Be a Practical and Earth-Friendly Giver

Gift giving this Christmas should not be such an expensive and waste-generating activity. With a little effort and a lot of imagination, you can come up with novel ideas to show loved ones how much you care while, at the same time, saving the environment and some money. Here are very personal, inexpensive and environment-friendly ways to give gifts:

1. Do. Don't just buy.

While some holiday gifts fill a practical need and have to be bought new, many gifts are really gestures of thoughtfulness. Why not give services as gifts instead of things? Gifts of service like tutoring, cooking and gardening will be appreciated. You can kick it up a notch by giving a book of coupons for household chores. Gifts of services do not use natural resources and are very personal and truly memorable.

2. Recycle. Recycle. Recycle.

Large wrapped presents have large smooth areas which can be used to wrap smaller gift items.

3. Shun the tape.

Use ribbons to finish off your wrapping. Not using tape will make it easier for the recipient to save the wrapping and re-use it.

4. Use environment-friendly wraps.

Find paper using recycled content or made from fibers. Much better if you use the colorful pages from old magazines and calendars. Be clever and use pieces of fabric scraps you have lying around to wrap your presents.

5. Make you own cards.

It will be a fun pre-Christmas family activity. Your finished products may not look as good as those commercially made and sold in stores, but it will be less expensive and more personal.

Here's to a practical, earth-friendly and enjoyable holidays ahead.