by Kantha Wijeratne

Created on: October 12, 2008   Last Updated: April 25, 2012

As another holiday season nears, our thoughts turn to all that it signifies. It is a time of joy and good cheer when giving and receiving gifts is an accepted norm. Yet we dread the investments in time and money that it entails, especially when our budgets are limited and expenses tend to run high. Rather than give presents that your friends or family will not use but yet burn your purse, why not try a different approach to gift-giving? Why not make this an earth friendly holiday season?

For starters, online shopping provides the opportunity to check, compare and buy with the click of a button saving you gas and time. Begin your shopping quest by creating a list of the people you wish to buy for, gift ideas and cash limit for each one. Think of the interest, hobbies or needs of your loved ones when you make that list. Remember, most people appreciate the thought that went in to the gift selection as much as the gift itself.

Presents need not come all gift wrapped. Instead think of gift cards to a store or service that supports or uses organically produced goods or endorses sustainable manufacturing standards. These can range from clothes, linen and shoes to food, wine and restaurants. A nature lover would welcome a ticket to a national park or wild life sanctuary. Those in to gardening would welcome plants, tools or subscription to a gardening magazine. Tickets to movies, plays or sports events or a museum would appeal to some while others would welcome subscriptions to a gym or yoga class.

The old and young require special consideration when selecting presents. Older family members would welcome a donation to a favorite charity rather than get yet another pair of socks or mitts that would go unused. Rather than buying them "things", we can give more of our time to care for them. Kids can be presented with board games with an environmental theme or a science kit that would stir their curiosity about our planet while keeping them gainfully occupied.

We spend money and use up scarce resources with our traditional forms of glittery gift-wrapping. Maintain an earth friendly theme to your gift-wrapping. Use cloth bags, baskets, jars and containers that can be used for another purpose by the gift-receivers. It will be much appreciated, especially if your loved ones are also keen on conserving the earth's scarce resources.

The holiday season is a time when a lot of family bonding takes place. An earth-friendly approach to gift-giving is an opportunity to teach kids the value of conserving energy and other resources. Gifts can be given in both cash and kind. The most expensive present is not necessarily the best one. May your spirit of fun and creativity bubble forth as you think of gift ideas and celebrating during this festive season.

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