'Tis the season for Christmas lights and holiday wonderlands. But while driving around to see Christmas lights is a popular activity, the high electricity costs often go unnoticed.

For example, it costs around $20 to cover a standard outdoor tree with lights for the season.

But people News 12 talked to said they wouldn't be "Grinched" by the cost of doing more.

Sherman resident Darrin Armstrong starts his Christmas decorating right after Thanksgiving.

"We do it for the kids and grand kids and just enjoyment," he said. "When I was growing up as a kid we used to drive around and see the lights."

Armstrong sees an extra $100 - $120 dollar charge in his December bill.

"There's always a little increase, but I don't worry about that," he said. "It's just the excitement of it and the enjoyment of it."

Armstrong's outdoor tree uses 2,800 lights. It puts out 1,142.4 watts. And it and uses about the same amount of electricity as a coffeemaker or microwave.

But Armstrong said it's a worthwhile cost. And next year he plans to expand his lighted empire."

"Next year on my roof I'm planning to add at least 10 to12 big blue stars," he said.

Sherman resident John Dery said he never even looks at the cost.

"Christmas has got to go up," he said. "That's all there is to it."

He sees more lights around town this year, he said.

"Hopefully that's a little expression of the economy coming back up," he said.

And Armstrong wouldn't have it any other way.

"We actually sometimes sit out on the front porch, and we'll see people drive by and people will hollar at us and thank us for doing it," he said. "That makes it all worth while."