Christmas has become a bit of a consumerist black hole in recent years. From Black Friday in November all the way to the New Year Sales, we’re encouraged to buy, buy, buy.

Don’t get me wrong, I love buying gifts, supporting small businesses, and shopping at the Bath Christmas Market, but this year I’d like to tone it all down… just a little.

I started researching the ways I could make Christmas just a little more sustainable, so the strain on my wallet – and the planet’s resources – wasn’t so great. Here are some of the fantastic solutions I stumbled across…

Buy Less

Photo by Kari Shea on Unsplash

The most obvious solution is to just… buy less. This goes for everything; clothes for Christmas events, gifts, decorations and food. Give yourself permission to lay off the spending where possible. Make a pact with friends to meet up for dinner instead of buying each other a gift. Re-wear that sparkly dress you only wore once last year. Don’t buy so much food it gets thrown away in January.

There are LOTS of ways you can spend less, and maybe let go of some of the stress of the season in the process.

DIY Christmas Decorations

Photo by Erwan Hesry on Unsplash

Christmas decorations are a big one; every year I seem to end up with a few more (plastic) baubles. This year I’m saying not completely saying no to new, but I am going to try and make some of my own.

To avoid having to spend money on pricey craft supplies, I’m looking to Scandinavia where they use natural, seasonal foliage to decorate their homes. I can collect some of this from my garden and nearby woodland; fir cones, evergreen branches, holly and rosemary sprigs are easy pickings. For anything I can’t forage, I can head to my local florist to buy.

I’ll be following this tutorial for making a wreath, and using any leftovers to create sweet little arrangements around the house. And maybe even a centrepiece for the table!

That’s all I have time for today. See you next week for part two!