The holiday season can get expensive, and produces more waste. Here are some simple swaps that make the holidays greener while saving green. Big #1Thing win!
Six swaps for green holiday luxury on a budget:
- Keep food waste low.Avoid buying more food than needed. Create a holiday meal plan, and make a shopping list. Ordering online / or going to the store, stick to the list. If there are leftovers freeze what you can to enjoy another time. Compost the rest. Buy organic and local with the least amount of packaging. Try a vegan / vegetarian holiday meal rather than the traditional turkey / ham.
- Buy eco-friendly fun gifts, or make your own eco-friendly budget presents.Sustainable gifts for family & friends
- Ditch the single use disposable wrapping paper.Go for reusable and upcycled versions of wrapping. Wrap presents in fabric. Save things from recycling to wrap gifts in.Take the Cut the Wrap Challenge Ecofriendly Ways to Wrap Sustainable Gift Wrapping Course
- Swap holiday cards for e-cards.Wish your family & friends well for the holiday season w/ an e-card. Tell them in person. Suggest making a donation to a charity to help others.
- Christmas / holiday tree options ... real or fake?If you want an actual tree going for real seems to be the best green way. Potted trees are becoming more popular each season. They can be planted later. If planting the tree is not an option, be sure to recycle. Turning it into mulch is a much better use of a tree to help the environment. There are also other options than just a tree. Decorate a large houseplant. You can decorate a wall hanging. Here's another way to use a pallet.
- Holiday outfits / jumpers try wearing them more than one season.Sew different extras on them each year. You could swap with family / friends, pick up secondhand or just pass on wearing them.
More Christmas / holiday on a budget ideas here from Eco-thrifty Living
