Not all gifts have to be store-bought 

You can give more, while spending less, by giving gifts that are personal and unique. While young children may favour the bright, shiny store-bought item, most adults appreciate anything that shows thoughtfulness.

Simplify the gift-go-round

Feeling overwhelmed by a gift list that's just too long? Perhaps it is time to share the load around – the ‘Kris Kringle’ concept where people have just one person to buy for in their family is a great way of simplifying the gift giving process for many people.

Look for locally made gifts

Many gifts in today's marketplace come from halfway around the world, and the impact of transportation contributes significantly to greenhouse emissions and global warming. Local craft fairs and artisan shops are a good source for gifts that come without the added costs of transportation. And gifts made locally often have a story which goes with the gift.

Give battery-free gifts 

Apparently around 40 per cent of all battery sales occur during the Christmas season. Discarded batteries are an environmental hazard. Even rechargeable batteries find their way into the waste stream eventually. 

Re-gifting is ok 

There's much discussion these days about the etiquette behind the trend to 're-gift', that is, to pass on a gift you received but do not need. What's to discuss? Re-gifting makes perfect sense. If you receive something you really don't need, look for ways you can reuse this gift by passing it on to someone who can use it. Of course, re-gifting needs to be done with care so as not to offend the original giver, but keeping a gift you don't need is wasteful.

A gift does not need to be a ‘thing’

In days when many people have a lot of ‘stuff’ maybe give an ‘experience’ – it could be anything from lessons to skydiving experiences. It could also be something very personal like the gift of helping with something – maybe cooking a dinner to mowing the lawn.