Putting A Little More Green in Your Christmas

A Few Gift Ideas That are Both Frugal and Eco-Friendly.

Quick Dry Towels can be found in almost every department store. They are made of 100% cotton, but have a special twist which  reduces the amount of time it takes them to dry by 20 – 33%, depending on the brand. They are also very absorbent, as well as, surprisingly affordable. The 3 piece set in the picture sells for $22.00 at Wal-Mart, but you can find the towels on sale for even less at JC Penney’s and Bed, Bath, and Beyond, especially if you combine a sale price with a store coupon. You might even be able to score a 6 piece set for under $25.00!

Why did I buy two $9.00 pot holders at Williams-Sonoma? Because the ones that I received as a gift over 15 years ago are still going strong! They are made in America of quilted heavyweight cotton over thick cotton terry. Buying a high quality item that will last for years is better than buying a cheap item that has to be replaced every year or two both from a financial, as well as an environmental perspective. So even though I splurged, $18.00 for two pot holders was still below the secret santa threshold of $20.00.

And since I am advocating for fewer, quality items, I might as well share what I bought for my aunt: Williams-Sonoma Silicone Utensils. She is one of the few people in the family who I can discuss baking with and on more than one occasion we have laughed over how many spatulas we have melted. That is until last year, when I received a set of silicone spatulas. I have not been able to damage the silicone, but discovered than I can set the wood handles on fire, so I bought my aunt spatulas with stainless steel handles. 🙂 The utensils range between $10.00 – $12.00 each.

I bought a Mason Bee House for a gardening friend who was concerned about the bee shortage in her area. The bamboo tubes are designed to attract mason bees, which are more gentle than honey bees, as well as more active as pollinators. This bee house is $14.95 at Gardener’s Supply Company. Unlike the other gift suggestions, this one has a shorter life and can only be used for two seasons. If you are handy, click here to see how you can easily make a mason bee house as a gift.

I am glad that I finally have someone IRL, who is interested in composting. Once the temperatures drop, running the scraps out to the compost bin can be a bit unpleasant. In fact, many locals suspend composting for the winter. To make it a bit more pleasant for my sister-in-law, I bought her a counter top compost crock. It is 29.95 and comes with 2 charcoal filters which eliminate odors. I only have to empty mine every two to three days, so I can choose to do so at a time when I am already bundled up.

A two-tiered stainless steel lunch box or tiffin box. They are used in India to carry meals within the multiple compartments, which lock in place. This one was purchased at World Market for $9.99. Many of my family members share my concern over storing food in plastic and have been attempting to limit exposure, but don’t want to carry food on the go in Pyrex bowls. This Tiffin box fills that gap. The only down side is that it is not microwavable, but we don’t tend to pack “hot food” for lunch.

Some of the gifts I am giving this year are greener, but less frugal: tickets to the symphony, a museum membership, and tickets to a Broadway Show. For more ideas for experiential gifts (which don’t have to be expensive and also happen to make great last minute gifts) visit My Year Without Spending.