How To Have An Inexpensive and Eco-Friendly Holiday Season

Save cash & the planet, all while staying off the Naughty list

I grew up completely in the dark about the health of our environment. Granted, I was raised in the midwest in the early 90s. The adults in our lives plied us with Furbys and D.A.R.E. teeshirts rather than teaching us about sustainability. We recycled paper and plastic growing up, and turned off lights (albeit, because we were on a budget), but that was about as far as it went.

In the past few years, as I’ve grown more conscious about my wasteful behaviors (props to my European partner), I’m really thinking about how to waste less and spend less. Not only are many of us on a budget due to the life-altering pandemic, but if you’re like me, you’re starting to think about the value of your dollar in a different way.

From 2019 to 2020 alone, we’ve seen a 12.7 increase in LA’s homeless population. Does a 17 dollar cocktail really taste that good when outside the bar, hundreds of folks don’t have a roof over their heads?

All in all, the crisis of 2020 has only increased my awareness of the lives of others. I’m working on mindful spending and avoiding getting drawn into capitalist ploys (like advertising and social media). Maybe saving money, helping others, or investing in local, handmade goods vs. buying things that are mass-produced would be a better use of our hard-earned dollars?

If you want to save a buck or work on saving our planet, read on! These are the top ideas I’ve learned via word of mouth, research, and a little Christmas creativity. I’m dreaming of a sustainable, less wasteful holiday.

Real Vs. Fake Christmas Trees: A Heated Debate

I read a great article in the New York Times by Karen Zraick. Here are the big picture takeaways:

Pros of buying a fake tree

• When you purchase an artificial Christmas tree, you not only save money having to buy one every year, you also save the life of a tree. Despite the…