Natural Christmas Decorations
Fir branches are a lovely addition to the home around Christmas, and you can get them for free. The right of public access allows you to pick up twigs, spruce branches, and other items from the ground—that is, things that have fallen from the trees. However, it is illegal to take twigs, branches, bark, sap, nuts, or other items from living trees on land you do not own. This damages the tree and causes harm to the landowner.
Sometimes, the people who sell Christmas trees at a tree farm have loose pine branches that you can take or buy for a small fee.
Homemade Christmas Decorations
Crafting can be fun, inexpensive, and sustainable. Instead of buying Christmas cards, you can make your own by painting, drawing, cutting, and pasting with materials you probably already have at home. You can also create photo collages using pictures of friends, family, and acquaintances. For Christmas gift wrapping, you can use painted newspapers or repurposed fabric.
Shop for decorations and Christmas gifts at thrift stores
You can find all sorts of things in a thrift store, especially decorations and items that can be turned into Christmas gifts. Reusing products that are still in perfect working order is both inexpensive and good for the environment. These stores are full of items just waiting to be reused—let yourself be inspired!
Recently, it has become more popular to restore and repair old items. Buying something broken or worn out, fixing it, and giving it away is fun and appreciated.
Borrow books and games from the library
A gift doesn’t have to be something you keep forever. A gift can simply be the fact that you’ve taken the time to visit the library and carefully selected a few books to give as Christmas presents—which you’ll then return. You can also borrow games, wrap them, open them, play them, and then return them.
Another tip—for your own sake—is to borrow four books, one for each week of Advent, and read one each week leading up to Christmas.
Keep Christmas Simple
What is Christmas really all about? Isn’t it about taking the time to spend with yourself, your family, friends, or acquaintances? Sure, you can do that just by… being. One tip is to lower your expectations for Christmas and just enjoy it your own way, without worrying about the “right” food, decorations, or Christmas gifts.
