Thanksgiving week is almost upon us, and with it Black Friday. You would think that after people were killed last year, casualties of rampant consumerism, some of the enthusiasm for Black Friday would have waned. This does not seem to be the case, as people begin preparing to rise at the crack of dawn and stores develop their new improved security plans.
The economy is bad. It has gotten harder to make ends meet. Traditional holiday gift-giving is going to be a challenge for many families. But please, please do not kill someone over that Easy-Bake Oven. And don’t destroy the planet by spending your money on a bunch of junk wrapped in sea-turtle killing plastic.
There are other ways to make the holidays affordable and eco-friendly. Plus, you get the added bonus of spending Black Friday morning enjoying breakfast with your family, rather than having your face smushed into the sliding glass doors of a big box store.
1. Buy Used
I know, used gifts are… well, used. But they don’t have to be. No matter how much I pare down my consumeristic desires, I seem to end up with an ever-growing list of must-experience books and DVDs that are not available from my usual sources (friends, family, library, Netflix). But you know what? Used books and DVDs are great! Not all used books are scribbled in and not all used DVDs are scratched. In fact, it’s easy to find both of these things in like-new condition at a considerable discount.
Other things make great used gifts as well. Be creative. Not every great present has to be new. I once opened a present to find a friend’s barely used sweater I had coveted for months. I still have the sweater, and think of her fondly every time I wear it.
2. Give Something Personal
People often recommend giving handmade presents. That is not on my list because I am not the kind of person who can knit a homemade sweater or build a rocking chair or carve a centerpiece. However, if you are this kind of person, this tip is my version of “give a homemade gift.” (And please teach me!)
For those of you that are like me, there are other ways that your gift can be personal without requiring that crafty touch. Are you a broke student with spare time? For the busy person in your life, give them a certificate for a couple hours of yard work. Your friends might have enough toys for their toddler, but they might really love a kid-free night out. Love animals? Give the gift of pet-sitting so your loved ones can go on vacation worry-free.
3. Shop at Etsy
I discovered Etsy just before the holidays last year and fell completely in love. If you’re going to buy presents, I would encourage you to check out Etsy. Aside from being unique, beautiful, and generally amazing, many of the things you can find on Etsy are also very affordable and low-impact. Many of the sellers use repurposed items in their creative process and recycled shipping materials. With Etsy you have the luxury of being able to talk to the person who made your gift, which makes it easy to find gifts that meet your criteria, budgetary, ecological, and otherwise. And wouldn’t you rather use your dollars to support skilled crafters and artisans than multi-million international corporations?
4. Gift Exchange
Try a different kind of gift exchange. Draw names out of a hat in advance, so each person has only one person to buy for. You can even do it Secret Santa style so no one knows who their present is coming from.
My family no longer exchanges individual gifts. Instead, we each have a stocking. Kids fill the adults stockings and adults fill the kids stockings. Because our gifts are supposed to fit in our stocking, we end up with fewer gifts that tend to be smaller and more affordable (and often edible!). Because no one knows who gave what, there is no sense of one-upmanship trying to give the “best” present. Also, we don’t use wrapping paper because we use stockings, which means less cleanup for us and less trash for the landfill.
5. Differentiate Between Levels of Need
My dad’s family differentiates between people who “need” and people who do not need. Those who “need” are generally kids, broke college students, and couples just starting out. Not needs are people like my dad and step-mom and my aunts and uncles. They have more than enough, and they are particularly hard to buy for because of it.
Those in the need category get presents, either useful things that they need or luxuries they never would have bought for themselves. Presents for the not needs usually take the form of donations to charities or causes of their choice. Not everyone needs or wants more stuff.
Speak Up!
You can take a stand against the Black Friday mentality from the receiving end as well. If you don’t need anything, tell your family you would rather not receive material gifts this year. Suggest a charity or a cause they could make a donation to in your name. If you don’t want to go that far, when someone asks you what you would like for the holidays, tell them! Everyone in my family knows that I prefer used gifts whenever possible. I also mention it specifically in the “requests” section of my Amazon Wishlist. You might be surprised at the results. This year, my mom’s response to my usual birthday inquiry was that she did not want a present. When pressed, she assured me that she was not being self-effacing. She just genuinely did not want any more stuff.
What tips do you have for getting through Black Friday and the holidays with your wallet and eco-conscience intact?
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[...] is Black Friday, which means that yesterday was Thanksgiving. It is a holiday with a long and interesting history [...]