Holiday Tips
Cut Down on the Waste | Steer Clear of Shopping Stress | Gifts to Your Community

Cut Down on the Waste

Piles of presents can mean piles of trash—5 million extra tons of trash are produced between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day in the United States. That translates into wasted resources and crowded landfills. Here are some ways to cut down on waste over the holidays:

• Save paper by wrapping gifts in newspaper comics or paper bags decorated with rubber stamps, homemade art, or your favorite poem. You can also wrap presents in topological maps, pages from old calendars, or other unconventional materials you have around the house.
• Recycle gift boxes and ribbon from last year by using them again this year. Save this year's gift wrap for reuse next year. When you do get new wrapping paper, look for the kind with a high recycled content.
• Avoid products that have excessive packaging.
• If you are decorating a tree and have an opportunity to buy a live one, make sure to replant it after the holidays.
• Call the toll-free numbers on the backs of unwanted holiday catalogs and have your name taken off their mailing lists.

Steer Clear of Shopping Stress

Trying to avoid shopping stress during the holidays isn't easy—there's always the pressure to find the perfect gifts for your friends and family. But if you get really stressed, keep reminding yourself that the holidays are for showing friends and family that you care—not by how many presents you give or how much money you spend, but by spending time together.

Gifts to Your Community

Another way to make a difference in the world is to help your community—by volunteering for a group that protects the environment, provides food and clothes for those in need, or helps the community in some other way.

Find out what to look for while shopping .
Learn about some creative gift ideas or suggest some of your own.
Too much stuff can stress out the planet and you.