A lower-waste Christmas

[HobbyIsCodeForDogging]

I'm hoping to share ideas for having a lower-waste Christmas. I get a bit fed up of all the "stuff".

The first thing I'm culling is those enormous boxes of Quality Street etc that are always reduced to £4/5 in the supermarkets at some point.

I'll try to go for some experience type gifts.

I'm looking for ideas for advent calendars for the kids (7 and 8, both girls). In the past I've filled bags/boxes/pouches myself or got a Lego/Playmobil Christmas scene. What can I do this year that won't add to the mountain of "stuff"?

Come and share all your ideas and questions about any aspect of a lower-waste festive season

duckling that’s a good approach, I should try it. I fear they may feel it might not be a ‘good enough’ present though so might add bits and bobs to it. Can only try!

Thanks for all these ideas!

I just remembered a discussion about whether to wrap up stocking presents. I never have, to me that's an enormous waste as you just don't need everything wrapped in paper and then stuffed in a stocking - the stocking is the wrapping.

Another thing I'm doing differently is not necessarily buying everything I fancy from the bargain thread! I'm on it and watching it, but in previous years I've sometimes got caught up in the whole thing of buying stocking fillers really early, and then when I go back through my stash in November I wonder why I bought some of it. So I think what I mean is I'm going to be a lot more selective about what I buy.

I try to keep stocking presents to things they actually need and will use rather than plastic tat...this is for my own sanity and house as much as the environment! So socks, pants, gloves, toiletries etc

@MrsLem maybe a tin of special biscuits? Or really nice small-batch artisanal chocolates from more local/smaller producers as they often use more sustainable packaging?

@HobbyIsCodeForDogging thanks, that's a lovely idea!