Make more memories and less waste!

Have you noticed your trash cans filling up more quickly this time of year? 

Household waste increases by more than 25% between Thanksgiving and New Years Day–that equals an additional 1 million tons a week going into our landfills! 

If you’d like to be more conscious of your environmental footprint this year, here are some ways you can quickly AND easily reduce your holiday waste this season. 

Choose alternative wrapping materials— Instead of buying new wrapping materials each year, reuse shipping boxes, wrapping paper and ribbon whenever possible. Old magazines, newspapers and other papers can also be repurposed to make fun and unexpected wrapping.

Rent or invest in reusable tableware— It may seem more convenient to pick up disposable decorations and dinnerware, but weigh the convenience with the long term impact of this choice. How long does it really take to do an extra load of wash and load the dishwasher or even do the dishes by hand?

Just because YOU don't want to do the dishes, doesn't mean that there isn't someone at your gathering who DOES. Remember—in most holiday movies, you always see the best conversations happening after dinner when a few people are in the kitchen cleaning up, so don’t be afraid to ask for help!

Use rechargeable or solar batteries— Batteries are usually needed in high quantities when children's toys are involved. Make sure to grab some rechargeable or solar power sources before the unwrapping begins. This reduces waste and also passes on the principle of rechargeable batteries to the recipient.

Give quality handmade gifts and experiences— How about bucking tradition or expectations and, instead of striving to have the most gifts this year, you really think about the gifts you are giving and their value after the initial fun of opening them passes.

Handmade toys, clothes and other items will last much longer, and often the memories the recipient has of a handmade gift will last longer as well!

You can even give beautiful fresh cut flowers— wrapped in paper so you don’t send another vase the recipient doesn’t need. 

Buy less food, and keep track of leftovers— It is easy to buy way more food than needed when celebrating, especially if you have a large number of people attending your event and multiple dishes.

Sit down and calculate how much food you will actually need using this servings calculator at AllRecipes.com. 

You’ll be able to quickly figure out how much food you need per guest—and then simplify your food options.

These tips can help you save money and reduce waste this season. 

So give yourself the gift of honoring your values, maintaining your budget and taking care of future generations, all while keeping holiday stress under control.

Your clutter free home, your sanity, and the rest of the planet will thank you!

Before you know it, the holidays will be over and the New Year will be here! Which means it is almost time for our next De-Stress Your Mess Challenge! We start January 9, 2023—so don’t miss out… register today!