Reused Holiday

Despite the title, I’m not talking about re gifting, but a holiday season where the aim is buying nothing new, not even gifts. Who would be into this idea? Someone like me, certainly, though it seems harder to get others to come on board (particularly kids). Last year, a crazed work schedule meant I fit holiday shopping into small windows of time on layovers, and the easiest place to shop was Target. I was despondent giving a corporate, medium-box store my hard earned money; it actually felt icky. Between then and now I didn’t prepare enough to make this year a Reused Holiday, but I’d like to start thinking about it now, for future Christmases. Here are some possibilities:

Keep an eye at garage sales and thrift stores all year for gifts, wrapping paper and tags, and decorations most especially.

Instead of buying new bakery boxes, buy secondhand some of those silly holiday tins at for packaging holiday goodies.

Use crumpled brown paper bags to pad packages inside boxes for mailing, or your own household shredded paper

Christmas cards: buy from a charity, make homemade. We send nearly 200 each year, so expense is an issue but sending cards is not a tradition I want to lose. I’m always on the lookout at thrift stores and yard sales, and in the past have bought them for $1 a box.

Save greeting cards and cut out the front to make lovely gift tags next year.

I know there are many more ideas; I’ll add to this list as I come across, but also would love if other’s would share theirs in the Comments below.

Happy Holidaying!