Ways to Make Your Christmas Greener and Save Money

Christmas can be a wasteful and expensive holiday, but it doesn’t have to be. There are lots of ways to make your Christmas celebrations more affordable and environmentally friendly. Here are some suggestions and ideas.

1. Using light-emitting diodes (LED) Christmas lights
LED lights have come a long way since they were first introduced and came only in red. Now, LED Christmas lights come in all kinds of shapes and colors, and some of them even blink. They may cost a bit more, but they last much longer and use a lot less electricity. In fact, you can even get solar-powered LEDs.

2. Home-made gifts
People really do appreciate home-made gifts – spending time on someone means even more than spending money. Candy and baked goods are natural choices, but depending on your skills and interests, you can make all kinds of interesting gifts. Bookmarks, coasters, and wreaths are just some of the examples of gifts you can make yourself.

3. Visit antique stores
Buying gifts second-hand is a great way to recycle all those items already in circulation. From tea cups to linens, toy cars to lamps, antique stores have something for everyone. Many of their offerings are very affordable, and they have more character than new, mass-produced gifts.

4. Home-made wrapping paper
Using paper products you have around your house, you can make festive wrapping paper that costs pennies. Brown paper bags can be decorated with paints, cut-outs, stickers, stamps, etc. and used as gift bags. Or they can be cut into sheets that can be similarly decorated. Catalogue pages, colorful newsprint (think Sunday comics), or even old maps can be recycled as wrapping paper.

5. Home-made decorations
There are various patterns on the internet that show you how to make beautiful paper ornaments. You can make garlands from popcorn, packing peanuts, or strips of paper looped into rings. Wreaths can be made by weaving together twigs, or wiring greens to a backing such as an old coat hanger. There is no need to spend a lot to decorate your home.

6. Free entertainment
You don’t have to throw a big, fancy party to celebrate the holidays. There is a lot of free entertainment all around, from sledding to snowman-building. If your climate is not conducive to snow, take a family hike or go sightseeing. Another fun thing to do is drive around the neighborhoods with your family, checking out all the lights and outdoor decorations. Some communities even have drive-through light displays.

Investing in low-cost, environmentally-friendly options this Christmas will yield dividends of happiness and savings.

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