Its so sad to me...

i guess it would make me sad yes, except that isn't happening over here! where i live, in northern ireland [which is part of the uk] people have had their christmas decorations up from november! infact literally as soon as halloween was over people started preparing for christmas! lol! some people just have the tree in their window, with baubles and lights, but some people have their hedges, and rose bushes, and trees in the gardens covered in lights too. lights round doorframes. and some people have lights all over the front and sides of the outside of their houses! over here some people even decorate their house really incredibly, and leave buckets outside for people to leave money for charity. they will have a sligh and reindeer on the roof, a grotto in their front garden, giant light up candy canes down the pathway, and lightup snowmen and penguins etc in their garden. it's really over the top but it's for a good cause :)

There are definitely less lit up homes for the holidays here in Wisconsin where we live too. It seems those that are more well off have decorated the outsides of their homes and yards and those that are struggling still, did not put up there decorations. We still enjoy looking at the lights. But, this year it was really disappointing, as it really seems as an awlful lot of people did not put up their lights this year. It definitely made me sad.

I'm not sure how it is all over town since I don't get out much after dark, but this street has far fewer lights than ever before. it IS sad, I agree. One of the things I enjoy about Christmas is seeing all the decorations and lights.

There seems to be less lights but there are some well decked out houses.For me I get to see a huge Menorah each year so I'm happy.

I don't know, I've avoided going out at night if I could... guess I really am getting old.

Same here. I've noticed that there were only a few houses that are lit up. And the ones that I could remember to be well lit in past years are not anymore. I know that the economy has a big part of why this is. But I also would like to believe that some of these houses have experienced the real meaning of Christmas. That it's family, and sharing in this holiday season. And not the amount of lights we can afford to display.

Yes!!!!! I am the only one around my area that has any lights! The house next to me however is empty......the one across the street just finally sold so I don't even have alot of neighbors anymore......and there are so few lights....missing them so much!

I've noticed this as well. I think it's a mixture of people not being able to afford electricity bills, houses being vacant due to foreclosures, or people simply not having the motivation or time due to stresses of finding jobs, paying bills, etc. Back in the fall I remember keeping an eye out for homes with "for sale" signs in the front yards, and the amount was tremendous. Now that Christmas is here, I'm not surprised it doesn't feel like it. No lights! I'm sorry to hear your kids can't enjoy it as much this year. I remember driving around as a child just to see the lights...it was actually my favorite part of Christmas. There was even a house down the street from us that got nationwide attention for its yearly display, with a drive through tour and everything. I'm actually forgoing celebrating Christmas this year altogether. I don't truly care for how materialistic the holiday has become, but I was still going to celebrate it until the lack of snow and lack of lights became an eyesore for my neighborhood. It doesn't even feel worth it. I live in Ohio, and we beat our record of rain this year with over 75 inches having fallen just by October, but no snow? Ugh. I'm hoping and praying that next year is better. Hopefully not having as much to look at this year will make the next year even more exciting and happy for you and your kids.

I'm so sad this year. My slary alerdy cut a half because the bad economy .I wish that the economy became better next year.