OK, so maybe the worm bin isn’t right for everyone on your shopping list, but that doesn’t mean you need to abandon green this season. Start with a green goal for your holiday shopping: Green products or simply gifts that will encourage greener living rather than consumption.
Stress relief – think gardening tools rather than bath salts. Instead of encouraging someone to use a ton of water to temporarily relieve stress, have them get out in their yard. Think of the concept – give a man a fish, feed him for a day, teach a man to fish, feed him for a lifetime. Try to go the whole month without buying anything needing a ton of water added.
Electronic gadgets - before you buy, think about whether they are really making life easier. We often get caught up in what sounds cool – useful, even necessary. My favorite was an electronic voice activated shopping list recorder that you mount to your refrigerator. It then prints your shopping list when you’re ready. Nice idea, but was paper and pencil really not working that well? Imagine your frustration when this gadget runs out of batteries, or when you’re standing at the store wondering what cat chop is. See if you can buy nothing that needs batteries!
Person who has everything – try a gift certificate for fruit trees rather than yet another tie, golf club or wine opener. Buy nothing you know they already should own.
Busy body - how about a gift certificate to an exercise class rather than yet another bottle of wine. Go to that club/gym/studio and buy 10 of them to give out. What if every gift you gave this season started something? Something green, something healthy, something volunteer/donation oriented. Try it.