easy + susty holiday hacks you can really use
even for scrooge or the grinch 💰
The season is upon us—the season of magical moments, family memories, perfect photos, and all. the. things. But the anticipation of gift grandeur and garlands melts away in the heat of stress, chaos, and stuff… at least for me.
As a kid, I loved the excitement of receiving gifts. I enjoyed making lists of all the things I wished to open. I felt like I always had a long list of things I wanted and would have loved to receive.
As I’ve gotten older, the gifts drain me. Maybe this is a symptom of my privilege—it probably is.
I spend more time scouring online gift guides and store aisles to find something to buy… anything that doesn’t feel completely wasteful… for everyone on the obligatory list. I’m told they all need “something to open.” Maybe I’m just not good at gift-giving.
Part of me feels like a Grinch. But my boys, nieces, and nephews don’t even know what to put on their wish lists! Why are we doing this? Who are we serving? Why can’t I opt out?! Who’s in charge here, and to what end?
I’m not mad. I’m defeated, exhausted by the exercise. Am I missing the plot? How do I get back to it?
Some elements are great: decorating our tree as a family, holiday photos, a reason for all my sisters to come together from across the country, and renting out an ice rink to skate for an hour with all the siblings and cousins.
But I suspect my perspective is weighed down by the sludge of waste in which the holiday habits swim, waste that fills our landfills and empties our bank accounts. Did you know that waste increases by 25% during the holiday season compared to the rest of the year? 🤢
Wrapping paper, paper plates, a plethora of plastic holiday decorations we buy on a whim, and mountains of packaging pile up in our garbage bins. The most wonderful time of the year is also the most wasteful. And all that waste is a lot of work to deal with!
Over the years, I’ve shared extensively about low-waste and sustainable holiday ideas. I’ve covered topics from gift-giving to zero-waste wrapping to amazing sustainable tablescapes (that are way out of my league).
As an antidote to the capitalist consumerism of the holidays, here are some simple holiday hacks that can help you save money, reduce the stress of all the festivities, and show a little love to the planet. I hope one or two help you this season.
save the tissue paper
You probably receive a lot of tissue paper in online orders and gifts from others. Reuse it in your gift bags instead of tossing, recycling, or even composting it. Crinkle it up to hide any pre-loved wrinkles. No one will ever know it's reused.
no names on gift bags
Set down that Sharpie. Skip writing names on bags so the recipient can pass it forward. Add a quick handmade card or attach one of these DIY gift tags to be sure the recipient knows who the gift is from. That gift bag is worth way more than a single use, so don't spoil the party by putting a name on it, making it more likely to end up in the trash.
pinecones from the park (or your yard)
Why pay for artificial pinecones when you can pick a few up off the ground for free? If the sap starts to melt, it can be a little sticky. Heat them on a cookie sheet (with some compostable parchment paper underneath them) to soften the sap before using them as holiday decor. At the end of the season, store them for next year, or toss them back into your yard or compost bin and let nature take care of the rest.
wrap with shipping material
I'm probably not making an Evil Knievel leap to assume that you'll have lots of packages and shipping material rolling into your home this holiday season. So much shopping happens online. I get it - I do the same thing. Don't put those boxes and brown paper into your trash bin. Save them to wrap packages.
Brown kraft paper is perfect for beautiful minimalist wrapping. Don't worry if it's a little wrinkled—it's all part of the look. Add painted decorations like these to create a more colorful or festive vibe.
Best of all, you can recycle or compost all the wrapping when you're done. Did you know that most store-bought wrapping paper isn't recyclable or compostable? And you definitely shouldn't burn it in your fireplace because it's often covered in plastic coating or embellishments (like glitter).
Skip spending on single-use wrapping and use all those materials showing up on your doorstep for free. The possibilities of using shipping materials to wrap gifts are endless.
hit up a thrift shop for holiday gift wrap
Don't fear the thrift store, especially if you have a specific wish list. Head into the shop and go straight to the Christmas section. They often have tons of holiday gift wrap items. Skip everything else. Don't get distracted or overwhelmed. Find gift bags, ribbons, and bows, and then bounce. 😉
choose paper culture for holiday cards
Paper Culture is a great photo printing company that offers gorgeous holiday cards in various styles. I've used them for three years and have been more than pleased. The company uses more sustainable materials and has a tree-planting program to make holiday card exchanges more sustainable.
use cylinder-shaped wine gift boxes for all sorts of gifts
This was new to me last year. I planned to give a bunch of LEGO to my older son, and I wasn't sure how to wrap them. I stumbled on these holiday-themed wine gift containers at Goodwill and knew they'd be perfect. Even if you buy them new, save and reuse them!
cut up old shirts or sheets for fabric wrapping
It's not that hard, I promise. 💛 Before throwing away old shirts, consider cutting out a square or rectangle (maybe from the back or the front) and using it as fabric wrap for smaller gifts.
If you're comfortable in a secondhand shop, scan through the shirt or sheets section for plain or holiday fabrics. Plaid fabrics are great for the holidays, and sheets allow you to make larger fabric wraps for bigger gifts.
look for refurbished or open-box versions of gifts
Just because it's not new doesn't mean it's not good as new. Save money by purchasing refurbished or open-box items, especially electronics or small appliances. Two years ago, I got my son a refurbished 3D printer for the holidays. I would never have known it was refurbished were it not for the qualification on the website when I ordered.
skip what you don't love
It's not a hack; it's just a good idea. If you don't enjoy a particular holiday tradition, don't do it. Don't waste your time, energy, or money on something that doesn't bring joy and fulfillment to you and your family.
Does Elf on the Shelf feel stressful? Skip it. Are cookies for Santa too much? Ditch it. Perfectly wrapping every gift with holiday accessories to keep up with the Jones? Who cares about the Jones? Wrap gifts in whatever works for you and what you have available. Do what feels manageable, brings your family together, and matters to you.
I'm sure I missed tons of fun holiday hacks that also help us help the planet. Share your tips in the comments!