A no-waste Christmas

The Christmas message is about Peace on Earth, not hassle.

With No-Waste Christmas, we give presents because we want to, not out of duty or in return. We give presents we know people will want, not something they'll probably throw out. When in doubt, something good to eat is always welcome. Many adults who 'have everything' like the cards that go with donations to a favourite charity for those in need. An extended family can decide that one of them gets the 'big present' for the year that is really wanted, and everybody chips in.

Little presents that can be bought include:

THE NO-TEABAG TEA-MAKER A good-looking tea-strainer of deep stainless-steel mesh, with two little tabs at the rim for handles sits in a cup or teapot. It uses loose tea, far cheaper and flavor-full than teabags, which in their billions cost tons of materials and are rubbish when thrown out.

ROOM PERFUME – A fat little corked terra-cotta bottle which can be refilled with perfume oils is less wasteful than burning oils, and the perfume lasts for months. They can be bought for a few cents from op.shops. Add a little bottle of essential oil to the gift, and even a little coaster, so the bottle will not stain surfaces.

WORTHY CAUSES sell cards that tell the recipients that you have donated money in their name for good purposes – such as books for a poor school, seeds for poor farmers, medicine to heal diseases. Be careful of gifts that might make a plight worse even though It Seems a Good Idea at the Time – for example, goats have often turned semi-arid areas to deserts and wells without fore-thought may or drain artesian water dry or tap into arsenic as happened in Bangladesh.

EXERCISE SHOPPING JEEP. Some models are better than others. A shopping jeep kept in the hall can hold re-usable plastic bags and other shopping gear. (Don's try to save plastic begs in containers that squash then up!)

A TORCH that works when you squeeze the handle. No battery. Check the model you buy is light, bright, and easy to work to keep the light on.

RECOMMENDED KITCHEN EQUIPMENT. A strong 2-tier dish-rack. A stainless steel soapsaver, with bars, not mesh.

PHOTOS of the little children can be on mugs.

CALENDARS. Birthdays for everybody to remember can be marked with little photos on calendars.

A CHRISTMAS PARTY at home is fun for everyone not hassle for a few, when everyone can enjoy helping to prepare and bringing the goodies and the visitors can help to clear up with song and dance. For one of the Christmas-time meals, 'bring a stranger'.

NO-WASTE WRAPPING: show even the little children how to open presents carefully and dramatically, with everyone taking turns to open their presents in front of everyone, so all share in all that is given -much more fun than a group scene tearing paper to bits (Steam-iron the best paper before packing it for next Christmas). Or like the Japanese, give gifts wrapped in scarves, or the children can paste pictures on grocery boxes that can be Useful Boxes to Put Things in. Save decorations from year to year, to be Family Heirlooms, linking the years.

CHRISTMAS CARDS. Make your own with fotos, family artistry, pressed flowers, or buy from charities.

SHOPS – What happens to shops if people do not splurge at Christmas-time on things they do not need and others may not want? We can continue to splurge at Christmas – but on things that are needed, things that others will want, and on things that bring joy and relief to others in the world whom we may not even know. Shop-owners that only survive because of Christmas should think again of work that is useful.

So enjoy! We wish you a Merry Christmas after which you will be so much richer, not poorer.