Make your festivities more eco-friendly with some simple tips and swaps! Here is how you can enjoy all the trimmings of Christmas but with less waste. You’ll save money, reduce landfill and be creative at the same time.

Decorations Rather than buying new, support your local op shops and community organisations by getting your decorations second-hand. Feeling crafty? Home made decorations are perfectly unique and can become family mementos. You can also support local craft makers by buying their handmade creations.

Presents There are so many barely used or brand new toys at op shops or on Marketplace, which are great value for money. Or instead of a physical gift, why not give an experience instead, like a day out or visit to a restaurant? Never underestimate the gift of your time (shared activity, cooked meal) – this can be the most valuable present of all. For big groups, Secret Santa/ KK gift exchanges are cheaper than buying multiple gifts, plus they save you time and energy figuring out what everyone wants! Try not to choose that novelty gift that will give a laugh but then be forgotten about. For batteryoperated kids toys, choosing one with rechargeable batteries will save money in the long run.

Wrapping Boxes and gift bags are perfect to reuse, so you don’t have to buy new every time. You can also think outside the box and use fabric or kids drawings as wrapping, and fabric or string as ribbons and bows. If you do buy new wrapping, look for low dye options and try not to go overboard on the foil and glitter, as these are hard to recycle.

Food Feeding everyone doesn’t come cheap, so shop your own pantry before heading to the shops. You can also borrow ingredients from a friend to save you buying items you won’t use again. If you’re cooking for lots of people, you might want to arrange a ‘share a plate’ or a potluck. Use apps like Frugl Grocery to search for food bargains, and the Saveful app is great in helping you put together recipes with leftovers.

Clothing/costumes Instead of buying that Christmasthemed clothing you get a few wears from, why not buy red and green t-shirts you can wear year round? Not festive enough? If you want a Christmas tee, op shops usually have heaps of them, so check them out before buying new.