Zero Waste Christmas Gift Ideas

“It's not how much we give but how much love we put into giving.” - Mother Teresa

Okay, I’ll be the first to admit that I’m a little bit of a Grinch. I usually find Christmas hella’ stressful and feel like I’m getting pulled in several different directions. I usually wind up in tears or like last year, ended up in the hospital and spent over three months of my life recovering (fun). But this year my goal is to shift my mindset about Chrissy. I have said no to at least four different Christmas invites and have said maybe to three others. I have suggested Kris Kringle’s where possible and have booked time with the in-laws in early December rather than trying to fit everything in over a couple of days. The thing that still gets me though, is gifts. I LOVE the people in my life, but as a practising minimalist, I find myself not wanting to buy more “things”. I spend most of the year offering to help clear out my loved one’s homes (I’m not joking, I really do that), so it seems counter-intuitive to give them stuff in December. While I have purchased some possessions for the children in my life, I have done a little brainstorming and come up with some zero-waste Christmas ideas…

SCRIBD VOUCHER

I have used Scribd on and off again for several years and I love it. It is an app where you can read a variety of books or listen to audiobooks by paying for a monthly membership. This is the perfect option for friends or family members who love to read, who spend a lot of time commuting, or who are looking to cut down on their television time.

YOUFOODZ VOUCHER

YouFoodz are an Australian company who offer fresh meals delivered to your doorstep. When I was going through my final exams these meals saved my life. A gift voucher makes a great gift for loved one who are busy or who are looking to partake in a wellness journey.

MONEY

While some people feel it is impersonal to give money, I think it is the perfect gift because you KNOW the recipient will use it. This year my boyfriend and I gave a loved one some money in the form of $10 notes that we folded into origami.

SECOND-HAND WRAPPING PAPER

The perfect place to get second-hand wrapping paper is your local op-shop. You don’t have to settle for wrapping paper either. You can use newspaper, material, second-hand gift boxes or nothing. Do gifts even have to be wrapped?

HELP THE WOMBATS

Making a donation as a gift is a great way to help the endangered wombats in Australia while making the recipient feel great. This is the perfect gift for animal lovers and the environmentally conscious alike.

I would love to hear from you in the comments below.

- How do you feel about Christmas?

- Do you have any other zero waste gift ideas?

- Are you going to use any of the gift ideas above?

- What blog posts would you like to see from me in the future?

- Do you think the Grinch was misunderstood and he had it right all along?