This year, as I risked my life pulling my Christmas boxes from the attic of our garage while balancing precariously on a ladder, I felt a wave of dread and noticed a clear lack of enthusiasm. Christmas again. Presents again. Trees again. The same thing - again.

While I love many parts of the routine and tradition of Christmas, it can feel a little stagnant and also end up as an incredibly wasteful affair.

To be honest, I still haven’t worked out how I am going to revitalise my own ‘Christmas cheer’ and spice things up, but in the spirit of sustainability and helping you regain the Christmas spirit too, here are 10 different things to do this Christmas that will save you money (in the long run), support local businesses, and reduce your waste along the way.

1. Buy better

Christmas is an epic time to use your purchasing power for good. Wherever you spend money on gifts, you’re saying “hey business, I like what you do and I want to invest in you so you can continue.” With this in mind, spend money at the good spots. Use my Ethical Directory to help you shop or visit local markets and ask the stall holders questions about their business before you buy (e.g. Who made this? Where is this made? What materials are used?). I’ve never had my own product to direct you to, but for the first time, you can buy my book to gift your friends and family - or grab a book and eye mask combo here if you fancy a lovely gift-wrapped set!

P.S. If you are a cat or a dog owner and want to buy something sustainable for them, My Furbaby has put together some cat stocking fillers and dog banquets, hah!

2. Do something novel

I’m a chronic oversharer on Instagram and here I go again… Tim and I had naked Christmas breakfast on the 25th of December last year (2022). It was just the two of us in attendance, and what a better way to remember the day than to have food in the nude. You don’t have to sit naked at your dining table like us, but I encourage you to establish traditions that are unique to you and fill your joy-tank. Go on a nature treasure hunt on Christmas Eve. Play a particular board game. Think of things you like to do and don’t be afraid to prioritise them over the classic Christmas ‘must-dos’.

3. Try reusable Christmas crackers

Christmas crackers make the eco warrior inside me squirm. They’re packaged in a thick plastic box (usually not recyclable), they last for a heart-beat, and the plastic toys inside are tacky and useless. Waste Free Celebrations make Christmas Re-Crackers that can be washed and refilled (with refill packs or DIY) year after year. They look classier, cost less money over time, and come with helpful, sustainably made gifts inside!

4. Don’t cut down a tree

I used to think Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without a Christmas tree… but after four years without a classic pine tree in my living room, I’ve realised that’s not true. Every year, my husband, Tim, and I come up with a different Christmas tree concept. Last year I pinned a metal plant stand that was shaped like a Christmas tree to the wall. I decorated it with fairy lights and Christmas tree decorations. The year before, we hung decorations on a large pot plant. The year before that, we grabbed a large tree cutting that had been trimmed from my in-laws garden. We ‘planted’ it in a bucket of sand, popped it in the corner of our house, and decorated it with lights and ornaments.

If you already have a fake Christmas tree, absolutely use it - or rehome it if you don’t use it. But instead of buying a new fake tree this year or a real one, get creative and come up with something unique! Alternatively, these plywood Christmas Trees are made in Aotearoa New Zealand, will last a lifetime, and fold down into an easy flatpack until the next year.

5. Buy vouchers instead

My go-to present for friends and family this year was a voucher from Crushes. They stock so many brilliant Aotearoa New Zealand brands and they have such a wide range of products that I am certain any gift receiver would be stoked to receive a Crushes voucher! This year, my husband’s side of the family are leaning into the voucher idea. Each adult is bringing a voucher worth $80 to our Christmas Eve pizza night tradition. We’ll play a game and each end up with a voucher to use in the New Year. The vouchers will be a mix of movies, massages, plant stores, restaurants, and shops (I’m considering buying mine from Standard Issue). This means everyone gets something useful!

6. Say no to most things

The more you say no to December commitments now, the more you can say ‘yes’ to last minute Christmas carols with your family or random drinks with friends. To me, those are the most special Christmas moments. Everyone rushes up until Christmas without absorbing all that December can offer. It’s incredibly rewarding to say ‘no’ and open yourself up for more fulfilling ‘yes’s. Try it.

7. Show up for your community

Who needs you most this Christmas? Who will be alone on the 25th? Look around your community and become aware of where the most need is. Invite people to your Christmas Day plans who may not have plans (if you think they do, invite them anyway - the worst they can do is say no), budget carefully so you have capacity to drop delicious things off to your local community kitchen. If you have the means to spend more time and money on others this year, make it go as far as possible and to those who most need it.

8. Wrap weirdly

A second hand silk scarf, newspaper, kid’s drawings that didn’t make it to the fridge, old book pages, piano music… the world is full of wrapping options that don’t involve wasting your money on wrapping paper that fills landfills on the 26th of December.

9. Bring containers to Christmas Day

As you’re packing your bags for Christmas Day shenanigans, throw in some containers. Use these to take home any organic waste to your compost bin (in case the host doesn’t compost) or leftover food that may go to waste. If you’re the host, make sure people know where your compost bin is and ensure there is clear labelling on all your rubbish/recycling/compost systems.

If you’re still after more Christmas gift ideas that don’t involve stuff, read my Sustainable Christmas Gift Ideas blog. Otherwise, enjoy your Christmas, whatever it looks like. You have all the permission in the world to say no to the stress and yes to being different!