Going Green this Christmas
AT a time when our ecological balance is under threat comes a need for us to go green — even during holidays such as Christmas. But just how do we go about a green Christmas?
Holidays like Christmas usually produce the biggest bulk of garbage, especially after the celebration. In fact, solid waste disposal agencies have always been having a hard time cleaning up after the holidays.
Aside from the usual garbage output produced daily, a bigger chunk of waste is added to what is normally collected from industries, streets and households.
There are some things we could actually do to help keep the volume of post-holiday waste at a tolerable level. We play crucial roles in contributing and promotion of what could best be branded as “Green Christmas”.
Using less or no paper at all
Demand for greeting and invitation cards, boxes and wrapping papers peak during holidays. Instead of Christmas cards, we could consider simple letters containing sincere thoughts in time for the holiday season.
Instead of throwing old paper and cardboard stocks (which will in fact just add up to the tons of garbage), we can actually still make use of them. Or better yet, do away with them. Have you heard of the internet and electronic mailing system (e-mail)?
Sending letters instead of greeting cards brings out the best in us — so as what we actually feel. Recipients are bound to see more sincerity in personalized messages instead of those quotations printed on mass produced folded cardboards. There is however another option. Consider E-Cards via online greetings. An email will also be fine. Aside from the assurance of it promptly reaching its destination, it is also free.
We could also make use of old invitation cards. All we have to do is cut off the back portion of the card and jot down the important information on the back portion what is left of the card. In the absence of old invitation cards, brown paper pouch is a good alternative. Aside from being cost-friendly, it also makes it distinct. Inviting people using electronic mailing system is also a viable alternative.
Of Boxes and Gift Wrappers
Cardboard boxes are also in demand during the holiday season. It is used in tightly or properly securing a gift. We need not buy boxes for our gifts. We could use old boxes or better yet make boxes ourselves from old cardboards stored at home. Making boxes isn’t really that hard.
More importantly are wrapping papers. We can make use of old wrappers from the gifts we received in the past.
Green Presents
Going green during the holiday season however does not stop with using less or no paper at all in sending seasons greetings, invitations, wrapping up presents, among others.
We could actually go green from the greetings, invitations, boxes and gift wrappers down to the gift itself. There is actually a long list of green gift suggestions that makes the entire gift package pro-environment.
Giving a green present will not only make you stand out, it would also promote environmental awareness among people who’d come to see what you have for a gift. Recycled papers, soy-based ink, novelty items derived from the waste, trees among others beef up a long list of the suggested green gifts.
Tags: Advice, Christmas, Enviroment, Holidays, Xmas
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Beating the Holiday Rush via Online Shopping
WITH less two months before Christmas, many would have long be thinking of holiday shopping if only to avoid being all bruised up by a mob of fellow last minute shoppers in midnight bazaars or shopping mall on a pre-announced mega-discount sale.
The scene of elbows literally bruising on somebody else’s arms would probably be how a typical last minute shopping would be seen via closed-circuit security cameras.
Awful and Annoying
Imagine spending hours shopping for presents for special people or buying stuffs for a special menu on the family’s dining table.
Agony starts with a journey along the snow-filled roads leading to the downtown. As the downtown approaches, heavy traffic would keep you snail-paced, at least for an hour as more families (perhaps, just like the one you have), fill the streets for a “buzzer beating last minute shopping”.
Upon reaching the shopping mall or arcade, where you intend to get the best buys on your shopping list, comes another burden — parking space. What’s even more disappointing and annoying is the idea of having to go somewhere else as those in your shopping list are no longer available there.
Assuming shopping is consummated, comes the burden of the heavy and bulky shopping bags. Again, the traffic, notwithstanding the ire and hunger, would hound your way home — that is if you’ve got your own car. What if you’d take the cab? How long will it take you to get one, considering that it’s a shopping rush?
Today, most of us would opt for the wonders of the modern technology insofar as Christmas shopping is concerned.
Modern-day Alternative
Gone are these days as modern day technologies have already put in place provisions to comfort of the shopping population. The old thought of hopping from one shop to another for bargain hunting should be out of our checklist, so as the agony of heavy traffic at the snow-filled downtown roads leading to malls and bargain centers, much less sweat (or freeze to death) it out while trying to squeezing into a crowd of fellow last minute shoppers.
There is also no more need to bring home the huge, bulky and heavy shopping bags.
Internet Shopping
Internet shopping is the fine art (or should it be more appropriate to be considered as science) of shopping sans the burdens of holiday rush. One can actually do all the shopping right inside the comfort of our home, via online shopping.
Online or Internet shopping has made life a lot easier for most of us as most of shopping transactions (notwithstanding the holiday season) may now be consummated with just a click of the mouse. Browsing through various websites offering the best buys, discounts and promos, moms and dads have may now enjoy the luxury of dating as they save time, effort and even the limited family resources through the Internet shopping experience.
Most of the shops posted on the Internet offer free deliveries. There are some other probabilities like shopper picking it up on his way to office or before one goes home after a busy day in office
Now what would you opt? The agony of doing the actual shopping with your family or the comfort of doing the shopping via the Internet, where you’d still be able to get the best buys on your budget cap and many more.
Tags: Christmas, Holidays, Shopping, Xmas
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