DECK THE HALLS AND SAVE THE DOLLARS
One of the most dreaded parts of the holidays is the money put into gifts. To keep the sentiment up and not break the bank, buying second hand is a great option. It is considerably cheaper than brand new, more eco friendly, less wasteful, and there are some great finds in second hand stores.
WASTING LESS, CELEBRATING MORE
Waste is an unfortunate side effect of the holidays, from Thanksgiving through the New Years. There are a few simple remedies to this problem: starting with being careful on food preparation. Not making abundances of food, or eating leftovers, will create less food waste that has to be dealt with later on. Don’t feel bad about pawning it off to loved ones, either; it’s better to have someone eat it then no one at all! Doing things like starting a compost bin in your kitchen or backyard also helps to salvage fruit and vegetable scraps in particular, and has the double benefit of setting up your future garden come springtime.
Gift wrapping is one of the most wasted aspects of the gift giving season, but fortunately there’s a way to fix this too: recycling. It seems simple at face value, but something important to mention is that not all wrapping paper is recyclable. In order to tell, take your wrapping paper and scrunch it up into a ball; if it stays crumpled, it’s good to recycle, but if it doesn’t it should be trashed. Another good reminder is to avoid shiny or metallic wrapping paper, as that kind of paper can’t be recycled either.
If you still want to achieve that flashy look, it’s a good idea to reuse your bows and ribbons. You can use it year after year by adding some double sided tape where the adhesive goes.
If you enjoy using Christmas bags rather than boxes, make sure to save them for next year so you can avoid having to buy new ones for yourself and others.
ADDING A PERSONAL TOUCH
To make the holidays even more special, a nice thoughtful gift with some personal touch will be a quick and kind option. Gifting family or ‘world famous’ recipes can be a great low budget gift. Plus, it’s an easy meal for the receiver to do while coming down from holiday stress. Homemade or DIYs are another fun one. It can be an activity you do with your family or friends, and it’s very heartfelt and personal. Country Living released an article with 120 DIYs to do in the holidays in 2023. In fact, the welding class here made 70 ornaments to send out to the donors that made the trades programs possible. You may not have access to welding equipment, but making handmade presents are just as thoughtful.
