Holiday gift-giving has changed quite a bit over the last few years, people have less money to spend and consumers are much more aware of the impact their purchases have on both the environment and society. Let’s face it there is a heck of a lot of holidays to consider including Christmas, birthdays, secretary day, anniversaries, and Valentines. Gift giving doesn’t end there – when we are invited to a dinner, for instance, we often feel compelled to bring along a gift. Look at Green Shopping Tips For The Holidays.
The collective impact of these special days and events can be huge. Christmas alone is responsible for 25% more waste being sent to landfills. Halloween is actually responsible for more waste than Christmas. By recognizing the incredible waste that is generated, the urgency to do something becomes apparent. When purchasing gifts look for the most eco-friendly option available to you – such as whether it is made locally, uses recycled materials, the packaging is recyclable, the company uses solar or wind energy, etc. If you choose to purchase electronics, consider those powered by solar or rechargeable batteries. Conscious shoppers tend to embrace practical, durable, ecological gifts that can provide some form of convenience or financial benefit. At the same time, it is nice to find ways to alleviate the guilt felt during special days due to the high consumption, of wrapping paper and travel activities. Here is a brief list of frugal and environmentally sound ideas to inspire your gift-giving purchases this year. If some of these seem too small, consider combining some of these items into an eco-gift basket. Most thrift and second-hand stores have piles of beautiful baskets just waiting for the creative shopper. For the homeownerA thermostat control that automatically turns the heat down at night, low flow showerhead attachment, and tubes of caulking or weather stripping supplies. Dimmer switches, energy efficient lighting (CFLs or LEDs); yellow bulbs are perfect for exterior lighting because they attract fewer insects. Hot water tank insulation kits and hot water pipe insulation kits are also excellent ideas. Consider tossing in a few electric socket and light switch insulation kits too (little foam inserts that go behind the plug and switch covers that are located on exterior walls). For the gardenerA subscription to an organic gardening magazine, save a seed variety from extinction in your friend’s name, or set up a membership to a seed organization. Bird, bat, and butterfly houses, baths, and feeders – or the patterns to build them – are wonderful gifts. Alternatively consider composting bins, worm bins, gift certificates to a nursery, or a membership with an environmental group. Give ServicesRather than giving an item that must be wrapped, consider purchasing tickets to a performance, restaurant gift certificates, or services such as lawn care, cleaning, music lessons, exercise or dance classes, tune-up, or tire rotation services. Don’t forget to look at dog walking, babysitting, massage, spas, or gyms when looking at gift certificates. All of these ideas will help you support local businesses that you believe in while giving something that the recipient can truly benefit from. Give FoodHome preserves such as dehydrated or canned foods make excellent gifts. There are a lot of people that find cooking cumbersome and they treasure ready-to-cook frozen meals like lasagne, pasta, and casseroles. Snack foods and desserts are appreciated by almost anyone. Fill reusable mason jars with all the dry ingredients for a recipe such as biscuits or brownies, and include the instructions for them to bake it at their convenience. Keep in mind that purchasing Brazil or cashew nuts supports tropical rainforests. Baskets of healthy foods are another wonderful idea to consider – especially if it contains samples from local producers. Plantsliving plants clean the air and provide a wonderful atmosphere. Perhaps you have plants or know someone, that you could take slips or divisions, root, and pot up those new plants to share with your friends. Unique pots and containers can be found at most thrift and second-hand stores.
|
{randomimage}wp-content/uploads/banners,100%,auto,Random image,https://iconicerp.com/apply-for-trial/{/randomimage}