I can't believe you guys needing permission from your wives to do this stuff. Be like me, "man-up" and just buy the stuff (at night when she is asleep, then beat her home everyday to get to the mailbox to check for packages, and then hide the stuff when it comes in, then don't work on it for 6 months so that the credit card statement is no longer available on line, and then tell her the truth, the RGB LEDs do in fact cost more than regular incandescent lights - about $1 more (say the "each" part really quitely so she cannot hear it) and that the cost of the hubs and controllers pales in comparison to the the RGB LED's, and that you don't remember what the total cost was anymore, but obviously the cost was not prohibitive since you went ahead and did it). And I can sleep at night because there were no lies stated above and only one word was omitted (or slurred). Oh yeah, and I haven't ordered the LED's yet because I do not foresee being able to beat her to the mail box for the next 6 weeks.
Just remember, it is a hobby, and you could be spending your money on other frivolous things (like the mortgage, car payments, dinner, ...) but instead you choose to spend it on DIY Christmas lights because you love to see her smile (she didn't buy it either).
And just in case you are wondering, no, I do not spend too much time in the doghouse (depends on your definition of "too much time").
Steve