As household budgets for many remain under pressure there are things we can all do to be kinder to the planet, reduce the gift-giving pressure and help our pockets at the same time. Sometimes all it takes is a chat with those around us.

From starting or continuing a tradition with family and friends, to giving handmade presents and gifts that help good causes. Mindful gifting is more meaningful than often panic-bought presents, and with a bit of planning and conversation, you’ll probably be pleasantly surprised to find that those around you are happy (if not relieved!) to jump on board with some of the ideas you may find here.

There are plenty of things to choose from Santa’s ethical elves if you decide you’re going to spend on gifts or Christmas wishes but want to be more eco-friendly. Why not suggest to friends and family that you agree a budget that’s affordable for all of you and choose a theme such as buying local, handmade or pre-loved? You could even organise a sustainable-themed Secret Santa to keep costs down by cutting down on everyone buying for each other.

And don’t forget about looking at what you send and how you wrap. Look for FSC-certified wrapping paper or better still get creative with pillowcases, tea towels or any material you have around that could be repurposed and used (and used again), with tape-free wrapping techniques such as Furoshiki. You can Find out more about Furoshiki here.  

Remember, pre-loved doesn’t always mean old. In many cases preowned is more accurate and you can find just what you’re looking for new with tags for a fraction of the price on second-hand selling sites, apps and social marketplaces. Buying second hand saves money and resources and with a bit of planning you can source anything from books to clothing, homeware and technology.

Christmas Jumper Day has become a tradition in the Christmas fundraising calendar, but festive fashion is a huge cause of carbon emissions and there’s ways you can make dressing the part eco-friendlier with clothes swaps or shopping second hand. You can always donate the extra money you have saved from buying new if you wish so that buying second-hand makes even more of a difference.

The beautiful thing about books is that, unless they’re new releases, many can be sourced second-hand with some websites dedicated to pre-owned books.

You can put a lot of thought into gifting a book and you never know, you may even provide the spark for a new hobby! It’s also a very meaningful gesture to pass on one of your favourites – your own copy with or without a handwritten note. Then of course there are e-books, audiobooks and tokens which could be given as a variety of this bookish theme.

Gifting an experience can be a good way to reduce waste from unwanted, panic-bought gifts. Perhaps you could make a date to visit somewhere together and take a picnic when the time comes? Or maybe the person you’re buying for loves to learn new things? In which case you could keep an eye on our courses and workshops page or make a homemade voucher for your loved one to use when they spot a course they’d like to take part in.

You can turn Black Friday green by buying less this Christmas and doing your bit to help the environment. Before any of us buy, we should ask ourselves: do I / they really need it? Could I borrow, hire or find a pre-loved version instead when it comes to Christmas party wear especially?

A report by the Green Alliance found that up to 80% of Black Friday purchases are thrown away after one or zero uses, that’s an overwhelming and unsettling statistic. For more information you can read more about Black Friday’s True Colours.

If you do shop online to buy what you need, did you know that you can earn donations to your favourite causes, at no extra cost to you, by shopping with Easyfundraising? You can find out more here.

As a nation we waste a lot of food throughout the year but sadly it reaches new levels at Christmas and New Year. Christmas food waste adds tonnes of food that we should have eaten – or could have been eaten at a later date with some preparation – to landfill each year.

For many of us, the Christmases we remember most aren’t about the material things, but the memories of times shared with friends and family. Traditions, handmade gifts, decorations and even passed-down keepsakes can lessen our environmental impact and mean much more than fast fashion or the latest gadget.