Sustainable Gift Guide
Hey friends, tis the season for gift giving.
It's no secret that Christmas has transformed in the past few decades from being with family and being happy for the little things in life, to all out keeping up with the Jones. Every year we see consumerism taking off. Every year we see some clickbait title like Mom Buys Over 1000 Presents For Her Kids. But, on the flipside we see titles like Can Americans Survive This Holiday Season Without Going Into Debt.
It's a sad dynamic.
So here are a few of my tips I've learned in the last 12 years after becoming a mom and becoming more Eco Minded, don't take it as My Kids Don't Get Christmas at all because they do. I try to make things as special for my kids as I can, I've struggled and I've tried to get ahead (take those summer toy sales for things like barbie and lego or buy last years branded non candy advent calender).
1) Thrift and Regift
I'm not above thrifting and re-gifting. Each year not long after Christmas you can walk the isles of your local thrift store and see brand new boxes of holiday gifts. Coffee makers. Toys. Cloths. And hobby supplies. All unopened and all at a deep discount. I know resellers have made some thrift store prices go up and I know we see the full price second hand lulu lemon pants on the shelf. But, you can still find the deals if you look. In the past we have gone to the thrift store and found bags of like new barbies and Legos for my oldest for a few dollars, a bag she got so many new to her toys that she still has in her room or put aside to give to her sister at this point. She found barbie cars that cost 4-8 times more than what she paid, and even found Lego for pennies. This is worth a try, I know some stores have the full kitchen sets from time to time but other than toys, you can usually find a great treasure any given day.
2) Reusable.
I am the cup queen in my house, I have so many cups that sometimes I don't get to use them. I did a yard sell recently and sold a bunch of cups and water bottles, we also gifted cups to friends and family members.
Other than cups think about practical items like reusable bags, and lunch containers. Do what works for you or who you are gifting too. I mention in my video (above) that I love stashers but I have family members who prefer the Ello brand from Costco, texture issues and I recommend if you have these issues go-to target to feel the stasher bags. Also I recommend this for most reusable bags, I mention that I got bags from temu that I do use all the time but I wouldn't be buying more from temu as there similar quality as ones from Walmart and Dollar Tree. Without shipping, but I recommend Stasher bag and they usually have a sale or bundle.
When it comes to those trendy metal containers, please remember that metal doesn’t go in the microwave so if you need to use your containers in the microwave this wouldn’t be the best option. Also you don’t need the bamboo or wooden spoons if they don’t fit in your budget or in your life. Just because it’s eco doesn’t mean it will be better, if you don’t use it why buy it. The energy and resources are something to consider, as well as will you use this item to the full extent of its lifespan, if not you don’t need it.
3) Hobbyist.
As mentioned above, there are dozen’s of hobby items at the thrift stores and even at yard sells. I mentioned in my video that I would be extremally happy to be gifted a nice wooden box to store some of my precious hobby supplies in, second hand or not. This is something that can be done DIY as well, there are some small business models that are DIY stores where you can do your craft with assistance, we have one near us that does needle tufting which I never thought there was. You google your craft and I bet there is something that exists.
Gardening friends, look to second hand or even upcycled. I have a whole upcycled garden series I’ll link below.
In the sustainable gift guide video I mentioned that I found a compost tumbler on Facebook market for $30, which was at least $40 cheaper than the one I bought brand new on Amazon. You can also get great holiday discounts on garden beds from the Epic Gardening Website (I love watching Keven and Jacque on Epic Gardening YouTube, I’m not sponsored to mention them I just love there content) as well as just going to the discount section of your big box store or neighborhood garden center. You can also pick up these items at yard sells and just asking around, I watched a coworker mention they needed to buy something and another tell tell them they had what they wanted and set up the price and delivery. Easy as mentioning there need or want.
4) Events and Experiences.
My friends this has to be one of my favorite ones, rather than buying something that may be a hit or miss why not invest in something that will be a lasting memory. Don’t just give your friend a gift card to anywhere, but rather to something they have mentioned to you in the past. Those pins, reels, shorts and more short form content about experiences you send to each other are your guide. I had a gift card from a friend to Korean BBQ, something that they know I want to do (having a sub par experience once already) this is to somewhere she’s been before and really hope we would enjoy. Which I am very grateful for.
You can also gift movie tickets, state park passes, annual zoo pass or one day pass, national park pass, and much more. I was also alerted this year that gifting tattoos and piercings are a thing and that some studios have gift certificates. I also know a lady who gifted her mom paying off her electric bill, not for everyone I know but it was a great gesture and it put me into a great mood hearing that.
These are just a few things I mentioned in the video above, I’d love if you take a look at it and tell me what your favorite option is. Also if you want to leave any in the comments that I may have missed, I’d love to put those into a part two for 2024.
One thing I didn’t mention in the video or yet in this post is that of gifting health to a loved one, many of the health coaches I know as well as myself will allow you to purchase a coaching session and gift it to a loved one. If you are interested in that when booking please put into the comments GIFT, and I will contact you for details and how to let your recipient book.
I wish you all the best and most Blessed Holiday season,
Love Mercedes.
