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Family can no longer afford its 1-million lights Christmas display
"Last year it cost me $41,000 to put Christmas together," says Andrew Spadafora. "We're still paying off last year's bills. ...We haven't put away a penny" this year for a new display. (Newsday)July 13, 2009 | Permalink
Comments
I bet the neighbors are relieved.
Posted by: Phranqlin | Jul 13, 2009 8:52:05 AM
...as are passing airplane pilots...
Posted by: sometimesilie | Jul 13, 2009 9:02:55 AM
also probably a few disappointed little kids.
Posted by: sometimesilie | Jul 13, 2009 9:03:25 AM
Wow. Now there is a problem I wouldn't mind having. I'll have a problem budgeting $29.95 for my lights this year.
Posted by: stopeatingmysesamecake | Jul 13, 2009 9:05:33 AM
My neighbors asked me to take down my Buddhist prayer flags last Christmas. I think they were afraid that when I got sucked down to hell, they'd get caught in the under-tow.
Posted by: Russ | Jul 13, 2009 9:12:43 AM
I'm glad I don't have to look at such a display, but at least he raised money for the hospital.
Posted by: Sheila | Jul 13, 2009 9:26:58 AM
He spent $50K a year to raise $20K a year for a hospital. Won't the hospital be better off now that he has more money to give?
I was watching a British TV show in which "C"-list celebrities compete against each other to win a thousand pounds "for charity". One "celebrity" spent over 3 thousand pounds to "win" (combined the 5 celebrities probably spent over 8 thousand pounds, the BBC spent countless thousands to produce it, and "charity" gets one thousand pounds.
I have a friend who said he needed to buy a new $2k dollar so he could participate in a "charity" ride in which he was raising a few hundred bucks.
Posted by: floormaster squeeze | Jul 13, 2009 9:44:20 AM
"$2k bike" not "$2k bike". Sorry!
Posted by: floormaster squeeze | Jul 13, 2009 9:45:44 AM
This is an outrage of outrageous proportions! Outrage! Everyone should be able to afford 41 thousands dollars to up Christmas lights! Who cares if the average American only makes 45 thousand a year!
Posted by: thing1 | Jul 13, 2009 10:02:31 AM
Russ: rotflmao thanks man that post made my Monday morning. :)
Posted by: SickBoy | Jul 13, 2009 10:38:11 AM
SCREW UP XMAS THIS YEAR FOR SURE
Posted by: MONKEY JERKm | Jul 13, 2009 11:14:54 AM
damn, i will let my kids know there will not be any christmas this year
Posted by: angrysockmonkey | Jul 13, 2009 11:37:11 AM
Last year, I had to wait until after Christmas was over to buy new lights for the tree--For 75% off $20, we lived with the dozens of burnt-out bulbs for a few weeks ;-)
I like outrageous Christmas displays even though I never participate. It's fun to drive around and oooo and aaaah.
Posted by: twerp | Jul 13, 2009 12:25:54 PM
The display would've probably been a real hoot to see in person, but yeah, it would've been a big pain if they were your neighbors or lived on the same street.
Myself, I'm cheap. I just get my annual Christmas wreath from the florist's. $41,000...hmm, that would be enough to celebrate Christmas for approximately 1,000 years, 500 if you get fancy. Niiice.
Posted by: outofsalt | Jul 13, 2009 8:31:00 PM
The guy has spent almost as much as he donated to the hospital in coloring books and candy canes alone... So, while it's nice and all, it's pretty much just a rich couple's hobby, and one that annoys the heck out of the neighbors to boot. Not to mention the environmental impact of wasting all that electricity.
Here's an idea, he could make a suit of Christmas lights and go visit the kids at the hospital, and just donate the difference if he wants? That would be a lot more effective and less annoying.
Geez I wish I had his problem.
Posted by: The Restless Mouse | Jul 14, 2009 2:36:10 AM
So, let me get this straight, he went into debt to donate to charity? Riiiiight.
Actually, he and his family were a bit egotistical and competitive. They wanted the attention. The donation was to compensate.
Posted by: Worker | Jul 14, 2009 1:53:30 PM
Mabye if he didnt hire a crew to put them up and take them down, then he wouldnt be in this situation. I grew up in this neighborhood and to be honest it looks like christmas threw-up on his house.
Posted by: Balina | Jul 14, 2009 2:51:12 PM
