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The holiday season is a time when we all try to be a little more thoughtful. We get together with family and friends, give each other presents and generally feel good about ourselves because we’ve done something nice for another person.
But it’s also easy to become wasteful during this time of year. So many people buy things without thinking about what they’ll do with them after Christmas is over — or even if they’ll use them at all. We’ve compiled a guide to help you be more sustainable this silly season:
Make a List, Check It Twice and Buy Nothing Else
If you are like most people, your Christmas list has probably been growing by the day. If you are trying to be less wasteful over Christmas and New Year, then it is important that you keep track of what you plan to purchase. This way when you do finally brave the Christmas shopping rush. you’re not being wooed by those sneaky extras they put near the register and be tempted to overbuy—we’ve all been guilty of this, right?
Give the Gift of Experiences
Experience-based gifts are a great way to give someone something meaningful and memorable. Think about it — how often do you remember what you received for Christmas or even your birthday, but can still recall the experience of going somewhere with friends? You’ll probably remember swimming with sharks even more than any gift under the tree.
But they aren’t only good for the recipient, experiences make life more fulfilling too. It’s also a great way of tapping into type 2 fun. If you’re not aware of the fun scale, type 2 fun is when you’re out of your comfort zone and in retrospect have had the time of your life.
Plan Your Menu With Friends and Family
If you’re hosting friends and/or family over the silly season, it’s often a good idea to coordinate who is bringing what. The last thing you want is three pavlovas and no sides to go with the Christmas ham or an overabundance of drinks with no entrees for your New Year’s Eve party.
Allocating dishes for family and friends to bring along is a great way to reduce food wastage and also ensures what should be a delicious spread for everyone to enjoy.
Also, make sure what you’re buying is going to be eaten and enjoyed by everyone. No point serving up some geoduck at the table if everyone is going to give it a wide berth.
Gift Outside the Box
Sometimes finding the perfect gift can be a little challenging, but often, if you try and consider their hobbies and interests, you can find something just right.
Have an avid gardener in your life? Consider gifting them a worm farm. You can use these worms to help reduce the amount of waste going to landfill by turning it into compost for your garden or even vermicompost, which is used as fertiliser in gardens. These worms are also environmentally friendly as they do not produce harmful greenhouse gasses while breaking down food scraps.
Op shops are also great for finding one-off pieces for the retro-lover in your life. With a range of homewares, clothes and old-world technology, you can be sure you’ll be gifting a one-of-a-kind present.
These are just a few ways you can be less wasteful at Christmas and New Year. The holidays are about having fun, spending time with your family and friends and enjoying the season of good cheer! It’s also about being mindful of how much waste we generate as well as how much food we throw away without thinking twice about it.
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Any representations, views or opinions contained in this article are those of The Latch and do not reflect those of and are not endorsed by Suncorp Bank.
