Between gifts, decorations, holiday cards and even food, the holiday season is not at all wallet-friendly. According to the National Retail Federation, the average consumer will spend around $1,000 during the 2016 holidays. While splurging on gifts for your friends and family can be worth it, there are some holiday expenses and actual waste that we can all do without.
Household waste
Have you ever thought about how much waste you produce this season? From Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day we get together with family and friends more frequently than any other time. Of course these familial get-togethers give us (usually) a lot of joy, it’s also the source of a 25% increase in waste and 1 million more tons of waste a week per household. The waste includes anything from food, energy and especially gift wrapping and shopping bags – which adds up to 4 million tons each year.
We all know that the best part of a gift is the actual gift and not so much the wrapping paper, the box, or the fancy ribbons. So instead of going out and purchasing wrapping paper that will end up in the garbage, try recycling the paper you probably already have. Instead, use old magazines, maps, and newspapers to wrap gifts. Your gift might not have the sparkliest wrapping but it will definitely stand out.
Christmas trees
We know what you’re thinking: How could a Christmas tree be a waste? Well, there are about 15,000 Christmas tree farms in the US and 33 million trees are sold each year. That’s 33 million trees that are cut down and thrown out, adding to your local landfill.
The good thing is that real Christmas trees are biodegradable and can easily be reused. So instead of just chucking your tree with the rest of your trash, look for a recycling program in your area. Some communities offer curbside pick-ups for recycling; or you can see if there’s a drop-off recycling center nearby. There are also programs that offer to shred your trees so that you can reuse the mulch in your garden.
Holiday cards
Last year 25% of greeting card sales came over the holiday season. That produced a whopping $2 billion spent on 1.6 billion cards. It’s enough to fill a football field 10 stories high!
Although we all love getting them (and some of us might even enjoy sending them out), the sad truth is that all but a precious few will end up in the trash. So what’s the best solution? Free e-cards!
We used 123Greetings.com to make a cute and funny e-card but there are tons of other sites that will do the same. Some of these programs require you to sign up for a free trial but as long as you don’t forget to cancel, it’s a great idea that will not only save you money but can help cut waste.
Stolen goods
Unfortunately, during the holiday season robberies peak. In fact, some 23 million Americans have had packages stolen right from their doorsteps. Although it can be almost impossible to be home for every delivery, there are a few ways to prevent your packages from sitting outside waiting for your arrival.
If you’re expecting a package from UPS or FedEx, there are systems in place to track your goods in real time. If USPS is your method of delivery and you know you won’t be home, try leaving a note on your door for your mailman to leave your package with a neighbor.
If that’s not an option and you’re concerned about security, it might be worth spending about $200 for a video doorbell security system. But whatever you do, no matter how great your gifts are don’t flaunt them on social media. If Kim Kardashian isn’t safe from a robbery, we should all be cautious with how we show off our goods.
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