There are a ton of these kinds of lists, so what makes me think mine is adding anything to the mix?
Nothing. And it probably isn’t, butt regardless I wanted to write down what I am doing to keep the green in the red and green season. (Wow. That was cheesy. Even for me.)
Maybe what sets my list apart is that these are all easy (and cheap!) things that anyone can do without a lot of effort. In fact, some of things on the list require less effort than their alternatives. How’s that for a win?
Katie’s list of ways to “green” the season:
1. Recycle gift bags. I do this all the time. I’m feeling ambitious right now, so I’m saying that I’ll make, from my fabric stash, all the gift bags too. So the bag itself is a gift. We’ll see if it actually happens. (I should also note that I’ve been saying this every year for about 5 years. Hasn’t happened yet.)
But you don’t have to make a fabric bag. You can just reuse a bag from a gift you received. Or wrap your presents in newspaper. Or old t-shirts. Or fabric scraps. Or….you get the idea.
2. Just say no to Christmas trees. After yesterday’s post, I’ve decided to forego a tree for another year. I mean, I’m 32, I haven’t had one yet, and I have never felt like my holiday season suffered, so I think I’m safe.
3. Don’t send cards. Save the paper and the energy to mail them (not to mention the $$) and send some hilarious ecards.
Or better yet, CALL someone to wish them happy holidays. You remember phone calls right? They are what your texting machine was actually designed to do.
4. Along those lines, use the cards you get as gift tags. My mom was doing this back in day, before being “green” was hip and cool. (Its funny though, that now that it is cool to do it, she doesn’t anymore. Moms. Forever uncool. Hehe. Kidding.)
5. Give money. Be honest; you’d rather get money, so why not just give it too? Skip the madness of shopping altogether.
This has a couple added benefits – more time to do things that aren’t shopping in crowded malls and….well okay, that’s all I can think of. But still. That’s a big one.
Things like making all those fun crafts you’ve (I’ve) been wanting to make forever but you haven’t had time for.
And if your list isn’t 17834 pages long like mine is, here’s a list of 30 craft projects for the holiday season. Get going!
Plus, as an added bonus, most of these tips will also save you some green. (Money? Dollars are green? Get it?) Oooh, that was bad.
What are you doing this season that’s “green”?
Winner of the giveaway is Christin! Email me with your address and I’ll get your package out in the mail ASAP
I don’t send Christmas cards- but that decision happened because I am a procrastinator. One year I had all the cards written, in their envelopes with stamps, and never mailed them.
My grandmother saved the Sunday newspaper comics, and she would wrap her gifts in that. We always knew which gift came from grandma!
“I’ve decided to forego a tree for another year” — good call. Less to buy, less to clean up after, less to deal with…I’d rather spend my time baking than watering a tree or finding a place to store an artificial tree after I take it down.
Green…well, does not wrapping one singular gift this year count? I didn’t and I won’t. And my buy for list included ONE person: my child! Everyone else…we have a pact…no gifts this year. And I love it!
Eek! I love those birds nest pendants…
You’ve got some great green-ness ideas… I don’t think I’m getting a Christmas tree this year either, just never really too excited about decorating…plus I bet Cocoa would climb it!!
I am making the presents for my family this year- sweatshirt quilt for my Dad and an apron for the lady who has everything. (Guess who gave me that idea
) (Brothers don’t get anything when they forget your birthday…can you tell I’m bitter?)
Thanks for the list of crafts- I already have a long list, but I always want to look at more ideas…
I do send Christmas cards, but that’s only because I LOVE getting them- the real, paper kind. I always re-use gift bags and other wrapping materials. I guess I’m practicing to be an old lady, but the idea of throwing away a perfectly good bag/piece of tissue paper/box drives me crazy!
I totally agree on all of these points. I love giving homemade baked goods as holiday gifts too. I figure food I made from home is probably a lot greener than buying someone a pre-made gift, right?
My best friend and I have been giving each other presents in the same gift bag, back and forth, for about 5 years now. It’s completely ripped up, and the tag forever says ‘To: Anna From: Colleen’ regardless of which direction the gift is traveling, but it’s become a tradition. I think we’re less green, more silly and lazy.
Well happy Friday to me!!
Emailing you now! 
Thanks for the link to the crafts! I always reuse gift bags and I usually make homemade treats for gifts. My family doesn’t exchange gifts which is I tradition I really appreciate! Less stress, less junk we don’t need, etc.
I’m driving my big ass diesel truck from TX to IN. I’m pretty sure that’s a green fail.
This will be the first year without a Christmas tree. 