Cheap and Green Holiday Ideas!

The holiday season is always a time of excessive spending and mountains of wrapping paper in your trash can. Well, not this season! Here are some tips on to be green this holiday season!Tip 1: Switch to LED Christmas Lights!Switching to LED lights will make your holiday decorations much greener, because they use far less energy than incandescent lights, saving you money on your electric bill! LED lights also burn much cooler than incandescent bulbs, greatly reducing fire risks, and they're going to last more than twice as long as those old incandescent ones, so you'll save money on replacements as well. They typically run about the same price as incandescent lights, but in the long run you'll be saving a considerable amount of money, and they're better for the environment!
Tip 2: Shop at Your Local Farmer's Market!When you go shopping for your holiday meal this year, pick up your fresh ingredients from your local Farmer's Market! Buying locally cuts down on transportation costs that add to food prices, and gives you fresh delicious ingredients to add to your special feast!
Tip 3: Recycle-Reuse!Consider what can be reused this Christmas such as wrapping paper, bags, boxes, bows...if it's in good shape, save it for next year, or use them for crafts for the kids! And for the food scraps that tend to pile up, try composting them instead of tossing them out! Also, if you're going the disposable route with plates and such, there are also compostable dishes out there!
Tip 4: Rethink the Wrapping Paper!Most store bought wrapping papers are not recyclable and end up in landfills, so consider alternatives for wrapping ideas, such as newspaper or paper grocery bags. Or you can try a fresh idea like using dish towels, scarves, and even t-shirts, which are part of the gift, to wrap packages!
Tip 5: Keep Your Tree Green!
If you buy a real tree each year, recycle it! you can call 1-800-CLEANUP to find a tree recycling program near you. Also be sure to buy pesticide-free trees and wreaths if you decorate with live greenery.Another option is to buy an artificial Christmas tree. You'll save money when you don't buy a new tree each year, and there's no waste to worry about -- all you need is some storage space.
Tip 6: Get Recycled Paper Greeting Cards!Not only can you be green by purchasing recycled paper greeting cards, but also When you receive cards, recycled or not, you can reuse those too! Don't send them again -- that would be tacky -- but save them in a craft box for next season. You can cut out designs to make your own cards or gift tags, for example.
Tip 7: Crafting is Green-work!
help your kids create one-of-a-kind greetings using recycled supplies like old greeting cards and wrapping paper as well as magazines and newspapers.In addition to holiday cards, you can cut colorful magazine pages into thin strips and curl them with your scissors to make ribbon -- you can also do this with old wrapping paper. Small paper and card scraps always work for gift tags, and your glue stick makes all those sticky bows reusable.
Tip 8: Giving the Gift of GreenObviously the greenest things you can give aren't things at all. Charitable donations to earth-friendly causes keep it green, but also consider gifts of time, which can save you money and save on clutter. Do you have a friend who could really use a few nights of free babysitting? Maybe you're a great chef, and your gift can be cooking a nice meal for someone. Think of ways you can put your skills to use to bring holiday cheer to those around you.
Share these tips with your friends and family so they too can know how to be green this holiday season!