People pay me £120 to decorate their Christmas trees
A mum who has turned her knack for festive decor into a side hustle has shared how she gets paid up to £120 for putting up other people's Christmas trees.
Sally-Anne Long, 39, from Reading, Berkshire has always loved decorating for Christmas, but noticed that many others don't enjoy the festive task as much as her. So this year, as an extension of her decluttering business, she decided to offer her services as a professional decorator, going into families' homes to put up and adorn their trees.
Since advertising her festive services, Sally-Anne has been inundated with requests from people who find this time of year too busy or overwhelming, and is already "booked up" throughout the whole of December.
The single mum charges between £90 and £120 per tree depending on its size, and will also put together wreaths, tablescapes and mantelpieces. She also offers a "take-down" service in January, removing and packing up the decorations for use again the following year.
"I've had the idea for a while and just decided to go for it this Christmas," Sally-Anne says of how her side hustle came about. "I was pretty surprised by the eager response, but I also understand it. People are working and it's a busy time. There's so much going on in their lives, but they still love Christmas and they want it to be special. They want to be able to walk into their living rooms and go, 'Wow!' And I can deliver that."
Sally-Anne previously worked as a visual merchandise director, which involved arranging store window displays for companies such as John Lewis and House of Fraser. She quit the industry in search of a job with a higher salary and became a receptionist, but always hoped she would find a way to return to doing what she loved.
"When I worked as a receptionist, I watched companies pay thousands for 'professionals' to come in and decorate Christmas trees," she explains. "There were times when I would step in and do it for them as it was clear they didn't really care. And I just thought, 'I could do this'."
So far, Sally-Anne has decorated trees for several families - and is excited for her upcoming jobs. In terms of the decorations she puts up Sally-Anne says it depends on the look her clients want to go for. "If someone likes the tinsel and all that - I'll do it," she says. "For others, I've done the traditional look with big shiny baubles. I've even done a candy cane theme. For one family, I just set the tree up and did the lights as they only like putting the decorations on. It's their Christmas tree. I just want to bring them joy."
Sally-Anne and her daughter, Jessica, are big Christmas fans and love decorating their tree together every year. "I loved Christmas as a child and then I re-discovered my love for it when I had Jessica," she explains. "She's now 11 and loves all things festive. She'd happily watch a Christmas film every day in December."
For those who are decorating their own trees but looking to save time, Sally-Anne has shared some of her own tips and tricks. "If you have a fake tree, the most important job is the one people don't like - fluffing the tree," she says. "You have to manipulate the branches properly. It's what makes it look good."
Buying a pre-lit tree is another time-saving tip. "If you have a real tree and are doing it all yourself, it's important to get the lights right," she adds. "Then you should start with the big decorations and work your way down in size."
Outside of the festive season, Sally-Anne works as a professional declutterer, helping people organise their homes. "I have ADHD myself and I work with a lot of neurodiverse clients who often have very successful careers but struggle to keep on top of things at home," she says. "Often if you're not control of your home you often feel you're not in control of your life. So my work can really help with people's stress and anxiety."
As well as a general tidy service, Sally-Anne also carries out complete room transformations, and a very popular 'wardrobe workout', which involves organising and sorting out people's clothes. "I love what I do," she adds.
Read more about Christmas:
Dentists warn of Christmas 'prosecco smile'. Here's how to avoid it (Yahoo life UK, 4-min read)
How I managed to spend just £26 on each of my children's Christmas presents (Yahoo Life UK, 5-min read)
The best and cheapest time to do your big Christmas food shop (Yahoo Life UK, 7-min read)
