5 Ideas for Buying Responsible Christmas Presents
We hate to admit it, but at some point, we all made the mistake of picking generic Christmas presents that no one likes. And while we firmly believe that it is the thought that counts, we also do not want the gift-giving tradition to lose its magic.
This season, ditch the typical cleaning supplies or the potentially embarrassing underpants. Go eco-friendly, sustainable, and purposeful. If you are not sure where to start, we will help you come up with creative alternatives for your holiday shopping list. Here are five ideas for buying responsible Christmas presents.
1. Buy Wooden Children’s Toys
You’re thinking: what is the best gift to give children who already have everything? Why, wooden toys, of course! They are not only classic, well-made, and safe (chemical-free compared to plastic and rubber), but also more durable and better for the environment.
Wooden toys such as puzzles, building blocks, and miniature construction sets fire the imagination of children and help develop their literacy, numeracy, hand-eye coordination, and problem-solving skills. If it weren’t so, early childhood educators and child-development experts would not continually vouch for the advantages of wooden toys.
2. Adopt a Polar Bear
What better way to show love on Christmas than by welcoming a new member into your family? Symbolically, that is. You can adopt a polar bear with the World WideFund for Nature (WWF) for £3.00 a month. Your contribution helps protect the habitat of polar bears whose numbers may decline by 30% within the next 30 years due to the rapid shrinking of sea ice.
Aside from climate change, oil and gas exploration in the Arctic, human conflict, and pollution contribute to the decrease of the bears’ population. When you adopt a polar bear, you not only save the species but also other animals living in the Arctic, such as penguins and seals. Along with a personalized adoption certificate, you will receive a cuddly plush toy, a fact pack with bookmarks and stickers, and updates on the project thrice a year.
3. Buy an Experience
Are you looking for a classic yet unique gift that will genuinely warm the heart? Refrain from buying your loved ones knick-knacks that are easy to forget; give them an experience to remember for many years. It does not have to be fancy, a special dinner at a lovely restaurant will do.
Be sure to know their interests.
If they love plays, a trip to the theatre to watch their favourite show is a brilliant gift. Better yet, be more generous and give them a theatre season ticket so they can watch more plays, as well as have the first choice of prime seats and the flexibility to change viewing dates if needed.
4. Second Hand Jewellery
We could not stress this enough, but giving second-hand jewellery is not cheap or tacky. On the contrary, there is something heart-warmingly personal about passing on a piece you have always valued to a person you love. If you don’t have an extra piece lying around, shopping for vintage jewellery takes commitment and a lot of thought.
The recipient will appreciate how much effort you put into buying the gift. More importantly, who does not love getting a gift that was chosen not only for its meaning but also for its sustainability? Yes, if you want to help save the environment, buying pre-used jewellery items is one way to do it. Trust us, plenty of people prefer second-hand jewellery crafted with love and selected with care over mass-produced pieces randomly picked from a corporate store.
5. Put Towards a Holiday
Tradition dictates that holidays should be for taking a break from work, school, or anything stressful so you can have quality time with your loved ones. Giving a vacation as a Christmas present is one of the best ways for the special people in your life to relax and recharge.
You may think that going on a holiday is time-consuming and impractical. After all, who has the luxury to travel during these trying times? One suggestion is to rent out a camper van and then your free to explore everything the UK has to offer. Be it a city/country trip from Manchester to the Lake District or a campervan road trip to Cardiff and up the Welsh coastline. Another idea might be putting towards UK canal cruise holiday, which is an excellent solution to this dilemma. A narrowboat holiday allows people to travel and explore many sites while staying in one place. Magical, isn’t it? As every Christmas should be.
