To ask what you're doing to make your Christmas more simple/ethical?

[Quizeerascal]

Just that really. There's been a lot on social media in the media and in real life conversations about how we can make Christmas more simple, ethical, sustainable and I wanted to see what others on MN were doing. I've bought reusable wrapping paper for a relative who I think will appreciate it as well as buying toiletries from an ethical company, socks which donate to charity and shopping at farmer's markets/small businesses. I'm interested to hear others' ideas

I specifically do NOT lower the budget or the amount of presents.

I find that keeping a low budget (lower than you can afford I mean) is the best way to get tat. I prefer to buy something that is wanted or will be liked, even if it costs a lot, than cheap tat for the sake of it.
For little children, a wooden playhouse or a nice playmobil set will cost quite a lot - but will be used non stop.

I can't stand the "something they wear, something they read". Books are not a gift, they are as basic as food in this house. Until they are teens, clothes are rather boring for young children.

But as long as people don't preach and judge, what matters is having a lovely Christmas.

Oh and also:

• Made some Christmas decorations from things found on nature walks (pinecones, twigs). They sound shit but genuinely look good.

I have a Pinterest board of ideas for natural Xmas decorations if anyone is interested for next year?

• If I get time I will be running up some reusable fabric gift bags from Christmas fabric

• I save all the wrapping bits and pieces (bags, bows, glittery parcel string, etc) every year and use them to make beautiful wrapping the next year

• I used last year's Christmas cards to make Christmas tags with a tag hand die cut

Basically just fewer presents! We are only buying for our parents and children (not siblings, partners, grandparents etc.).

For the children I have bought sustainable wooden toys rather than plastic, and a lot of second hand stuff.

We have a reusable advent calendar, recycled wrapping paper, real tree (although whether this is actually environmentally better is under debate), no crackers or single use stuff.

Not much - we’ve bought sustainable wooden toys. That’s about it. I love desi you’ve wrapping paper and I just can’t bring myself to use newspaper to wrap for Christmas (all other birthdays/ gifts no problem) I work for. Green company though so 364 days of the year I’m on it like a car bonnet. Christmas is probably the one day I will over indulge a bit (myself) on food/gifts for me.

I prefer to buy something that is wanted or will be liked, even if it costs a lot, than cheap tat for the sake of it.
For little children, a wooden playhouse or a nice playmobil set will cost quite a lot - but will be used non stop.

I absolutely agree with this.
Even worse, a lot of the "must have" christmas presents are both expensive and tat! Spending more money doesnt even necessarily mean a better present (looking at you "Poopsie surprise" that my niece had last year)

DCs have stockings full of second hand things I’ve been collecting all year. It’s easy to find nice stuff they’ll like without it being new if you give yourself plenty of time. I like the hunt as well!

Main presents will either be Lego, or a rather posh bit of tech handed down from Daddy, which he’s going to refurb.

Brown paper for wrapping with re-used ribbons. Sainsburys did some nice plastic free crackers so I got a box of those cos crackers are one of my Christmassy treats.

Tree was second hand last year. I wanted a bigger one to fit all the DCs adorably wonky decorations on and I’m really looking forward to seeing it festooned with these. Other decorations we’ve had for years, I like them so can’t see any reason to change them.

If I can be arsed it’s looking unlikely I might get the DCs to make some paper chains.

Don't buy loads of crap for the sake of it, buy just a sensible amount of food that you are actually going to eat, use Skype or facetime to speak to realtives rather than travel 10 hours down the motorway when you don't want to go anyway.

I had a word with DH about buying novelty tat. He does it every year. DC hate it. They rarely even open the packs (things like make your own cookies in a Christmas mug) and they get thrown out after gathering dust. He has reined it in a bit this year and stopped at two waste of money items each.

I also suggested we don't wrap stocking presents and instead use shredded paper. DH loves this and is saving beautiful pictures from newspapers instead of wrap. I also asked him not to buy any new wrapping paper this year and we'll use up remnants instead. Again, he is usually really extravagant with this.

We're having a lot more veggie food. We still want a turkey but DS1 is now veggie so we eat veggie about four times a week now instead of twice a week.

Nothing.

And Yanbu to ask. Ask away.

Spending more money doesnt even necessarily mean a better present true of course!

