my kitchen with LEDs and I would bet no-one would be able to tell they were LEDs. Simply fanastic replication of good 2700K light. You cannot say this about most LED products at this time.

By: Gretchen

Gretchen — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 03:08:45 +0000

I’ve never seen them as cheap as a dollar and my husband used to get really good deals on store samples.
Some of the colors look “techi-er” then others and I belive they are actually working on that.

What I’d love is big bulb LED’s- I like the look of the larger bulbs outside.

By: kristine

kristine — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 00:24:42 +0000

I’m with dajolt. Since the only reason I have Christmas lights is to enjoy the beauty, I will stick with traditional. Even the “warmer” LEDs still look like a lit-up bugs eye to me. I’d rather just have fewer lights, or turn them on less.

By: Shauna

Shauna — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 19:35:15 +0000

Another thing to consider is the trade in for reg to LED bulbs that Home depot is having right now.

By: Liz

Liz — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 16:24:23 +0000

Wow, my LEDs lasted me three years, and I was very careful to bring them in as soon as I could after 12th night, and I didn’t put them up till after Thanksgiving the first year I had them. At the price I paid for them, I’m not convinced that they are a better deal. There were (if I remember correctly) 60 on a string, and I paid 7.99 for them on sale (they’re 9.99 now, and there are very few left after Christmas, at least around me). If I desperately wanted them, I’d probably buy on Black Friday, or use the Home Depot coupon valleycat mentioned. I bought either 3 or 4 strings, we’ll say 4 for comparison sake. For about $3 I can get 250 mini lights, compared to the $32 that I did pay for the LEDs. If I use the Home Depot coupon I’m still paying more for the LEDs, and I’m not entirely convinced that they’re a great option in the semi-snowy and definitely rainy northeast. Maybe if the waterproofing on the bulb bases gets better…

By: Dave

Dave — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 14:10:29 +0000

@ dajolt, that’s a good point. My wife had the same comment when we looked for lights after Christmas last year. However, noticed that some of the brands sell a “warmer” colored light string, in addition to the blinkers, the multi-colored strings, and the ice-blue strings.

By: dajolt

dajolt — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 07:43:32 +0000

The problem with LED christmas lights is that they have a really ugly techy feel to them compared to traditional bulbs or even candles. Rather than worrying about the additional every cost I’d just run the christmas tree only for a few hours a day in the evening (either via a timer or by manually switching the tree on and off.)

By: Ted

Ted — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 03:38:54 +0000

One thing your analysis does not take into consideration is the lifespan of the bulbs and strings. The LED strings last much longer (I’ve been using some for up to 5 years and none of my original sets have burned out or broken yet) than conventional mini-lights. So the advantages to me are: energy savings, lifespan, and the saved hassle of not trying to fix tiny little bulbs.

By: Stephen

Stephen — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 01:28:55 +0000

but waiting a few more months to buy them makes a lot of sense to me … now I just need to convince my wife that we don’t need a lot of lights this year ;).

By: Steven

Steven — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 23:19:43 +0000

I’m with Carl on this one. The LED should have a longer lifespan than the incandescent bulbs. Assuming you don’t leave them outside year-round, they could last quite a long time.

By: valleycat1

valleycat1 — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 21:30:27 +0000

Through Nov 19th Home Depot is offering $3-$5 coupons for LED lights when you trade in up to 5 strands of traditional lights. In California, at least, other stores will give you a deal on trade ins too.

By: lurker carl

lurker carl — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 20:21:12 +0000

I see plenty of homes with string light sets used all year long instead of as a seasonal decoration. Hopefully the LEDs have longer lifespan than incandescent mini-lights, I can see them paying for themselves in both energy efficiency and longevity.