How to be Eco-friendly This Holiday Season

Many people don’t realize how easy it is to be a little green.  If you follow these simple tips, you can have a clean and eco-friendly holiday season.  If many people do a little, it helps everybody.

• Use LCD Christmas lights

             LCD lights are becoming cheaper and more popular every year.  Add these lights to your house or tree, and you’ll be lowering your effect on the environment – and your electric bill.

• Get a smaller tree

             If you’re like me, you love the smell and feeling of a live Christmas tree.  Try getting a smaller tree this year, and you’ll use less water to keep it healthy.

• Recycle

             Don’t throw your extra wrapping paper and manufacturer’s packaging in the trash.  Instead, place these items in your local recycling bin.

• Re-use gift bags

             Unlike wrapping paper, gift bags can be used multiple times.  Use gift bags instead of wrapping paper, and tell your friends to re-use them.  Using your old gift bags can save you time and money as well!

• Donate old decorations

             Remember that old, ugly figurine from the 70s?  Don’t throw it away!  Give it to a Goodwill or another donation center.  Who knows, your trash may become someone else’s treasure!

• Use your food wisely

             Have lots of leftovers?  Use this extra food for lunches during the week, or pack it up so that your guests can take it home with them.

• Carpool

             If you go to church on Christmas, bring some friends or family along and carpool!  It’ll be fun, and you’ll save some gas while you do it!

• Light watching

             Like to drive around the neighborhood, looking at lights?  Get some fresh air and take a walk!  The lights will look much brighter in person, and you’ll walk off some of those Christmas cookies!

• Packing material

             Use your ripped up wrapping paper for your after-Christmas storage.  It will help keep your valuables safe when you box them, and save that paper from being thrown in the trash.

• Excess wrapping paper

             Wrapping paper does not expire!  If you have some left on the roll after your wrapping is done, pack it away and save it for next year.  That’s one less roll you’ll have to buy!

Follow these simple tips and you’ll have a better effect on the environment this holiday season, and you’ll save some extra dough as well!

Have a safe and blessed holiday season!