I just mean I look at use and wishes, not at budget. (within reason obviously)

Not ordered anything from Amazon!

It is lovely Quizeerascal.

Some brilliant ideas here! As a family, we do donate a significant(for us) money to the Salvation Army every Christmas. I must admit, I do miss the franticness (?) of the pursuit of the 'perfect' present, but overall, I think what we are doing makes sense.

We all come together once every two years at Christmas and to be honest, just have my family all together is all I want. Its wonderful.

Oh yeah and we’ll be eating a lot more vegetarian food this year. Luckily we’ve got an amazing local shop that does weekly meal bags and I’ve learnt how to cook some incredible dishes from that- so it’ll be a proper treat to redo some favourites.

Growing up, reusable advent calendars were just the norm. We loved them. My favourite stood up ‘3Dstyle’ and had a sparky wood on either side of the ‘crib’. I was convinced that if I closed my eyes I could disappear into it.

Doing more carol singing. Didn’t set out to be more ‘environmentally friendly’ but it is pure joy and doesn’t cost anything.

I cut up the Christmas cards and use them as gift tags but this is more laziness than anything.

I've made most of my presents this year. Homemade organic skincare and beeswax candles, all packaged in reusable or recyclable packaging which was surprisingly difficult to source locally!

It’s not being sanctimonious to be aware of environmental cost and make an informed decision!

We spend a lot. But on only a few presents, that we want or need eg clothes, Lego, books. No sparkly paper or cards, brown wrapping paper with reused ribbons.

I do send Christmas cards because for me it is worth the paper and cost and time to send a tangible message to friends that isn’t on my phone.

No crackers. Have wrapped some mini games in brown paper to play after lunch.

Not buying shitloads of food to overeat or throw away

Making Christmas centrepieces as presents for friends/neighbours using stuff I’ve scarfed from here there and anywhere

Homemade Christmas wreath

No pre-made buffet shite

Not emblazoning the outside of the house with blazing light shite

Spending Christmas in our house, not visiting relatives and them not visiting us! Apart from the carbon footprint (all family live far far away and half overseas) it’s actually lovely just to be able to please ourselves.

I'm trying to have a more sustainable reusable and less wasteful life and I'm loving it. I started a new job where I have a better understanding about what happens to our waste and the effects on climate change and I'm horrified I've been ignorant for so long!

So, at Christmas my family have agreed one small gift per person and it should ideally be homemade or second hand or something that'll be reusable. We're buying less food. Not having crackers. Using recycled or reusable wrapping for gifts. Bought a pot grown tree that I can plant on garden and use again next year. Giving to charity instead of cards. A kind deed a day for advent.

I feel liberated but also still frustrated by the amount of 'stuff ' I've got. I'm going to have a major clear out and take it all to the charity shop over the Xmas break.

• No new Christmas decorations
• Vegetarian Christmas meal & trying to only cook what will get eaten
• DH & I are not buying presents for each other. We've donated the money saved to our local food bank.
• Mostly presents from local shops for other family
• Plastic free Christmas crackers

i dont buy christmas cards, give my grandchildren money instead of tons of toys, put the few presents ive bought in gift bags so the recipients can use them again if they wish to, at my age i dont need or want anything so i dont expect any presents this year have told everyone not to buy me anything,

oh yes and reused the tree and deccies from last year

Reducing physical gifts overall. Gifting some experience type things or vouchers (which i don't usually like to do but hopefully reducing waste by people not receiving unwanted gifts). Some gifts are more 'hamper style' (for those who will enjoy them, i know that seems a cop out to some) eg movie night gift or american treats but not bought pre packaged just put in reusable box so less excess packaging. No wrapping paper, nice Christmassy shopping bags. Avoided going shopping or online 'for a look' as i inevitably buy unnecessary things. No sweets/chocolates/toiletry sets 'to make it look more'. Any toiletries we've bought are from wildearth online. Some charity gifts for those who would appreciate it and for those who ask what i would like recommending a charity. Donated to charities instead of Christmas cards. Asked for wooden toys for DS to those who have asked for ideas. And I'm (unwillingly!) almost vegan this year due to breastfed son's many allergies! Bought a tree last year which will do us hopefully a long time and not buying any more decorations.