SECURING the final icicle-shaped light in the corner of her living room, proud council house renter Katie Lee surveyed the room glinting with its eye-watering 10,000 Christmas lights.
It’s taken her an entire week in early November to set up her annual festive display but she thinks it’s time well spent.
“I’m obsessed - obsessed - with Christmas,” she said.
“I love my annual Christmas light display and this year is the earliest I have put up the lights and flicked on the switch.
“People think it’s bonkers but I don’t watch television now. I just sit and watch the light display.”
Katie’s lights will run nonstop for two and half months until mid January, costing just £16 more than what she will normally spend on electricity.
Former decorator Katie, 30, who lives with her partner, painter Michael, 38 , and their son Bobby, 9, in Hartlepool, said Christmas was her favourite time of year and she didn’t care if she was trolled for shelling out when she lived in a council house.
She said: “It brings me and my family joy. Just because we rent a council house for a budget £360-a-month doesn't mean we can’t spread joy and make Christmas special.”
Her Christmas obsession began in 2013 with a “few strings of lights”. But it quickly escalated.
“My son is buzzing,” she said. “He adores the lights and gets so excited when I pull the boxes out of storage. Michael tells me I am bonkers.
“This year he went out with Bobby and came home to a spectacular light show.
“He’s convinced I will never take them down. I think he’s finally given up the fight and seen the light. He now admits they do look amazing just as long as he doesn't have to get them out or put them away.
“This year I have an 8ft Christmas tree covered with 4,500 flickering white lights and more than a 100 gold and red baubles.”
Her luxury christmas garland has 800 bulbs.
The lounge ceiling is bordered by 30 carefully hung icicles which operate by remote control and have multiple settings.
The home’s front door features a garland and wreath with 1,700 LED lights.
A star-burst display features more than 400 tiny bulbs.
Just because we rent a council house for a budget £360-a-month doesn't mean we can’t spread joy and make Christmas special
Katie Lee
“The tree is the centre of attention,” she said. “I also have a metre-high festive village which is covered in 1,500 lights.
“It’s homemade and I got it for free when people were moving house and didn't have space. I’ve repainted sections and everyone loves it.”
It takes her hours to take them down and she keeps them in “mint condition”.
“I began properly investing in LED light strings and displays in 2016 and every year I add to the collection,” she said.
“I try to buy the lights at post-Christmas sales and my collection is worth more than £500.
Katie - who spends a day decorating her tree - also spends £2k on gifts for her entire family and friends.
“My son Bobby is getting 50 presents from 20p charity shop gifts to computer games and clothes,” she said.
“I save up and it’s my money. It may sound like a lot but I buy in the sales and upcycle car boot and charity ship finds and if I were to pay full price the gifts would cost £4k.”
I have a metre-high festive village which is covered in 1,500 lights
Katie Lee
This year the rising cost of electricity is making many people re-consider buying Christmas lights or even turning them on. Katie will not be one of those people.
“I will run my Christmas lights display for eight hours a day for the next two and a half months,” she said.
“It’s not because we’re made of money. It’s simple. I was smart enough to invest in LED power saving lights and I have worked out that running the lights for eight hours a day will only cost £1.96 a month.
“I won't be trolled for going big on my lights. I know people will tell me I am silly and wasting money. People should keep their nose in their own business.
“The lights switch on automatically around 4pm each day and it makes us feel like we have been transformed into Santa's grotto.
“All my friends love my light show display and make a regular trip to see what I have dreamt up each year.
Katie admitted some people hated her light obsession.
“Some people think it's terrible I have turned the lights on so early,” she said.
“Others like Facebook whingers complain it's a wicked waste of time and money but it's not their house so they can just ‘jog on.”
“We love our home and just because it’s council doesn't mean I can’t make it beautiful for Christmas and spread joy to the neighbours.”
