Anyone buying an artificial Christmas tree urged to do quick check before paying

By Nicola Roy, Spare Time writer

If you're buying a fake tree this year, one quick check will tell you how good it'll look (Image: Getty)

There's only a few weeks left to go until Christmas, and preparations will be underway for many people - whether that's planning travel, buying presents or anything in between.

And one key component of the festivities is making sure your home really looks the part.

The right decorations can really transform your space into a warm and welcoming winter wonderland, the centrepiece being a beautiful, sparkling Christmas tree.

And if you're in the market for a new, artificial one this year, it can be difficult to know which one to buy, as they're often hidden in boxes at the supermarket.

Looking at the picture sometimes isn't enough to determine how full-looking your tree will be, but there's a hidden symbol on the box that tells you everything you need to know.

A full-looking Christmas tree really makes all the difference (Image: Getty)

The tip was shared on TikTok by Bobbie Jo, as she paced the aisles at her local supermarket looking for the perfect tree.

She said her mum had given her some 'really good advice' which could come in handy if you're not sure which Christmas tree to buy.

On each Christmas tree box, you should always look out for the number of tips that the tree has. Bobbie pointed to an example of a tree that had 1273 tips, saying: "That'll let you know how full the tree is without seeing it."

She then pointed to another tree, which was the same height at 7ft, but this one had a much higher 3856 tips. Bobbie said she was 'most definitely' going to go for this one, as it'll be a lot fuller with more tips.

She joked: "That's your little tip of the day for looking at Christmas tips."

And her advice seemed to resonate with a lot of people, as the video has racked up a staggering 2.7 million views since it was posted.

Hundreds of people have commented thanking her for this valuable advice, with one person enquiring: "But now I need to know how many is a good amount."

To which another person replied: "Anything over 3000 is good depending on height of tree too… but the more the better!"

Another said: "Wish I knew that when buying a tree in Tesco last year. It’s 6ft and was €15 on clubcard price. It’s so sparse and about 5ft."

A third commented: "Never even knew there were tip counts on the boxes."

Someone else wrote: "Omg thank you I’m literally getting my Christmas tree this year."