Believe it or not, “less” really can be “more” this time of year. With the economic slump finally recognized as a recession, more and more families are feeling stressed over spending too much on holiday gifts and parties. With a little bit of creativity, we can all consider beautiful gifts from the heart rather than the pocketbook.

How about making your own gift certificates?

Consider giving your teenager a coupon good for a movie out with a friend followed by pizza at home with you providing the rides both ways. For a small amount of money, you’ll be giving your teenager something of value to them – an activity with friends. You’ll also be teaching them that time spent with people we care about is more important than buying them something they probably don’t really need or want anyway.

How about wrapping gifts in the comics?

It seems like a small thing but actually wrapping paper is very stressful on the environment. Often it can’t be recycled and commercial wrapping paper includes chemicals like polyethylene, polypropylene, and laminates! Yuck!!

I hope you will join me this holiday and wrap your gifts for friends and family in comics or how about handmade fabric bags, tied with reusable fabric ribbon?

How about sending inexpensive green gifts this year?

Save yourself time and gas by shopping from home from your computer. There are great places to go for eco-friendly, fair trade fashion And when entertaining, why not consider earth-friendly bambu products for the table?

I hope these tips are helpful and that you have a happy, safe and GREEN holiday season!