close
SM-Stamp-Join-1
  • Selfish Mother is the most brilliant blogging platform. Join here for free & you can post a blog within minutes. We don't edit or approve your words before they go live - it's up to you. And, with our cool new 'squares' design - you can share your blog to Instagram, too. What are you waiting for? Come join in! We can't wait to read what YOU have to say...

  • Your basic information

  • Your account information

View as: GRID LIST

Top Tips for a Crap-free Christmas

1
Christmas – that most wonderful, and wasteful, time of the year.
I think even the most hardened of hardcore Christmas fans would have to admit that maybe it’s got a teeny bit out of hand. As Martin Lewis puts it, it’s become a ’retail festival’ – where we’re all worshipping at the shrine of Primark and Amazon to make our dreams come true. So is there another way? Without being the Grinch?
I think there is. And I think it’s about time we took at least some of the crap out of Christmas.

Here’s some easy ways to get started:

CRAP-FREE ADVENT

SelfishMother.com
2
CALENDARS
– Go traditional with the old-fashioned cardboard ones – they’re making a comeback!
– If that won’t pass muster with your kids, find a re-usable one (think bunting with fabric pockets) that can be used year on year, and fill with Fair-trade chocolate coins, a joke, or an Advent activity like decorating the cake.

CRAP-FREE DECORATIONS
– Go for a real tree if you can – the very best option is to go for one with a root ball that can be planted out after Christmas, but failing that make sure you put your real tree for the council to collect

SelfishMother.com
3
and mulch.
– If you’ve got a fake tree, please please please don’t throw it away! If you don’t want it anymore offer it to friends and family, or donate it to your local charity shop.
– There’s really no need to update your decorations each year – treasure them and make them into part your family’s traditions.

CRAP-FREE GIFT WRAPPING
– 270,000 miles of gift wrapping is used each Christmas in the UK alone. I can’t really envisage how much that is, but it’s a LOT. And much of it can’t be/won’t be recycled.
– Avoid metallic or glittery

SelfishMother.com
4
papers – these can’t be recycled.
– Go for brown kraft paper, or even upcycle old newspapers and magazines – they can look really effective when tarted up with some (re-usable) ribbon or yarn.
– You can get re-usable fabric wrapping now from places like Wrag Wrap – just make sure you ask for it back if you don’t think the recipient will re-use it 😉

CRAP-FREE STOCKING FILLERS
The temptation with stockings is to ram them full of cheap plastic tat, that we know will thrill the kiddos for about 39 seconds before breaking or being discarded – it’s

SelfishMother.com
5
pretty much instant landfill. Instead, look for plastic-free bits and pieces.
– Good old foil wrapped chocolate Santas and gold coins are always a winner.
– Look out for things like colouring books and colouring pencils which can be used throughout the year.
– There are a few different online shops now that do plastic free party bag stuff and stocking fillers – check out: Plastic Free Party Bags; The Paper Party Bag Shop; or Little Otter Party Supplies.

CRAP-FREE GIFTS
Apparently 57% of Brits receive at least one unwanted present each year. And of

SelfishMother.com
6
these 1 in 10 will end up in landfill (shocked face emoticon).
– Giving food gifts is always a relatively safe bet in my books and is less likely to end up in landfill.
– Give experiences not things – if you’ve got grandparents who tend to go a but bonkers with stuff for the kids, suggest they pay for a day out in the New Year, or a trip to the Pantomine instead.
– Go Secret Santa – if you have to buy for 49 different children in your family, suggest to relatives that you do a Secret Santa – that way each child gets one decent thing they really
SelfishMother.com
7
want.

How about it? You up for a bit less crap in your Christmas this year?

SelfishMother.com

By

This blog was originally posted on SelfishMother.com - why not sign up & share what's on your mind, too?

Why not write for Selfish Mother, too? You can sign up for free and post immediately.


We regularly share posts on @SelfishMother Instagram and Facebook :)

- 27 Nov 18

Christmas – that most wonderful, and wasteful, time of the year.
I think even the most hardened of hardcore Christmas fans would have to admit that maybe it’s got a teeny bit out of hand. As Martin Lewis puts it, it’s become a ‘retail festival’ – where we’re all worshipping at the shrine of Primark and Amazon to make our dreams come true. So is there another way? Without being the Grinch?
I think there is. And I think it’s about time we took at least some of the crap out of Christmas.

Here’s some easy ways to get started:

CRAP-FREE ADVENT CALENDARS
– Go traditional with the old-fashioned cardboard ones – they’re making a comeback!
– If that won’t pass muster with your kids, find a re-usable one (think bunting with fabric pockets) that can be used year on year, and fill with Fair-trade chocolate coins, a joke, or an Advent activity like decorating the cake.

CRAP-FREE DECORATIONS
– Go for a real tree if you can – the very best option is to go for one with a root ball that can be planted out after Christmas, but failing that make sure you put your real tree for the council to collect and mulch.
– If you’ve got a fake tree, please please please don’t throw it away! If you don’t want it anymore offer it to friends and family, or donate it to your local charity shop.
– There’s really no need to update your decorations each year – treasure them and make them into part your family’s traditions.

CRAP-FREE GIFT WRAPPING
– 270,000 miles of gift wrapping is used each Christmas in the UK alone. I can’t really envisage how much that is, but it’s a LOT. And much of it can’t be/won’t be recycled.
– Avoid metallic or glittery papers – these can’t be recycled.
– Go for brown kraft paper, or even upcycle old newspapers and magazines – they can look really effective when tarted up with some (re-usable) ribbon or yarn.
– You can get re-usable fabric wrapping now from places like Wrag Wrap – just make sure you ask for it back if you don’t think the recipient will re-use it 😉

CRAP-FREE STOCKING FILLERS
The temptation with stockings is to ram them full of cheap plastic tat, that we know will thrill the kiddos for about 39 seconds before breaking or being discarded – it’s pretty much instant landfill. Instead, look for plastic-free bits and pieces.
– Good old foil wrapped chocolate Santas and gold coins are always a winner.
– Look out for things like colouring books and colouring pencils which can be used throughout the year.
– There are a few different online shops now that do plastic free party bag stuff and stocking fillers – check out: Plastic Free Party Bags; The Paper Party Bag Shop; or Little Otter Party Supplies.

CRAP-FREE GIFTS
Apparently 57% of Brits receive at least one unwanted present each year. And of these 1 in 10 will end up in landfill (shocked face emoticon).
– Giving food gifts is always a relatively safe bet in my books and is less likely to end up in landfill.
– Give experiences not things – if you’ve got grandparents who tend to go a but bonkers with stuff for the kids, suggest they pay for a day out in the New Year, or a trip to the Pantomine instead.
– Go Secret Santa – if you have to buy for 49 different children in your family, suggest to relatives that you do a Secret Santa – that way each child gets one decent thing they really want.

How about it? You up for a bit less crap in your Christmas this year?

Did you enjoy this post? If so please support the writer: like, share and comment!


Why not join the SM CLUB, too? You can share posts & events immediately. It's free!

Sustainable living geek, writer and speaker. Blogging and podcasting at Sustainable(ish) whilst juggling wrangling two kids, a dog and donning my super-hero pants to save the world ;)

Post Tags


Keep up to date with Selfish Mother — Sign up for our newsletter and follow us on social media