How do you do it?

With your shopping or preparations leading up to it? At work or school functions? The week of at home and afterwards?

Might seem oxymoronic with all the consumerism built into this time of year, but there’s got to be a few ways, small or big. I made a community post about this in a board, but thought this could get more ideas rolling as well!

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For my part, my dad and grandma made fabric Christmas bags over 30 years ago and we use them every year. They’ve lasted because they don’t get much wear , being used only once a year! They are reversible, made with christmas themed or green and red fabric, and either have sewn in draw strings or we reuse the same ribbon every year. They are rectangular pouches in all different sizes for all your different needs. And its so quick to wrap things, just shove it in a pouch! I hope to make my own when I have a family or better yet, continue to use these ones for another 30 years!

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Summary from comments on the community board:

1. choosing to not celebrate, “cuts the gluttony, the expectations, the stress”

2. use what you have instead of buying

3. Wrapping: newspaper is fully recyclable; pages from old unwanted books; wrapping paper, shoe boxes, gift bags you already have and should use up before you buy more; save wrapping year to year, including ribbons

4. Gifting: experiences, like tickets to plays; something you already own but don’t use and someone else would use; secondhand items you find/trade for; reusable items, like wax wraps; locally made items; homemade items like cookies and treats, fruit and nut baskets, jam or jelly, pet treats, bath bombs, pottery